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’Give me AK-47′ – Alleged Izala group’s church attack video triggers outrage

Nigerians have expressed outrage over the viral video young man in a brown uniform and blue beret demanding AK-47 to go and kill Christians in Enugu and Jos as he was leading other young members of JIBWIS (Izala) Islamic group in a Hausa chant.

The video began circulating on the social media in the early hours of Monday, October 26, 2026. Though in Hausa, translations of the chants by the young man shared online indicated that he repeatedly demanded an AK-47 so he could travel to Enugu, ‘the land of the infidels,’ open fire on Christian worshippers during Sunday services while they clapped and prayed, then move on to Jos to kill more as part of ‘the training’ or Sunnah.

The clip, first amplified by user @OlayinkaLere, quickly attracted tens of thousands of views with users tagging the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force and other security operatives.

Several Facebook accounts also circulated the same footage with one user describing the video as showing ‘Izala Agaji boys’ calling for AK-47 rifles to attack Christians in Enugu and Jos.

Some of the commentators also noted that the young man who led the chants was not making a general statement about violence but was specifically talking about travelling to Enugu on a Sunday, when Christians would be worshipping, and later targeting Jos.

For many Nigerians reacting online, the most disturbing element is the alleged reference to worshippers inside churches on Sunday.

According to them, even a yet-to be fulfilled threat of that nature warrants immediate security attention.

They therefore argued that he chant should not be viewed as an idle talk but as an open incitement to religious violence, especially at a time when Nigeria is still grappling with insecurity in the Middle Belt and other parts of the country.

The commentators therefore called for immediate identification, investigation, and arrest of the individual and scrutiny of the group in the video.

Some northern Muslim voices, including @Alhausawiy, insisted that responsible Islamic groups must confront radical elements within their ranks rather than issue denials after the fact.

Others urged the leadership of JIBWIS to publicly condemn the content and cooperate with investigators.

But some commentators also called for investigation to determine whether the video was actually that of of an Izala/JIBWIS group as well as where and when the recording was made.

See some of the reactions to the video by X users below:

@OlayinkaLere, (the original poster): ‘According to a translator, this person is saying: He should be given AK47… He would then go to Enugu… On Sunday when they are worshiping and clapping… open fire… So that he can kill the infidels… That is the training. @OfficialDSSNG @PoliceNG’

@Alhausawiy (self-described Hausa Muslim activist): ‘Jama’atu Izalatu Bidi’a wa’i?amatus-Sunnah (JIBWIS) aka Izala, teaches people especially young children extremism and violence… When these young chaps nurtured to become terrorists… the elderly Izala… begin uttering disclaimer… Izala needs serious reform.’

@Sleekiest: ‘How sad! Hear this young man requesting to be given AK47 for him to go to Enugu and Jos where infidels worship on Sundays so he can spray them to death as they are worshiping and clapping. @OfficialDSSNG @PoliceNG please fish him out and do the needful.’

@TheYorubaTimes: ‘VIDEO: ‘He Should Be Given an AK-47. He Would Then Go to Enugu, the Land of the Infidels, on Sunday When They Are Worshipping and Clapping, and Open Fire to Kill Them.’ …raising serious security concerns and prompting calls for the police and DSS to investigate.’

@mydeji247: (national security analyst): ‘I don’t know how recent this video is. But this godforsaken M0ron is grooming children to find AK47, go to Enugu, and k1ll innocent Christians who’re rejoicing on a Sunday… This organization should be proscribed by the @OfficialDSSNG.’

@Armylucifer001: ‘I saw a disturbing video allegedly showing an Izala/JIBWIS Agaji member… calling for AK-47s to attack people he describes as ‘infidels’ in Enugu and Jos while they are praying. I call on the relevant security authorities to identify the individual… and take appropriate action… No Nigerian should be threatened with death for worshipping.’

@nkemchimex: ‘The DSS should get them arrested o… Translation: ‘They should give us AK47 rifles, so that we can go to Enugu (the land of the infidels) on Sunday when they are worshiping and clapping, and open fire and kill the infidels…’ @OfficialDSSNG @PoliceNG’

@Pearlywhitegem: ‘This is a militia of the Islamic sect… demanding for AK47 to go to Enugu on a Sunday and kill Christians inside church while they are singing and clapping unprovoked. Look at the type of ideology being implanted into those young minds.’

