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The Michael Adeniyin Koleosho Polytechnic, Saki, Oyo State, has intensified efforts to secure accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for additional programmes being offered by the institution.

The move, according to the management of the polytechnic, is aimed at expanding opportunities for students, particularly those completing four-year Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes, to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

Among the programmes being presented for accreditation are engineering-related courses, Business Administration, HND Mass Communication and other related programmes, and already, more than 90 courses have been accredited at the institution.

As part of the accreditation process, a team from the NBTE recently visited the polytechnic to inspect its facilities, equipment and other resources required for the proposed programmes.

The team conducted the resource inspection and assessed the facilities and equipment available for the various programmes.

At the end of the exercise, the NBTE team expressed satisfaction with the facilities and equipment provided by the institution, while encouraging the management to sustain its efforts towards the development of the polytechnic.

The team also commended the management for the quality of equipment available at the institution and urged it to continue investing in the development of the polytechnic.

Following the exercise, the NBTE team visited the palace of the Okere of Saki to receive royal blessings.

The accreditation drive is part of the efforts of the management, under the leadership of the Rector, Dr Ajibola Sikiru, to further develop the institution and expand its range of accredited programmes.

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command for allegedly defiling a three-year-old girl in Saki, Oyo.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday, saying the child went missing while she was being retrieved from school on September 17, 2026.

According to the police, a distress report was lodged at the Saki Divisional Police Station at about 6:00 p.m. after the child could not be found.

The statement said a search operation mounted by the police subsequently led to the discovery of the child by the roadside in a distressed condition.

It added that preliminary inquiries revealed that the suspect had allegedly taken the child by force to his apartment, where the alleged sexual assault occurred.

‘Prompted by this revelation, detectives swiftly visited and secured the scene of the crime, resulting in the immediate arrest of the suspect and the recovery of critical physical evidence linked to the offence,’ the statement said.

Following her rescue, the victim was taken to a medical facility in Saki, where the police said she was receiving clinical treatment and psychotherapeutic care.

The command said it had activated investigations into the incident, while assuring that the identity and privacy of the child and her family would be protected in line with child protection laws and ethical guidelines.

The police further said the case had been transferred to the Gender Desk of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, Ibadan, for further investigation and prosecution.

The command reiterated its zero-tolerance stance against child abuse and sexual violence and assured that efforts would be made to ensure that justice was served.

Former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Dr Abdulrasheed Maina, has responded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) declaration of him as a wanted man, calling for details of the allegation contained in the commission’s public notice.

Maina’s position was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by his Senior Media and Legal Assistant, Emmanuel Umahi Ekwe, Esq., following the EFCC’s publication declaring him wanted over what the commission described as an ‘alleged case of receiving stolen properties’.

The statement described the EFCC publication as a mere allegation pending the disclosure of the particulars and circumstances upon which it is founded.

The legal assistant noted that the published notice did not disclose the nature or description of the alleged stolen property, the alleged transaction, the person or persons from whom the property was allegedly received, the date or circumstances of the alleged offence, or the specific legal basis upon which the declaration was made.

The statement reads in part: ‘It would therefore be premature for us to speculate on facts that have not been made available to us.’

The statement further noted that Maina has been involved in several legal proceedings over the years, some of which have been determined, while others remain subject to the judicial process.

While cautioning against conflating the latest EFCC notice with previous proceedings or judicial determinations, Maina, in the statement, insisted that each matter should be considered on its own facts and legal foundation.

‘We are presently taking steps to obtain and examine the relevant information concerning this latest development and to advise appropriately on the legal position,’ the statement added.

Maina’s legal team also urged the media and members of the public to exercise restraint while the matter proceeds through due process.

An allegation contained in a law-enforcement publication, according to the statement, should not, by itself, be treated as a final determination of criminal liability.

The statement added that further clarification would be provided where appropriate after the necessary information had been obtained and instructions received.

Delta Air Lines is set to expand its operations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), with more than 200 daily departures planned at the peak of the summer 2027 schedule, strengthening connectivity for travellers within the United States and beyond.

The expansion, which Delta described as the largest and most premium experience in its history at LAX, will combine increased capacity with investments in airport facilities, premium services and onboard products.

The airline said the expanded LAX operation, together with its partners, will provide more than 200 daily departures during the summer peak.

Commenting on the development, Chief Revenue and Experience Officer at Los Angeles World Airports, Courtney Moore, said airline investment in connectivity was critical to strengthening Los Angeles as a global destination.

‘Los Angeles shapes, transforms, and influences the world, and LAX is proud to be the gateway connecting travellers to our city,’ Moore noted.

For Nigerian travellers, the expansion adds another routing option to Delta’s wider U.S. network. Delta operates nonstop services between Lagos and Atlanta, allowing passengers from Nigeria to connect through its Atlanta hub to destinations across the United States.

The increased LAX operation is particularly relevant to passengers travelling to California and other destinations on the U.S. West Coast, as well as those connecting onward to destinations across the Pacific.

From LAX, Delta serves 25 international destinations, including points in the South Pacific and Asia, providing additional connectivity beyond the U.S. domestic market.

The airline is also investing heavily in its LAX infrastructure through its $2.3 billion Sky Way project, which connects Terminals 2 and 3 and is designed to improve passenger flows and the overall airport experience.

Delta One customers have access to dedicated check-in facilities, private TSA security screening and Delta One Lounges. The airline also plans to open an additional Delta Sky Club at LAX in 2027.

The investment extends to the onboard experience, with Delta expanding its wine programme and offering fast, free Wi-Fi and Delta Sync entertainment to eligible customers across its network.

