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Gatchalian: Villar vote on impeachment rules not a move to join majority

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said on Thursday that Sen. Mark Villar’s vote to make the voting base to convict Vice President Sara Duterte more flexible does not indicate he is joining the Senate majority.

The senator clarified that after Villar, the sole minority bloc member to do so, voted to let the impeachment court adjust the conviction threshold depending on how many senator-judges are present.

‘As of yesterday, yung kaniyang boto ay to overturn the ruling ng presiding officer. So yun lang yung kaniyang boto. Wala naman siyang binoto na majority or minority, SP wala namang ganon,’ Gatchalian told the media in an interview.

(‘As of yesterday, his vote was to overturn the ruling of the presiding officer. So that’s all his vote was. He didn’t vote majority or minority, SP, there’s nothing like that.’)

To recall, Presiding Officer Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero ruled that Duterte’s conviction required 16 of 24 votes, in accordance with the Constitution.

When the Senate impeachment court was divided on Wednesday to overturn Escudero’s decision, all remaining minority senators but Villar did not participate in the voting.

This ruling was revisited after Sen. Erwin Tulfo appealed to the court to determine who will be allowed to vote on Duterte’s conviction, given that Sens. Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta are detained, Sen. Bato dela Rosa is at-large, and Sen. Loren Legarda is on medical leave.

With the absence of the four, only Villar, Minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano, Sens. Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Christopher ‘Bong’ Go, Robin Padilla, and Camille Villar are the only minority Senators actively participating in the proceedings.

Asked whether Villar has expressed intent to join the majority bloc, Gatchalian said there have been no such offers as of the moment.

Villar has yet to explain his vote on the threshold.

SDP’s Adebayo calls for Tinubu’s impeachment, alleges constitutional breach

The Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2027 presidential election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has called for the immediate impeachment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what he described as an alleged breach of the 1999 Constitution.

Adebayo accused Tinubu of prolonging his absence from the country without formally transmitting power to the Vice-President, alleging that the action violated constitutional provisions on the transfer of presidential authority.

According to a statement by the Adewole Adebayo-Bugaje Presidential Campaign Council, signed by its Director of Communications, Comrade Mark Adebayo, the President’s alleged failure to formally transmit power amounted to a disregard for the rule of law.

The council cited Section 145(1) of the Constitution, which provides that whenever the President proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, he shall transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

It said the provision further provides for the Vice-President to perform the functions of President as Acting President until a contrary declaration is transmitted.

The council contrasted the situation with the practice under former President Muhammadu Buhari, who, according to the statement, formally transmitted power to former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo when he travelled abroad for vacation or medical treatment.

The campaign council also expressed concern over what it described as the simultaneous absence of the President and Vice-President from the country.

It said leaving Nigeria without a ‘clear, constitutionally empowered leader in residence’ could pose a threat to national security and create delays in critical decision-making.

Reacting to the development, Adebayo said the Constitution was the supreme law of the country and should not be treated as a suggestion.

‘A country cannot be run like a private estate or an absentee-landlord enterprise. The Constitution is not a polite suggestion; it is the supreme law of the land,’ he said.

‘When a President treats the grundnorm of our democracy with contempt by abandoning his post without transmitting power, he abdicates his legitimacy to govern. This is a severe infraction, and the constitutional remedy for such a breach is clear: impeachment!’

Adebayo also criticised the National Assembly, alleging that it had failed to perform its constitutional oversight responsibilities by not initiating impeachment proceedings against the President.

He described the legislature as a ‘rubber-stamp legislature’ and accused it of operating as an extension of the executive arm rather than as an independent check on executive power.

The campaign council called on Nigerians, civil society organisations and constitutional lawyers to speak out against what it described as a dangerous precedent and demanded what it termed an immediate return to constitutional order.

Recent reports separately show that other opposition actors have also questioned whether the constitutional requirements surrounding the President’s absence were met, although those claims concern alleged constitutional non-compliance rather than an established finding of a breach.