@ZariyiYusufu: ‘??Translation: Give me AK (AK47) I’ll go to Enugu Amongst the infidels On a Sunday While they rejoice and clap I’ll light them up! … Much as it’s tempting hope for a simple order for their arrest… Nigeria’s existential threat is not the ‘economy’ as such. IT IS ISLAMISM.’

@spyetv: ‘He wants to go to Enugu and Jos to open fire on Infidels (Christians). This is what their clerics are teaching them. This should be on record and never be ignored. The concerned authorities should fish out this young man and deal with him ASAP. @OfficialDSSNG @PoliceNG @HQNigerianArmy’

@BiaPulse: ‘According to the explanation accompanying this video, the people singing are allegedly calling for AK-47 rifles so they can go to Enugu on Sunday and slaughter those they refer to as ‘ARE,’ meaning unbelievers. How can anyone openly make such threatening statements in the name of religion? Where is the Nigerian government… If this video translation is accurate, the authorities must act immediately… identify those involved and arrest them. The people of Enugu and the entire South-East deserve protection.’

FactStreamoffi: ‘How can anyone openly make such threatening statements in the name of religion? Where is the Nigerian government, and why are such threats not being investigated? If this video translation is accurate, the authorities must act immediately… identify those involved and arrest them. The people of Enugu and the entire South-East deserve protection. No one should be threatened with death because of their beliefs or identity.’

@Aniekvibe: ‘Nigerians, particularly Christians, have every reason to be deeply disturbed by the alleged statements in this video… Why would anyone speak about acquiring an AK-47 to attack people in Enugu while they are praying on a Sunday? … If the individual is genuinely a member of Izala (JIBWIS), the organisation’s leadership… should publicly address the allegations… the appropriate authorities should investigate it and take lawful action… No religious teaching should be used as an excuse to threaten innocent people.’

@marvtridon: ‘The leader(s) should be picked up and publicly executed to send a warning to others. The followers/members should be locked up for at least a year for de-programming.’

@Davidogar95: ‘Division is the only solution because the northern leaders are teaching their children ev!l acts.’

Uber boda riders win first victory in account deactivation case

Thirty-seven Uber motorcycle riders have secured an initial court victory in their battle with the ride-hailing company over account deactivations without adequately informing them and cutting off their earnings.

The High Court in Nairobi rejected Uber Kenya’s bid to exit the case, ruling that its role in the disputed account deactivations must be examined at a full hearing.

The suit echoes developments in Europe where Uber has been fined billions of shillings for deactivating driver accounts through automated systems without adequately informing them.

Thirty-seven Uber motorcycle riders have secured an initial court victory in their battle with the ride-hailing company over account deactivations without adequately informing them and cutting off their earnings.

The High Court in Nairobi rejected Uber Kenya’s bid to exit the case, ruling that its role in the disputed account deactivations must be examined at a full hearing.

The suit echoes developments in Europe where Uber has been fined billions of shillings for deactivating driver accounts through automated systems without adequately informing them.

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‘Uber Kenya has not demonstrated, with the degree of clarity required at this stage, that its participation is wholly unnecessary or that the Petitioners’ allegations against it are so plainly unsustainable as to warrant its removal without a substantive hearing,’ Justice David Mburu ruled.

The riders sued, claiming they were locked out of the platform without notice, reasons or access to evidence behind the decisions.

They say the suspensions denied them a livelihood and the ability to make loan payments for electric motorcycles financed through Greenwheels Electric Mobility Solutions Limited.

The riders say they faced financial hardship in the wake of the suspensions and the risk of auction.

They said Greenwheels Electric Mobility Solutions Limited repossessed motorcycles following the suspension of the affected riders’ accounts.

Filed in March 2026, the petition invokes constitutional protections for fair administrative action, access to information and consumer rights.

The riders claimed that repeated requests for information, including a formal demand dated December 22, 2025, went unanswered, leaving them without reasons for their deactivation or details of the alleged misconduct and evidence relied upon in terminating their accounts.

Uber Kenya asked the court to strike it out from the suit, saying the digital platform is owned and operated by Uber B.V., a separate company incorporated in the Netherlands.