For Nigerian passengers travelling long-haul to the United States, the expanded LAX operation provides additional network options beyond the traditional East Coast gateways, particularly for journeys involving the U.S. West Coast and Pacific region.

The Federal Government has called for sustained investment in the Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, emphasising the need for policy stability, regulatory certainty, security and faster project execution to keep the sector competitive.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, stated this at the 2nd Annual Conference of the Association of Energy Correspondents, Abuja FCT (AECAF), themed ‘Sustaining Oil and Gas Investment in Nigeria Amid Energy Transition,’ which was held on Thursday in Abuja.

The minister, who was represented by his Senior Technical Adviser (STA), Abel Nsa, said the ongoing reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu in the oil and gas sector were targeted at providing clarity, strengthening regulatory institutions, and creating a more competitive operating environment for investors in line with the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

Ekpo, who delivered an address titled, ‘Unlocking Gas Investment for Domestic Growth and Energy Security’, said the Federal Government remains committed to building a petroleum industry that is competitive, investment-friendly and capable of delivering tangible benefits to Nigerians, adding that the government’s objective was to ensure that oil and gas remain important contributors to national development.

The minister said, ‘Across the world, the energy sector is undergoing significant transformation, driven by technology, changing consumer preferences, climate considerations and evolving investment priorities. For Nigeria, the challenge is to navigate this transition in a manner that safeguards energy security, promotes economic growth, attracts investment and ensures that our abundant natural resources continue to deliver value to our people.

‘Nigeria remains fundamentally an energy-rich country, with significant oil and gas resources and enormous potential across the entire petroleum value chain. Our task is therefore not simply to produce hydrocarbons, but to create an investment environment that enables these resources to support industrialisation, job creation, infrastructure development and improved living standards.?This requires a sustained commitment to policy stability, regulatory certainty, fiscal competitiveness, security and efficient project delivery.’

Former First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, has urged women to prioritise early detection and regular medical screening, stressing that cancer, despite being a serious health challenge, should not be regarded as a death sentence.

She described preventive healthcare as an important step towards reducing the burden of cancer in society.

Amosun made the call on Wednesday at the flag-off of the 2026 free breast and cervical cancer screening programme organised at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta.

The annual initiative, supported by the UPLIFT Development Foundation, is aimed at providing women with access to screening, early diagnosis and timely medical intervention.

Speaking at the event, Amosun said the exercise went beyond routine medical checks, describing it as an intervention designed to provide lifesaving healthcare services to women, particularly those who might otherwise be unable to afford such services.

She said the growing incidence of cancer in Nigeria made regular screening and early detection imperative, noting that breast cancer had become a major public health concern in the country.

The former first lady expressed concern that breast cancer incidence in Nigeria had increased by nearly 300 per cent over the past three decades.

Mrs Amosun cited figures from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2022, that Nigeria recorded 32,278 new cases of breast cancer and 16,332 deaths, making the country the highest-burden nation on the continent in terms of breast cancer cases.

Amosun, however, stressed that the statistics should not create fear among women, but rather encourage them to take proactive steps towards protecting their health.

She maintained that early detection remained one of the most effective ways of reducing cancer-related deaths, explaining that patients diagnosed at an early stage had survival rates exceeding 90 per cent, compared with less than 30 per cent among those presenting at advanced stages.

She said, ‘Cancer is a serious health challenge, but it is not a death sentence. What is important is early detection, proper medical attention and timely intervention.’

Mrs Amosun explained that more than 600 women benefitted from the 2025 edition of the programme,while 22 women were identified with breast-related abnormalities requiring further medical attention.

She explained that 11 of the women who were diagnosed with suspicious breast lumps subsequently underwent free lumpectomy surgeries and post-operative care.

Amosun said the development demonstrated the foundation’s commitment to ensuring that screening did not end with the identification of health problems but was followed by appropriate medical intervention.

She urged the beneficiaries of the 2026 screening programme to take advantage of the opportunity to check their system for healthy living.

Also speaking, a Medical Consultant and Surgeon at FMC, Abeokuta, Dr Ebenezer Nkom, cautioned women against relying on native remedies in managing suspected cancer cases.

Nkom emphasised the importance of seeking professional medical attention whenever symptoms or abnormalities were detected, noting that early clinical assessment and appropriate treatment could prevent avoidable deaths.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will secure ‘maximum victory’ from the South-South region and other parts of the country in the 2027 presidential election, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said.

Akpabio, who described Tinubu as a friend of the South-South zone, made the statement on Wednesday during activities marking the 39th anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State in Uyo.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a friend of the South-South zone, and he will get maximum victory from the region and other parts of the country,’ the Senate President said.

The former Akwa Ibom governor also called on the people of the state to sustain their support for its development, saying the anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on the state’s progress and future.

Akpabio said Akwa Ibom had recorded significant growth since its creation in 1987, attributing the progress to the resilience and contributions of its people.

‘Our greatest resource has always been our people,’ he said.

He also reflected on his tenure as governor, saying the infrastructure, institutions and human-capital investments made during his administration provided a foundation for subsequent governments to build upon.

‘The years of Uncommon Transformation demonstrated what is possible when vision is matched by courage, when public resources are deployed for the public good, and when leadership refuses to accept yesterday’s limitations as the boundaries of tomorrow’s possibilities,’ he said.

Akpabio urged the people to look beyond the anniversary celebrations and focus on creating greater opportunities for young people, enterprise and innovation.

‘The task before us is not merely to celebrate how far we have travelled, but to imagine how much farther we can go,’ he said.

‘Akwa Ibom is rising. And together, we shall continue to build a future worthy of the dreams of our founding fathers.’

Akwa Ibom was created on September 23, 1987, by the military administration of former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida.