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ADC South-West reaffirms support for Atiku

The leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the South-West has reaffirmed its unity and support for the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a press statement signed on November 2, 2026, by the South-West National Vice Chairman, Akin Omole, and six state chairmen, the leaders said there was no rift, division or leadership crisis within the ADC in the South-West.

‘The zonal leadership and six state chairmen remain united in purpose and determined to strengthen the party’s structures across the region,’ the statement said.

‘We fully support Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate. We recognise his leadership, political experience and national vision, and remain committed to working closely with him, the National Working Committee, National Chairman Senator David Mark, National Secretary Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and other stakeholders to deliver a historic victory in 2027.’

The leaders also reaffirmed their confidence in the leadership and political coordination of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola across the South-West.

They said the meeting held in Ibadan on September 4, 2026, was a strategic gathering convened to discuss how the ADC could strengthen its structures and deliver the South-West for Atiku and all party candidates.

‘It focused on political strategy, grassroots mobilisation, stakeholder engagement and organisational coordination. It was not a meeting against the presidential candidate, national leadership or any individual within the party,’ the statement said.

The ADC South-West leadership said there was no virtual meeting with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on September 5, 2026, describing the claim as false and fabricated.

‘Any claim that such a meeting took place, or that it was held to resolve an alleged internal crisis, is false and fabricated. We consider this a deliberate attempt by political opponents to sow discord and weaken the party’s growing cohesion,’ they said.

‘We urge members and supporters to disregard such divisive narratives. For the avoidance of doubt, we stand solidly with our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. There is no disagreement, hostility or division between the South-West leadership and our presidential candidate.’

The leaders said political consultations and strategic meetings were normal features of a growing party and should be understood as efforts to strengthen the ADC and prepare for electoral success.

‘We are intensifying grassroots mobilisation, voter engagement, membership expansion and consolidation of party structures. Our mission is to deliver victories for presidential, governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly candidates across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States,’ they said.

‘We urge party members, supporters and the public not to be distracted by narratives designed to create suspicion or division. We remain focused, united and determined. ADC is united. There is no rift. There is no division. We are working together to deliver the South-West for Atiku Abubakar and all ADC candidates in 2027.’

Supreme Court to hear Sh17bn Narok investor award appeal

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal by the Attorney-General challenging a Sh17.3 billion award to a Narok investor over the State’s failure to stop the invasion of his ranch and destruction of property by locals over three decades ago.

A five-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Martha Koome ruled that the appeal falls within the court’s jurisdiction because it raises issues concerning the interpretation and application of the Constitution.

The judges said a review of the record of appeal showed that one of the grounds challenges the Court of Appeal’s finding that the State violated Nguruman Limited’s right to property under Article 40 of the Constitution.

‘Consequently, we are satisfied that the appeal does fall within the confines of this Court’s appellate jurisdiction under Article 163(4)(a) of the Constitution,’ the court ruled.

The judges added that the lower courts had applied Article 40 in determining that the State violated the investor’s right to property, making the constitutional provision a subject of adjudication in the proceedings.

The Court of Appeal had ordered the government to compensate the investor following the invasion and takeover of its expansive ranch in Narok by locals, which began in 1991.

The appellate court held that the police’s failure to act despite numerous requests and court orders to stop the invasion, destruction and illegal occupation of the property amounted to an untenable abdication of the State’s foremost duty: ‘namely the protection of private property’.

It agreed with the trial court that the State was liable for violating the investor’s right to property, saying the prolonged failure by the police and other government agencies to enforce court orders and protect the land, coupled with the conduct of State officials during the invasion, amounted to acquiescence and a breach of Article 40.

The Attorney General subsequently moved to the Supreme Court to challenge the decision.

However, Martin Richard Steyn opposed the appeal, arguing that the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain it.

He submitted that the case did not raise any constitutional controversy because the Court of Appeal had relied on the common law principle of negligence in determining the liability of the National Police Service, rather than interpreting or applying the Constitution.

Mr Steyn argued that the appeal was merely an attempt to have the Supreme Court review concurrent findings of fact and conclusions reached by the two lower courts, a mandate that does not fall within its jurisdiction.

He further pointed out that some of the issues raised by the Attorney General had not been canvassed or determined by the lower courts.

These included whether the investor should have been awarded damages for violation of its rights under Article 23(3) of the Constitution instead of compensation based on the value of the property.

The Attorney General, however, maintained that the appeal raises questions concerning the interpretation and application of various constitutional provisions on the extent of State responsibility in protecting property and the principles governing compensation for constitutional violations, among other issues.

Nguruman Limited sued the government, saying it was the registered proprietor of land known as LR No. Narok/Nguruman/Kamorora/1, measuring approximately 66,700 acres.

The property is situated in the Nguruman area of Narok County, near Lake Magadi, and borders two group ranches.

Mr Steyn told the court that he entered into discussions with the neighbouring group ranches around 1983, with a view to leasing or acquiring the land. The court heard that the first invasion occurred in 1991 when armed members of the neighbouring Shompole Group Ranch trespassed onto the southern section of the property, causing damage.

The investor went to court and obtained orders, but they were allegedly not enforced.

In an attempt to resolve the dispute, the investor and local representatives reportedly held discussions. However, instead of leaving the property, more invaders joined the occupation and began cultivating the land.

Soon afterwards, armed groups invaded the ranch, violently ejecting the company’s employees from its Olduvai and Nkareketi camps before looting and destroying property.

The invaders later took possession of Laro Camp, completing the investor’s expulsion from the expansive ranch.

The Environment and Land Court had initially awarded the investor Sh33 billion, prompting the Attorney General to appeal on the grounds that the government had not taken over the property.

The court heard that Nguruman Limited remained the registered owner of the land, although the actual acreage was disputed. The dispute over the size of the property was to be resolved by the National Land Commission.

The court subsequently ordered the government to pay Nguruman Limited Sh16.7 billion as compensation for the land, Sh340 million for the destruction of its lodges and Sh162 million for the destruction of electricity and water supply systems and other installations.

The government was also ordered to pay Sh61.1 million for the loss of assets, furniture and consumables, Sh11.2 million for motor vehicles stolen during the invasion and Sh39.4 million for trees destroyed by the invaders.

’Tonner bags for rice can cut handling time and costs’

The National Food Authority (NFA) said using 1-metric ton (MT) bags for its palay purchases slashed handling time and costs, providing additional procurement funds.

NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said a pilot test on the toner bag system at their warehouse in Davao del Sur showed a 75-percent reduction in handling time and a 50 percent cut in handling costs.

‘Work that used to take an hour can now be completed in just 15 minutes, while handling costs are halved. Using tonner bags also allows us to make better use of warehouse space,’ he added.

For Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who chairs the NFA Council, the potential savings could benefit farmers by allowing the grains agency to stretch its procurement budget and buy more palay from them.

‘For our rice farmers, this means we can potentially procure more palay with the same resources. If we can lower handling costs and use our warehouses more efficiently, more of the NFA’s resources can go toward buying palay at a fair market price from our farmers.’

Launched in October 2025, the pilot uses tonner bags in three NFA branches in Nueva Ecija, Occidental Mindoro, and Davao del Sur.

The Davao del Sur trial covers receiving, weighing, handling, and stacking, but excludes milling and distribution, it added.

Each bag is made of woven polypropylene designed to resist moisture and dust. Reinforced lifting loops allow forklifts to move the bags, reducing manual lifting, sack sewing, and stacking, according to the NFA.

‘This is part of our efforts to ensure that our stocks are food-safe and to make NFA operations more efficient and modern,’ Lacson said.

He added that the agency aims to set warehousing standards that the private sector can emulate.

The pilot also found that moisture levels remained within safe limits and spillage was minimal during the observation period. Pest infestation ranged from light to moderate and remained manageable.

The trial, however, identified operational gaps that should be addressed before wider adoption.

These include standardizing fumigation procedures for bulk stacks, testing bag compression and structural strength to establish safe stacking limits, and developing pest-control protocols suited to bulk storage.

The NFA said it would continue monitoring the system and refining its procedures before considering broader implementation.

Tanzania promises more teaching jobs, prioritises long-waiting graduates

Dodoma. The government has pledged to recruit more teachers in the 2026/27 financial year, prioritising schools with the greatest shortages and graduates who have waited longest for formal employment.

The pledge comes amid a persistent teacher shortage, particularly in science subjects, with the national deficit exceeding 33 percent.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Dr Festo Dugange, told Parliament on Monday, November 2, 2026, that recruitment would continue to address the growing demand, although applicants would have to undergo interviews.