It said its Kenyan role was limited to promotion, helping users register, and providing general support. It denied managing accounts, investigating rider conduct or deciding suspensions, and said it did not hold the information sought.

Disputing that it is a subsidiary of Uber B.V., the company explained that its shareholders are Uber International Holdings B.V. and Uber International B.V., which are separate legal entities.

It maintained that common shareholding does not justify lifting the corporate veil and that the riders have neither sought such relief nor demonstrated fraud, impropriety, sham or misuse of the corporate structure sufficient to warrant disregarding its separate legal personality.

The company said it could not comply with court orders about accounts or information it did not control, and its separate legal identity should be respected.

The riders disputed that position, arguing that Uber Kenya facilitates the platform’s operations locally and relied on an intercompany services agreement dated November 1, 2013. They said the agreement raised questions about its involvement.

Uber Kenya said the 2013 agreement expressly excluded an agency, partnership or joint venture, while riders argued that its actual conduct mattered more than the contract’s wording.

In regard to the alleged financial losses suffered by the riders, Uber Kenya said the loss cannot be attributed to its actions.

It maintained that the repossession of motorcycles arose from separate contractual arrangements between Greenwheels and the affected riders.

The riders maintained that Uber Kenya cannot benefit from Uber’s commercial operations in Kenya while disclaiming responsibility for actions affecting Kenyan users of the platform.

In its ruling, the court agreed that corporate links alone do not make one company liable for another’s actions.

But it said that principle did not settle whether Uber Kenya was properly included in the case.

‘The provision of promotional or support services does not, without more, render Uber Kenya responsible for every decision undertaken by Uber B.V.,’ the judge said.

He added that a contractual disclaimer of agency did not automatically resolve whether the company’s actual conduct created an independent legal obligation.

The court said Uber Kenya had not shown that its participation was wholly unnecessary. Evidence was needed to determine its role and access to relevant information.

‘Those matters remain disputed and must be determined on the evidence and the applicable law,’ he said, referring to whether Uber Kenya acted as an agent, participated in account decisions or was responsible for alleged rights violations.

Riders alleged that accounts were suspended after a meeting and some motorcycles were repossessed.

In another 2021 case, the High Court also declined to remove Uber Kenya from proceedings filed by Kanuri Limited and 33 others. The judge considered Uber Kenya’s communications on behalf of Uber B.V. relevant to agency.

Justice Mburu said the precedent did not require the company to remain a party in every app-related case. He dismissed Uber Kenya’s application, ordered that it remain a party and directed that the petition proceed to hearing.

The case is scheduled for mention on December 1, 2026.

Thirty-seven Uber motorcycle riders have secured an initial court victory in their battle with the ride-hailing company over account deactivations without adequately informing them and cutting off their earnings.

The High Court in Nairobi rejected Uber Kenya’s bid to exit the case, ruling that its role in the disputed account deactivations must be examined at a full hearing.

The suit echoes developments in Europe where Uber has been fined billions of shillings for deactivating driver accounts through automated systems without adequately informing them.

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Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation rules ?ban decisions made solely by computer algorithms when they have a significant impact on people’s lives, saying such decisions require meaningful human review and a way to challenge a decision.

‘Uber Kenya has not demonstrated, with the degree of clarity required at this stage, that its participation is wholly unnecessary or that the Petitioners’ allegations against it are so plainly unsustainable as to warrant its removal without a substantive hearing,’ Justice David Mburu ruled.

The riders sued, claiming they were locked out of the platform without notice, reasons or access to evidence behind the decisions.

They say the suspensions denied them a livelihood and the ability to make loan payments for electric motorcycles financed through Greenwheels Electric Mobility Solutions Limited.

The riders say they faced financial hardship in the wake of the suspensions and the risk of auction.

They said Greenwheels Electric Mobility Solutions Limited repossessed motorcycles following the suspension of the affected riders’ accounts.

Filed in March 2026, the petition invokes constitutional protections for fair administrative action, access to information and consumer rights.

The riders claimed that repeated requests for information, including a formal demand dated December 22, 2025, went unanswered, leaving them without reasons for their deactivation or details of the alleged misconduct and evidence relied upon in terminating their accounts.

Uber Kenya asked the court to strike it out from the suit, saying the digital platform is owned and operated by Uber B.V., a separate company incorporated in the Netherlands.

It said its Kenyan role was limited to promotion, helping users register, and providing general support. It denied managing accounts, investigating rider conduct or deciding suspensions, and said it did not hold the information sought.

Disputing that it is a subsidiary of Uber B.V., the company explained that its shareholders are Uber International Holdings B.V. and Uber International B.V., which are separate legal entities.

It maintained that common shareholding does not justify lifting the corporate veil and that the riders have neither sought such relief nor demonstrated fraud, impropriety, sham or misuse of the corporate structure sufficient to warrant disregarding its separate legal personality.

The company said it could not comply with court orders about accounts or information it did not control, and its separate legal identity should be respected.

The riders disputed that position, arguing that Uber Kenya facilitates the platform’s operations locally and relied on an intercompany services agreement dated November 1, 2013. They said the agreement raised questions about its involvement.

Uber Kenya said the 2013 agreement expressly excluded an agency, partnership or joint venture, while riders argued that its actual conduct mattered more than the contract’s wording.

In regard to the alleged financial losses suffered by the riders, Uber Kenya said the loss cannot be attributed to its actions.

It maintained that the repossession of motorcycles arose from separate contractual arrangements between Greenwheels and the affected riders.

The riders maintained that Uber Kenya cannot benefit from Uber’s commercial operations in Kenya while disclaiming responsibility for actions affecting Kenyan users of the platform.

In its ruling, the court agreed that corporate links alone do not make one company liable for another’s actions.

But it said that principle did not settle whether Uber Kenya was properly included in the case.

‘The provision of promotional or support services does not, without more, render Uber Kenya responsible for every decision undertaken by Uber B.V.,’ the judge said.

He added that a contractual disclaimer of agency did not automatically resolve whether the company’s actual conduct created an independent legal obligation.

The court said Uber Kenya had not shown that its participation was wholly unnecessary. Evidence was needed to determine its role and access to relevant information.

‘Those matters remain disputed and must be determined on the evidence and the applicable law,’ he said, referring to whether Uber Kenya acted as an agent, participated in account decisions or was responsible for alleged rights violations.

Riders alleged that accounts were suspended after a meeting and some motorcycles were repossessed.

In another 2021 case, the High Court also declined to remove Uber Kenya from proceedings filed by Kanuri Limited and 33 others. The judge considered Uber Kenya’s communications on behalf of Uber B.V. relevant to agency.

Justice Mburu said the precedent did not require the company to remain a party in every app-related case. He dismissed Uber Kenya’s application, ordered that it remain a party and directed that the petition proceed to hearing.

The case is scheduled for mention on December 1, 2026.

Maotoanong Finishes His Life Race

This poetic bible verse, penned by apostle Paul, succinctly captures the life and legacy of the recently departed Gaone Leaname Maotoanong. The likable gentleman of the track passed on suddenly this past Thursday at the age of 35-years.

As a former national athletics team athlete, ‘Lux,’ as Maotoanong was affectionately known, knew how to fight a good fight and finish the race, in literal sense. Lux was team Botswana men’s 4x400m relay anchor when Botswana narrowly missed out on podium finish at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

That narrow miss out on the podium, and the negative energy directed towards him as an anchor could have discouraged many men. Not Lux though! He did not cringe. He fought back.

Two years post the Olympics, Maotoanong was the one who would set the pace for Botswana men’s 4x400m relay. This time, it was at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games down under in Australia. He was the first leg runner in the finals as Botswana stormed to a 4x400m relay gold at the games. Other members of that team were Baboloki Thebe, Onkabetse Nkobolo and Isaac Makwala, the latter running as the team anchor.

Not surprisingly, it was Maotoanong who took the microphone when the team arrived in Botswana from the games. During a presentation of prizes for the team at Orange Botswana, Lux uttered what may now seem as a prophetic statement.

‘The future is bright for us. If you could see gore rotlhe re kaenyana, le 2024 re tlabo re ntse re gella di phone hela. Ha go a hella gone ha,’ he said to a loud applause. This statement laid bare the faith the recently departed 400m runner had for the future of Botswana athletics.

He knew that the foundations had been laid. He had played his part in laying those foundations. Just as he had foretold, at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Botswana got her gold, two in fact. And one of those was in the men’s 4x400m relay. Prophesy fulfilled.