On healthcare, Adebayo said his administration would work to end or significantly reduce medical tourism by public office holders through improvements in Nigeria’s health institutions.

‘Under my watch, medical tourism by public office holders would significantly reduce or fizzle out entirely because I will fix our health institutions with uncompromising alacrity as President and any public official that wants to have medical treatment abroad would have to do so at his own expense,’ he said.

Documentary on Firangiz Alizade’s contribution to music shown in Baku

The musical career and creative legacy of Firangiz Alizade have been brought to the screen in a documentary television film dedicated to the celebrated Azerbaijani composer was presented during the 18th Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival.

Titled “Composer Firangiz Alizade”, the film traces the composer’s creative path, her contribution to contemporary music and her wider cultural and public activities. Drawing on material from Alizade’s personal archive as well as the archives of Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (AzTV), the documentary offers a look at different stages of her artistic life.

The screening was attended by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Culture Adil Karimli, Deputy Minister Murad Huseynov and representatives of the local and international cultural community.

Among those taking part were Alizade, who chairs the Azerbaijan Composers Union, President of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktoty Raimkulova, Rector of the Baku Music Academy and People’s Artist Farhad Badalbayli, Director General of the Kyrgyz National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre Muratbek Begaliyev, and Chairman of the Uzbekistan Composers Union Rustam Abdullayev.

Speakers also reflected on Uzeyir Hajibayli’s lasting contribution to the musical heritage of Azerbaijan and the wider Turkic world. They noted Alizade’s role in representing contemporary Azerbaijani music internationally and her contribution to its development and promotion.

The documentary places particular attention on the works that have shaped Alizade’s artistic career and on her place in Azerbaijan’s contemporary musical landscape. Her creative work has extended beyond composition to include cultural initiatives and international cooperation in music.

The screening formed part of the wider programme of the Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival, which continues to connect Azerbaijan’s musical heritage with contemporary artistic life.

The documentary offered audiences another perspective on that continuity, focusing on one of the country’s prominent contemporary composers while preserving elements of her personal and professional history on film.

Firangiz Alizade is one of the leading figures in contemporary Azerbaijani music. A composer, pianist and conductor, she has played a major role in bringing Azerbaijani contemporary music to international audiences through her compositions, performances and cultural projects. She has also served as chair of the Azerbaijan Composers Union, contributing to the development and promotion of the country’s contemporary music scene.

Her work is closely connected with Azerbaijan’s musical traditions while also engaging with contemporary composition. Alizade has received major national distinctions and was named a UNESCO Artist for Peace, reflecting her international contribution to music and cultural dialogue.

SMEDAN seeks traditional rulers’ role in food security, wealth creation

The Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odii, has called for stronger collaboration between traditional institutions and government intervention agencies to improve food security, create jobs and expand economic opportunities at the grassroots.

Odii made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Ulefunta Annual Lecture in Akure, Ondo State, themed ‘Food Security, Wealth Creation and National Development: Building Strategic Partnerships Between Traditional Institutions and Intervention Agencies.’

He said government policies and intervention programmes often failed to achieve their intended objectives when they were designed without adequate input from communities and their leaders.

‘We cannot sit in Abuja and make policies for people at the rural and community level. For these policies to work, we must first involve community owners, community leaders and stakeholders in the design,’ Odii said.

He said traditional rulers and community leaders understood the peculiarities of their communities, including land use, customs, economic potential and local challenges, making their involvement critical to the success of development programmes.

Odii identified community participation, transparency, impact measurement, inclusion and sustainability as key requirements for effective government interventions.

The SMEDAN chief executive said the agency had introduced its Community Enterprise Development Programme to strengthen the participation of traditional institutions in enterprise development.

According to him, the programme is designed to involve traditional rulers and community leaders throughout the implementation of development projects, rather than engaging them only after major decisions have been taken.