‘Taking into account the country’s demand for teachers, the government has continued recruiting teachers every year to address the shortage,’ he said.

Dr Dugange was responding to Bukoba Rural MP Jasson Rweikiza (CCM), who sought to know when the government would address shortages in primary and secondary schools.

He attributed the growing demand partly to increased enrolment following the introduction of fee-free education and construction of new schools nationwide.

He said the government had recruited 64,772 teachers between the 2021/22 and 2025/26 financial years, including 15,054 in the last financial year.

‘The recruits had been deployed to areas with the greatest demand, particularly rural schools,’ he said.

Despite the recruitment, the country continued to face a shortage of science teachers, partly because most unemployed graduates seeking teaching jobs were not specialised in science subjects.

Dr Dugange said applicants, including those who had volunteered in schools while awaiting formal employment, would still be required to sit interviews.

‘Those seeking employment as teachers must undergo interviews,’ he said, adding that successful candidates would be considered based on their waiting period after graduation and age.

The clarification means voluntary teaching experience does not guarantee employment, although the government will consider how long graduates have waited for jobs.

He said recruitment would continue annually, alongside the filling of vacancies arising from retirement and other departures from the public service.

The government also plans to engage volunteer teachers under the 2026 guidelines on volunteering in the public service.

Meanwhile, preparations are under way to meet growing demand for teachers and school facilities as more pupils are expected to join Form One in 2028.

Embracing the brighter side of life after niece’s miscarriage

An unexpected loss did not faze Lilia Vargas when her balikbayan niece arrived from Ireland on Monday after suffering a miscarriage.

On Monday, All Souls’ Day, Vargas waited for the arrival of her niece and three nephews at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

The four of them work in Ireland.

Lilia was hoping to meet her three-month-pregnant niece Lilith, who, unfortunately, had a miscarriage a month prior.

‘We were surprised… We thought we were going to have a grandchild. It turns out she had a miscarriage,’ Lilia told the Inquirer in an interview.

Despite the tragic news, Lilia kept a wide smile on her face, excited that she finally got to spend time with family, whom she had not seen in four years.

Homecoming

‘Let’s just leave it at that. We’re happy that, because of the Lord, they got home. The flight was okay. The trip was okay. They arrived safely. Everything was okay,’ she said.

Lilia also noted the importance of spending time with family, excitedly sharing that she would be taking her niece and nephews to Bacolod City.

‘It’s important for me and my family to meet up to bond. Let’s get together because there will come a time when you want to see each other, but then you can’t… So while there’s time to go, go ahead, go, go,’ she explained.

It was apparent that Lilia was the type to see the bright side of things, even in difficult times.

Support system

Talking to the Inquirer, Lilith said she was 11 weeks pregnant when she ended up at the hospital due to bleeding.

The cause is unknown, she was told. But with a month-long visit to her home country already set in stone, Lilith said that being close to family is the support she needed.

NGX sheds N35bn as bearish sentiment weighs on equities

Nigerian equities market opened the new trading week on a bearish note on Monday, as renewed selling pressure on heavyweight stocks dragged market capitalisation down by N35.25 billion, amid weak investor sentiment and mixed sectoral performance.

The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) All-Share Index declined marginally by 0.02 per cent to 254,245.21 points, moderating its year-to-date return to 63.38 per cent, while market capitalisation fell to N165.08 trillion.

Market breadth remained weak, reflecting subdued appetite for equities, as 41 stocks closed in the red against 21 gainers, translating to a breadth ratio of 0.5 times.

The decline was led by Champion Breweries, SUNU Assurances and Aradel Holdings, which featured among the worst-performing stocks during the session.

The performance suggests that investors remained cautious, with limited buying interest in major stocks failing to offset losses across several sectors.

Sectoral performance was largely negative, as four of the six tracked sectors closed lower. The Oil and Gas index led the decline, shedding 3.75 per cent, followed by the Commodities sector, which fell 2.76 per cent.

The Banking index declined by 1.79 per cent, while Consumer Goods lost 1.17 per cent, reflecting broad-based selling pressure across key market segments.

However, the Industrial sector bucked the trend, advancing 3.34 per cent to emerge as the strongest performer, while the Insurance index gained 0.93 per cent.