‘This is very painful. We lost not only an athlete but also a young leader. His passing has come as a shock for all of us because it was sudden. Losing someone so full of life so suddenly is difficult to comprehend,’ BAA president Oabona Theetso says.

The BAA president says as a young leader, Maotoanong was a calming force in the midst of crisis. His best show of leadership came at the Doha 2019 World Athletics Championships, which Theetso describes as the worst championships ever.

Ahead of the championships, Botswana lost two of its stars, Isaac Makwala and Baboloki Thebe to injuries. The two could not travel with the team. Once the team arrived in Doha, another star, Nijel Amos picked an injury at training.

And that was not all. Oratile Nowe and Galefele Moroko, who were part of the women’s 4x400m team also picked injuries. Moroko picked her injury in the quarterfinals of the women’s 400m. Their injuries meant Botswana could not compete in the women relays.

As if that was not enough, the men’s 4x400m relay team was also disqualified for starting outside the takeover zone. The disasters led to unhappiness and finger pointing within the camp, as some believed all these were acts of sabotage.

‘When chips were down and tensions were raging, Lux, who was our team captain, stood up to calm the storms. He became the voice of reason. He consoled us and told us to calm down as everything happened for a reason. That is what epitomised him as a young leader.’

‘It was because of this that he went on to become an athlete representative in our committees. Not just anyone could be elected to the post. That defined Lux as a person and a leader,’ Theetso reminisces.

The BAA president says it is not surprising therefore that his prophetic words in 2018 of athletics sweeping all incentives in 2024 had come to pass. ‘He was there when it all started. He played his part in setting the foundations.’

Fare Thee Well Champ, Gaone Leaname ‘Lux’ Maotoanong. You have run your race. You have earned your crown.

Farmers ditch family loans for banks, sacco borrowing

Kenyan farmers are shifting toward Saccos and commercial banks to finance their farms, with reliance on loans from family and friends falling as overall borrowing increases, a Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) survey shows.

The proportion of sampled farmers reporting loans from Saccos rose to 32 percent in September from 17 percent in July, while bank borrowing increased to 29 percent from 21 percent.

Over the same period, the share borrowing from family and friends dropped to 29 percent from 38 percent, reversing a pattern in which personal networks had remained the leading reported source of farm credit.

The shift coincided with a rise in the proportion of farmers who borrowed to finance agricultural activities, from 34 percent in July to 45 percent in September, pointing to greater use of credit to keep farms running.

‘Consistent with previous findings, trends in use of credit for various farming activities show that farmers typically borrow to purchase farm inputs, with the proportion reporting to have used farm credit this purpose at 91 percent in September 2026 compared to 81 percent in July 2026,’ said the CBK.

‘The proportion reporting using agricultural loans to meet labour costs stood at 60 percent in September 2026 compared to 49 percent in July 2026, pointing to the significant role of labour costs in the production process.’

The survey was conducted between September 21 and 25 among 466 respondents drawn from selected farms and food markets.

The growing use of formal lenders comes as farmers face elevated costs of buying seeds, fertiliser and pesticides, as well as paying workers and meeting other production expenses.

Other sources recorded mixed movements, with borrowing through informal savings and credit groups rising to 22 percent from 16 percent, while the proportion reporting digital loans fell to 13 percent from 16 percent.

The movement toward banks also comes amid a broader easing in commercial lending costs, with CBK data putting the average commercial bank lending rate at 14.4 percent in September 2026 at a time the Central Bank Rate stood at 8.75 percent.

Saccos offer another established channel for credit, with the sector’s regulated institutions holding Sh1.08 trillion in assets and extending Sh845.11 billion in gross loans by the end of 2024.

Banks and Saccos are lending into a sector where repayment depends partly on weather, harvest volumes, produce prices and the cost of getting crops to market.

The CBK’s September survey found that 76 percent of sampled farmers relied mainly on rain-fed agriculture, leaving production exposed to changes in rainfall.

The report also found that 97 percent of respondents identified weather conditions as a factor affecting retail prices, while 92 percent cited transport costs and 80 percent pointed to input prices.

Maynilad makes handwashing a community effort

At Daanghari Elementary School in Navotas City, hundreds of students line up for a handful of faucets. By the time the line reaches the back, the soap is already gone.