He explained that traditional institutions could assist intervention agencies in mobilising farmers, artisans, women and youths, identifying viable economic opportunities and promoting community ownership of government programmes.

Odii also urged stakeholders to move agriculture beyond subsistence production by investing in the entire value chain, including processing, packaging, logistics, technology and marketing.

He said developing economic clusters around the comparative advantages of different communities could boost productivity, create jobs and improve access to markets.

The SMEDAN boss called for greater investment in young people and women through skills acquisition, digital literacy, mentorship, access to finance and market linkages.

He noted that SMEDAN would continue to provide technical support, capacity building, business formalisation and enterprise development assistance while working with traditional institutions to ensure that interventions reached their intended beneficiaries.

Odii also pledged the agency’s support for young people and the Ulefunta Festival, saying SMEDAN would work with stakeholders to ensure the initiative remained sustainable and continued to contribute to community development.

The Deji and Paramount Ruler of Akure Land, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II, said the annual lecture was organised to bridge the gap between traditional institutions and government intervention agencies.

The monarch disclosed that the forum was also intended to expose rural dwellers, farmers and young entrepreneurs to funding and other opportunities available through government programmes.

He said the traditional institution would serve as a link between intervention agencies and communities at the grassroots.

According to him, participating farmers’ associations, community leaders and traditional chiefs had been mobilised to take information from the forum back to their respective communities.

The monarch described the Ulefunta Festival as an annual socio-cultural reunion featuring tourism and cultural activities, stressing that it lacked fetish practices.

Earlier, the Chairman of the 2026 Ulefunta Festival Committee and Olu of Okelisa Titun, Olu Adekunle Ajanaku, said the colloquium was organised to sensitise rural dwellers, farmers and young entrepreneurs to government funding and development opportunities.

Ajanaku said the festival had continued to attract attention because of its inclusiveness and its promotion of the people’s cultural values, social life and aspirations.

He said renewed cooperation among the three Akure-speaking local government areas could lead to the establishment of the Akure People Central Council and the Akure Traditional Council.

He also said newly introduced sporting activities had strengthened unity among the people of the three local government areas.

Ajanaku said the festival committee would continue to engage participating government agencies and obtain feedback on the impact of their interventions on rural communities and other beneficiaries.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof. Adenike Oladiji, commended the Deji of Akure for his support for the university, particularly his role in facilitating the recent accreditation of its medical programme by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

Prof. Oladiji described the Ulefunta Annual Lecture as a platform for intellectual exchange, cultural preservation and discussions on solutions to national challenges.

She said food insecurity and youth unemployment remained major challenges that required practical, sustainable interventions.

The vice-chancellor called for stronger partnerships among traditional institutions, universities and government intervention agencies to promote sustainable development.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, represented by the South-West Zonal Director, Martin Kehinde Ogunkuade, pledged the agency’s support for the initiative.

Ogunkuade said NOA would deploy its resources to sensitise residents of the Akure Kingdom to opportunities available under government intervention programmes in food security and wealth creation.

He described the partnership between the agency and the Akure traditional institution as a potential model for collaboration between traditional institutions and government agencies.

MAK poly moves to secure NBTE accreditation for more courses

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.

How $800m Ima gas project will boost economy, by Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has hailed the $800 million Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Ima Gas Project, describing it as evidence that his administration’s reforms are unlocking decades-old gas resources and attracting fresh investment into Nigeria’s energy sector.

The project, being developed by Nigerian independent oil and gas company, AMNI International, in partnership with TotalEnergies, is expected to produce about 300 million standard cubic feet of gas per day at peak production.

According to AMNI International Petroleum Development Company Limited, the Ima Gas Project has an estimated development cost of approximately $1.108 billion and holds independently confirmed gross reserves of approximately 1.28 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of non-associated gas. At plateau, the project is designed to produce approximately 350 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (MMscf/d) for a minimum of eight years.