Trading activity also weakened considerably, with both volume and value of transactions declining, although the number of deals increased sharply.

Turnover fell by 44.67 per cent to N47.48 billion, while traded volume dropped by 48.15 per cent to 517.26 million shares.

In contrast, the number of transactions increased by 42.63 per cent to 54,015 deals, suggesting that trading remained active despite the decline in the overall value and volume of shares exchanged.

Market analysts expect sustained selling pressure and weak breadth to constrain the market’s near-term recovery, although selective bargain-hunting in fundamentally attractive stocks could help moderate further losses.

Despite Monday’s marginal decline, the equities market maintained a year-to-date gain of 63.38 per cent, underscoring the substantial appreciation recorded since the beginning of the year.

CCC calls for sustainable urban housing

IN observance of World Cities Day 2026, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) called on local governments (LGU) and urban stakeholders to integrate climate resilience into housing and urban development strategies.

Highlighting this year’s theme, ‘Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All,’ the CCC underscored the critical role of cities in fighting global warming.

With urban areas driving a significant share of global carbon dioxide emissions, transforming towns into low-carbon economies remains vital to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goal 11.

‘Urban regeneration is not just about building new structures; it is about rethinking how our cities function in a changing climate,’ said CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje. ‘Every housing unit, every drainage system, and every transport network must be designed with climate risk in mind.’

To drive localized action, the Commission is accelerating efforts to integrate the long-term National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023-2050 into local planning, prioritizing sustainable land use and urban management.

Collaborative initiatives are already underway across the country. Earlier this year, the CCC partnered with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to align Metro Manila’s infrastructure programs with national climate policies, tackling severe risks like extreme flooding, sea-level rise, and urban heat.

The agency also highlighted Quezon City’s leadership as the sole Philippine member of the international C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, describing it as a benchmark for leveraging global support for local adaptation.

Emphasizing that urban development and climate defense must go hand in hand, the CCC urged multi-sectoral cooperation across national agencies, local governments, private stakeholders, and communities.

‘The cities we regenerate today will determine the resilience of our communities for decades to come,’ Borje noted. ‘We must build forward better, ensuring that adequate housing and urban development go hand in hand with climate adaptation and mitigation.’

Stop Personal Attacks Over Nawara Licence Cancellation – CMS-PRO Tells Kpebu

Management of CMS-PRO and A and A Southern Industries Ltd. has cautioned legal practitioner Martin Kpebu to exercise professionalism, restraint and objectivity in his public commentary on the revocation of Nawara Company Limited’s mining concession.

The companies urged Mr. Kpebu to establish facts and obtain credible information before making public statements on television and social media, rather than engaging in speculation or allegations that could mislead the public.

Management expressed concern over what it describes as repeated personal attacks by Mr. Kpebu against Mr. Alfred Mahama, brother of President John Dramani Mahama, in connection with the Nawara concession controversy.

According to the companies, the revocation is a regulatory matter that should be examined based on facts, relevant documents and applicable mining laws, not personal interests, political sentiments or attempts to seek public sympathy.

They said the circumstances surrounding the revocation can be independently verified through the Minerals Commission, which holds relevant records and documentation.

Management categorically stated that Mr. Mahama had no involvement in the revocation and is not a shareholder in either of the two Ghanaian companies that subsequently acquired the concession following Nawara’s alleged failure to meet regulatory obligations.

The companies insist their acquisition followed applicable regulatory processes and should not be linked to personal interests or alleged involvement of any individual.

The companies have challenged Mr. Kpebu to rely on verifiable facts and documentary evidence in his public engagements, given his professional background and availability of established regulatory channels.

They advised him to desist from statements they consider unfounded or personally damaging to Mr. Alfred Mahama and to allow facts surrounding the concession to speak for themselves.

Management warned it reserves the right to pursue legal action should what it considers defamatory and unsubstantiated allegations against Mr. Alfred Mahama and the companies persist.

It reiterated that the Nawara mining concession matter is fundamentally regulatory and should be addressed through facts, documentary evidence and respect for rule of law, rather than personal attacks, speculation or attempts to influence public opinion.

FG unveils vision for modern fire rescue service

The Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has reiterated the Federal Government’s determination to transform the Federal Fire Service into a full-fledged fire and rescue service.