A teacher watched too many students face this problem and lamented how many of the kids sit down to eat or finish school activities with unwashed hands.

‘Lima na ang handwashing areas sa campus, kung tutuusin. Pero pag nagkasabay-sabay ‘pag PE or gardening or experiment, ‘yung iba di na nakakapaghugas,’ Grade 6 Math teacher Elmer Espritu said. “Nakakabahala rin dahil puwedeng mag-cause ng pagkalat ng sakit ‘yon sa kanila. Apektado ang attendance at performance sa klase.”

Handwashing with soap is one of the most effective ways to reduce disease transmission. According to several clinical studies, handwashing lessens the risk of illness by 30% and reduces diarrheal morbidity by 20%.

During the week of Global Handwashing Day, Maynilad Water Services Inc. eased the shortage of taps in schools as the company installed modular handwashing stations in ten campuses: six schools in Navotas, Daanghari among them, and four schools in Muntinlupa. It all starts with water

On paper, most schools have basic handwashing facilities. According to the latest report by the Department of Education, 92.4% of public elementary schools in the country have access to handwashing facilities on campus. The figure is 89% for public junior high schools, while public senior high schools have 85.3%. Overall, that leaves roughly one in nine public junior high schools and one in seven public senior high schools without them.

‘Mahal pa naman magkasakit, at marami sa mga estudyante namin ay galing sa low-income families,’ Grade 4 MAPE teacher Felizardo C. Clemente said. ‘Siyempre, kung nakakapaghugas ng kamay, nakakaiwas sa sakit. Kung walang sakit, iwas gastos sa gamot at doktor.’

Maynilad’s Rosmon Tuazon, head of corporate marketing, said the stations are meant to close that gap and give schools the facilities they need.

‘We recognize that not all schools have sufficient handwashing areas,’ Tuazon said. ‘Having these facilities encourages more students to develop a habit, and it makes it accessible for all to do it more often.’

Combining hygiene and environment education

Maynilad also took the lesson beyond the faucet through its WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) and environmental education initiatives. They told the students of Sucat Senior High School in Muntinlupa City why reliable water is crucial to the success of a hygiene campaign. They taught Daanghari Elementary School students why water conservation matters. The company also shared how the management of wastewater completes the picture of a healthy and vibrant community. The goal is simple: nobody gets sick, and this starts at home and is carried to key public spaces like schools.

Maynilad’s Marie Antonette H. De Ocampo, vice president and head of corporate affairs and communications, said the lesson is as much about forming the right habits and water conservation as it is about water resources and supply networks.

‘A healthy community starts with what children learn early,’ De Ocampo explains. ‘When they know where water comes from and where it goes, they take care of both.’

The many hands that keep it going

‘We always go back to the basics of a hygiene campaign: provide the right tools, encourage the right habit,’ Tuazon said. ‘Students and teachers use handwashing stations. Administrators maintain the facilities. Advocates like Maynilad help fill gaps such as the need to sustain awareness. Each of these players makes it possible for the school to turn handwashing into a habit.

The habit also leaves the campus. Children who practice it at school carry it back home, teach their siblings, and remind their parents to wash up before meals.

‘We aim to turn WASH into a community effort,’ De Ocampo said. ‘We want households to learn not to take each drop for granted. We need customers to report leaks. We need people to protect rivers and other bodies of water. Water, sanitation, hygiene, education, and the environment may sound like separate agendas. In our WASH education drives, they all meet at the faucet.’

Back in the line, the students wash more often now. A teacher watches, and this time, he sees students scrub between their fingers, without needing to be reminded.

Nuclear study accelerated in bid to install reactors by 2037

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) has accelerated a study on nuclear energy adoption, setting a target to launch Thailand’s first commercial small modular reactor (SMR) by 2037.

The initiative forms a core part of the nation’s 2026 Power Development Plan, aiming to secure clean, stable energy while mitigating exposure to volatile global liquefied natural gas prices.

According to Siriwat Chedsi, Egat’s deputy governor for power plant development and renewable energy, the agency has commenced a pre-feasibility study to evaluate prospective technologies and potential construction sites.

He said the SMR project has a planned generation capacity of 300 megawatts (MW) and was expected to initiate commercial operations in 2037.