Tinubu, in a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the development demonstrated the impact of reforms undertaken by his administration to make Nigeria’s oil and gas industry more attractive to investors.

The Ima gas resource, located offshore in Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 112 and 117, was discovered in 1973 but remained undeveloped for more than five decades despite its significant reserves and potential to supply feedgas to Nigeria LNG Limited.

The statement said the $800 million FID, announced on September 23, had now paved the way for the resource to be developed and deployed to support investment, industrialisation, employment and economic growth.

The Ima project is the fourth major gas development to reach FID since Tinubu assumed office, following the Iseni, Ubeta and HI projects.

‘For more than 50 years, the gas beneath Ima remained a resource with enormous potential, but potential alone does not create jobs, finance businesses or improve the lives of our people. Our responsibility has been to create the conditions that turn Nigeria’s natural resources into productive investments and economic opportunities.

‘The Final Investment Decision on Ima demonstrates what is possible when we provide investors with a competitive, predictable and enabling environment.

‘We are determined to unlock more of Nigeria’s gas resources to power our industries, expand our exports, create jobs and build lasting prosperity for our people,’ Tinubu said.

According to the statement, the project also underscores the growing role of Nigerian companies and financial institutions in financing and executing major developments in the country’s upstream petroleum industry.

AMNI International, a Nigerian-owned exploration and production company, holds a majority interest in the asset, while Nigerian financial institutions arranged 77 per cent of the project’s financing.

About 60 per cent of the project’s workforce is also expected to be drawn from host communities, including Bonny, Finima and Andoni in Rivers State.

The statement said Tinubu had, since assuming office, prioritised reforms aimed at reversing years of underinvestment in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

It noted that while the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021 provided an important foundation for the sector, several undeveloped projects still lacked the fiscal and commercial conditions required to make them viable for investment.

Consequently, the President in 2024 issued a series of directives developed by a team led by the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, aimed at improving fiscal competitiveness, shortening contracting timelines and reducing project costs.

Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Arowolo Verheijen, said the Ima project demonstrated the practical outcome the reforms were designed to achieve.

‘The story of Ima is ultimately the story of what our reforms are designed to achieve. Nigeria has never lacked resources. The challenge has been creating the commercial and investment conditions required to move those resources from beneath the ground into projects that employ Nigerians, create opportunities for Nigerian businesses, generate revenues and support economic growth.

‘A gas discovery made in 1973 can only contribute to prosperity when somebody invests the capital to develop it, banks finance it, contractors build it, Nigerians work on it, and the gas is ultimately put to productive use. That is the transition we are seeing today,’ Verheijen said.

The Presidency said the Ima project was part of a broader strategy to convert Nigeria’s extensive gas reserves into productive economic assets rather than leave significant volumes undeveloped.

Under the administration’s gas strategy, increased production is expected to support liquefied natural gas exports and foreign exchange earnings, provide feedstock for industries, boost fertiliser and petrochemical production and support more reliable electricity supply.

The strategy is also expected to open opportunities for Nigerian businesses, contractors and workers across the gas value chain.

Tinubu said his administration’s objective was to ensure that the country’s natural resource endowments translated directly into economic opportunities and improved living standards for Nigerians.

‘Natural resources have value only when they are converted into opportunities for our people. Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria’s gas powers Nigerian prosperity,’ the President said.

Gas from the development is expected to supply approximately 30per cent of the feed gas requirement for Nigeria LNG’s Train 7, providing a significant long-term gas supply stream to the country’s expanding LNG infrastructure. First gas is targeted for October 2028.

The FID follows the completion of extensive technical, commercial and contractual work on the project, including Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) and the execution of key project agreements. The project will now progress into engineering, procurement and construction ahead of commissioning and first gas.