The Minister disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the 2026 National Fire Safety Week under the theme ‘Building a Fire-Resilient Nigeria: One Community at a Time.’

Dr. Tunji-Ojo identified the outdated legal framework as the major obstacle to reform stating that the Fire Service Act which dates back to more than 60 years cannot adequately support the demands of a modern fire and rescue service.

‘No matter how good an action is if the law does not empower you to do it it becomes illegal’ the Minister stated.

He commended the Comptroller-General of the Federal Fire Service Olumode Samuel Adeyemi for the achievements recorded under the existing legal framework particularly the significant improvement in response times.

The Minister in a statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry Mrs Mary Ali emphasized that the proposed new law would provide the necessary legal backing for even greater performance.

Tunji-Ojo called for stronger fire inspections and enforcement of fire safety codes supported by trained fire marshals in every district and community. He also advocated the integration of rescue techniques and basic life-saving skills into school curricula at all levels to equip more Nigerians with the knowledge to perform basic resuscitation during emergencies.

He urged the Federal Fire Service to collaborate with educational institutions to make these skills a national norm.

The Minister disclosed that the National Fire Academy situated on approximately 23 hectares of land in Sheda Kwali FCT is 85 per cent complete and expected to be ready by the end of the year.

The facility will feature drill towers classrooms a library a training centre a health centre and hostel accommodation for more than 3000 trainees at a time. It will also be powered by solar energy.

He added that the fire hydrant facility is expected to be completed by December while the National Fire Academy will be commissioned upon completion.

Dr. Tunji-Ojo disclosed that the Federal Government had cleared a backlog of more than 50000 promotions across the Ministry’s paramilitary agencies. He stated that promotions are now concluded before December each year.

According to him the 2026 promotion exercise has been completed while preparations for the 2027 exercise have commenced. He further revealed that nearly 100000 promotions had been effected in less than 10 years.

The Minister disclosed that approximately 5000 candidates were in the final stage of the latest recruitment exercise which involves drug testing documentation and deployment.

He also announced that the number of Federal Fire Service commands had increased from six to 18 creating more opportunities for career advancement. In addition he confirmed that officers’ risk allowances and other allowances had been approved.

18 receive medical aid during Undas observance in Iloilo City

At least 18 people, including elderly cemetery visitors, received medical assistance during the observance of Undas, or All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, in Iloilo City.

In a situational report released at 8 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, the Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) said medical teams deployed to cemeteries attended to patients aged 23 to 84.

Among them was an 81-year-old woman who reportedly lost consciousness for about 30 seconds while visiting Christ the King Memorial Park in Jaro district.

Emergency responders checked her vital signs, stabilized her condition and administered first aid, according to the report.

A 72-year-old woman also complained of chest pain at the La Paz Old Cemetery, where responders checked her blood pressure and conducted a physical assessment.

Another 70-year-old woman experienced lower back and hip pain after slipping at the Molo Public Cemetery.

The report did not indicate whether any of the patients required hospitalization.

Other medical complaints included dizziness, headaches, elevated blood sugar, and minor injuries.

A 54-year-old woman at the Molo Public Cemetery was attended to for hyperglycemia, or elevated blood sugar, while a 52-year-old woman experienced dizziness at the La Paz Old Cemetery.

A 58-year-old woman also sought assistance for dizziness at the Jaro Public Cemetery.

Three men, aged 23, 28 and 40, received treatment for lacerations, including injuries to the forehead and left foot.

Several other cemetery visitors underwent blood pressure checks and physical assessments.

The City Health Office, Philippine Red Cross-Iloilo Chapter, volunteer emergency medical teams and other response groups provided medical assistance.

The Philippine Red Cross established six first-aid stations in different cemeteries, while the City Health Office deployed medical teams and positioned ambulances for possible patient transport.

Medical assistance desks were also set up at the Tanza and Molo public cemeteries.

The EOC report showed that the City Health Office attended to six patients, the Philippine Red Cross to five, and the La Paz National High School Disaster Risk Reduction and Management team to three.

Other patients were assisted by volunteer emergency response groups.

The city government maintained a blue alert status during the observance, requiring emergency response personnel and participating agencies to remain on heightened readiness.

Authorities had anticipated between 250,000 and 350,000 residents and travelers visiting cemeteries and passing through transport terminals and seaports during the extended holiday period.