Capital expenditure has been projected at 60-70 billion baht.

Although upfront capital investment costs are higher than traditional fossil-fuel plants, SMRs feature an extended operating lifespan of 60-70 years – roughly triple the lifespan of a standard natural gas plant.

This durability offsets initial expenses, promising more stable long-term electricity tariffs and lower lifetime generation costs, according to the deputy governor.

‘SMRs are widely regarded around the world as a promising and reliable source of low-carbon electricity,’ said Mr Siriwat during the Strengthening Thailand’s SMR Pathway: Strategy and Project Implementation conference, co-organised on Oct 26 by Egat and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The event was aimed to enhance understanding of SMR technology among Thailand’s energy agencies as the country prepares for the potential deployment of SMR power plants.

‘We are committed to ensuring that Thailand systematically develop knowledge and institutional capabilities. This is essential for evaluating all appropriate energy options and supporting well-informed decision-making,’ said Sompop Pattanariyankool, deputy permanent secretary at the Energy Ministry, who presided over the conference.

Egat has been working closely with IAEA to align safety standards, technology selection, and regulatory frameworks with global best practices.

Mr Siriwat said site selection for project development and safety standards will be evaluated following strict IAEA guidelines prioritising safety, seismic stability and abundant water resources for cooling infrastructure.

While the Eastern Economic Corridor has been placed under preliminary review as a high-potential zone due to heavy industrial power demand, final site determinations depend heavily on forthcoming consultant recommendations and environmental risk assessments.

To oversee the nuclear programme transparently, Egat plans to propose the establishment of a dedicated Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organisation whose function would be similar to an atomic regulatory body, in coordination with the Energy Ministry and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation.

Recognising public sensitivities around nuclear energy, Egat has prioritised transparent communication and public outreach, beginning with governmental alignment before expanding community-level education campaigns in potential host regions.

With global energy markets fluctuating, Egat views SMR technology as a strategic bridge toward Thailand’s long-term carbon neutrality goals, offering continuous 24-hour power generation to support future industrial demands, data centres and electric vehicle infrastructure.

Nateekul Kriangchaiporn, Egat’s head for the SMR power plant preparation project, said that after the first SMR operates, Thailand is set to install more SMRs as the country aims to generate a total of 9,000MW of electricity from nuclear energy by 2050.

Egat is closely collaborating with key national bodies in addition to the Energy Ministry. They include the Office of Atoms for Peace and the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology.

Switzerland has confirmed arrival of evacuated Ebola patient – Health minister

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, says Swiss authorities have confirmed the arrival of the Ebola patient evacuated from Nigeria.

Pate disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Monday, saying the patient was receiving treatment at Geneva University Hospitals, while her spouse was in isolation at the University Hospital Zurich.

‘The Swiss authorities have confirmed that the patient and her spouse arrived safely in Switzerland today,’ the minister said.

He added that the evacuation was made possible through cooperation between Nigerian and Swiss authorities, with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Pate said Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider conveyed Switzerland’s appreciation for the care provided by Nigerian health professionals and the cooperation between the two countries.

‘In our telephone conversation, Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider conveyed Switzerland’s appreciation for the care provided by Nigerian health professionals and the close cooperation between our authorities and WHO that made the evacuation possible,’ he said.

The minister expressed appreciation to the clinical and public health teams in Nigeria and Switzerland, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Swiss health authorities and the WHO for their roles in facilitating the evacuation.

He, however, said public health measures remained ongoing in Nigeria to contain the disease.

‘Here in Nigeria, contact monitoring, investigation of alerts and other containment measures continue,’ he said.

Nigeria ready for Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship debut

Nigeria is set to participate in the 2026 Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship scheduled to hold in India next week, the country’s kabaddi leader, Daniel Damola, has confirmed.

Damola disclosed this during a visit to Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu in Calabar at the weekend, where he highlighted the importance of the competition to the development of the sport in Nigeria.

Kabaddi is a popular contact tean sport that originated in ancient India. It is played between two teams of seven players, where the main objective is for a single offensive player – called a ‘raider’ – to run into the opposing team’s half of the court, tag out as many of their defenders as possible, and return to their own half, all without being tackled and within a single breath.

He said participation would expose Nigerian athletes to international competition, improve their skills and encourage more young people to take up the sport.

Damola commended Otu for supporting the introduction and development of kabaddi in Cross River State, describing him as the first Nigerian governor to endorse the sport.

He said kabaddi, which is popular in several Asian countries, was gradually gaining ground in Africa.

The technical head of the team, Collins Eko, also commended the governor’s interest in sports, expressing confidence that the athletes would represent Nigeria and Cross River State well at the championship.

Otu pledged appropriate support for the Nigerian athletes ahead of the competition, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to sports development and youth empowerment.

BIR pauses seal badge rule for online sellers, creators

The Bureau of Internal Revenue has suspended until the mandatory online display of its Registration Seal Badge for for online sellers, content creators and other covered taxpayers.

“We have heard the concerns of online sellers, content creators, and other taxpayers regarding data privacy, technical issues, and the scope of the BIR Registration Seal Badge requirement,” BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin said.

Under Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 113-2026 issued Monday, October 26, taxpayers who have already secured their badges may opt to continue displaying them on their online platforms.

No penalties shall be imposed for the failure of disclosing the BIR Registration Seal Badge during the suspension, the circular said.

“The suspension will allow the BIR to address privacy and technical concerns and review the implementation of the requirement,” he added.

The BIR said it would coordinate with the National Privacy Commission and consult affected taxpayers and other stakeholders as it reviews the policy.

What the badge was for

The registration seal badge was introduced under RMC No. 38-2026 in April as an alternative to requiring taxpayers with an online business presence to display their full Certificate of Registration on websites, e-commerce pages and business-related social media accounts.

The badge carries a QR code that allows customers to verify a taxpayer’s BIR registration without requiring the full registration certificate to be posted publicly.

The rule covers online sellers and merchants, digital service providers, freelancers, professionals and content creators earning through digital platforms.

The BIR had previously extended the compliance deadline to October 31. As of October 14, more than 52,700 certificates of registration carrying the badge had been secured by online sellers, service providers and content creators.

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Senator reacts to suspension. Sen. Bam Aquino welcomed the BIR’s decision after earlier calling on the agency to listen to concerns raised by small businesses, online sellers and content creators.

“Thank you very much, BIR, for suspending the Registration Seal Badge,” Aquino said in Filipino.

“Let us continue listening to the concerns of our fellow Filipinos and make doing business easier, especially for small entrepreneurs, content creators and online sellers,” he added.

CCC takes lead on carbon market

THE Climate Change Commission (CCC) is taking the helm of the newly formed Inter-Agency Committee on Carbon Markets (IACCM), following the signing of Executive Order 127 by President Marcos.

The breakthrough order sets up a clear, solid game plan for the Philippines to tap into global carbon trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, as well as the Voluntary Carbon Market-opening the floodgates for fresh international climate finance and green investments.

Under EO 127, the CCC will serve as both chairman and secretariat for the IACCM, guiding multi-agency strategy, technical support, and day-to-day operations. Joining the CCC on this powerhouse panel are: the Department of Finance (DOF) as vice chairman with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as members.

Together, the committee will roll out clear guidelines for carbon projects-covering everything from eligibility and credit issuance to benefit-sharing, safeguards, and tracking registries.

‘Carbon markets can help advance these goals by providing an additional channel for private capital and international climate finance. Credible carbon projects can support emissions reduction and other climate solutions. Clear rules and reliable accounting will help protect environmental integrity and give investors greater certainty,’ said CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje.

This initiative directly aligns with Chapter 15 of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, aiming to boost disaster resilience, accelerate climate action, and transition to a low-carbon economy.

Here is what the new setup delivers across the board:

For investors and developers: Clear rules and predictable approval processes mean lower risks and greater confidence when funding green projects.

For local communities: Strict safeguards and fair benefit-sharing guidelines ensure local interests are protected and community gains are real.

For the Government: Streamlined coordination prevents double-counting of carbon credits and guarantees that market activities align with the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets.

As the main coordinator for the national greenhouse gas inventory (under EO 174) and lead agency for the Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework, the CCC already manages the vital emissions data needed to make carbon trading credible and accountable.

‘As chairman of the Inter-Agency Committee on Carbon Markets, the CCC supports President Marcos’s vision to ensure that carbon market participation advances our national climate goals and public interest,’ Borje also said.