Commenting on the milestone, Chairman / CEO of AMNI International Petroleum Development Company Limited, Chief Tunde J. Afolabi, said: ‘The FID for the Ima Gas Project represents an important milestone for AMNI and reflects our continued commitment to the responsible development of Nigeria’s oil and gas resources.

‘Ima is a significant component of our long-term growth strategy and further strengthens AMNI’s evolution into a more diversified indigenous energy company. Importantly, the project demonstrates what can be achieved through sustained partnership, disciplined investment and a shared commitment to unlocking Nigeria’s gas potential.

‘As we move into the execution phase, our focus will remain on safe delivery, operational excellence and creating sustainable value for our partners, stakeholders and the Nigerian economy.’

Chief Afolabi also placed the decision in the wider context of Nigeria’s ability to attract long-term energy investment. He said major energy projects now compete for capital across multiple markets and that reaching FID in Nigeria sends a practical signal about the country’s continuing investment potential.

‘Capital is disciplined. Capital has choices. And major energy companies today have investment opportunities competing for funding across many parts of the world. When companies take an FID in Nigeria, it sends an important signal. It says that opportunities in this country can still be identified, structured, financed and developed successfully,’ he said.

He added that Nigeria’s substantial hydrocarbon resources would only translate into economic value where investment, technology and human capability can convert resources into production, requiring cooperation among government, regulators, international energy companies, indigenous operators, financiers, contractors, host communities and the workforce.

For AMNI, Afolabi said the Ima development also demonstrates the expanding role and capability of Nigerian independent companies in the country’s petroleum sector.

‘Indigenous participation should not simply mean ownership. It must increasingly mean capability. It must mean technical excellence. It must mean financial discipline. It must mean good governance,’ he said, adding that Nigerian organisations must be able to build partnerships with leading international energy companies based on mutual respect and complementary strengths.

He traced the current phase of the project to a meeting in Houston in May 2024 with TotalEnergies Chairman Patrick Pouyanné, when the parties signed Heads of Terms for the development. He said the handshake that followed the signing symbolised the trust and commitment behind the agreement and reflected the importance of relationships, credibility and keeping commitments in advancing major projects.

He said TotalEnergies brings international experience, technology and project execution capability, while AMNI contributes its experience as a Nigerian independent, knowledge of the operating environment, entrepreneurial commitment and a long-term stake in Nigeria’s success.

With FID now achieved, Afolabi said the focus shifts decisively to delivery. He said the project must be executed safely, responsibly and efficiently, with high standards of technical integrity and environmental stewardship, constructive engagement with host communities and meaningful participation by Nigerian businesses and professionals.

‘Ultimately, our success will not be measured by today’s photographs or speeches. It will be measured by what happens after today,’ he said.

The project also marks a new chapter in the long standing relationship between AMNI and TotalEnergies. Total, now TotalEnergies, entered into a Joint Venture with AMNI in 2005, acquiring a 40per cent working interest in OMLs 112 and 117, with AMNI remaining operator. The Ima Gas development builds on resources discovered alongside the original Ima oil accumulation and extends a partnership spanning more than two decades.

AMNI acquired the Ima licence in the early years of its operations and subsequently commenced appraisal and development activities, achieving first oil from the field in 1996. Since its establishment in 1993, AMNI has developed capabilities across seismic acquisition and interpretation, exploration and appraisal drilling, field development, production operations and offshore infrastructure. The Company has maintained continuous production for more than three decades.

Today, AMNI’s Nigerian portfolio contains combined resources of more than 60 million barrels of oil and nearly 4 trillion cubic feet of gas, providing a foundation for the Company’s next phase of oil and gas development.

The Ima Gas Project forms a key part of AMNI’s broader growth programme and its Road to 250 KBOE/d strategy, under which the Company is targeting production capacity of approximately 250,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2031. Together with ongoing development activity at the Okoro Field and other planned projects, Ima is expected to contribute significantly to the expansion and diversification of AMNI’s production portfolio.

AMNI remains committed to Nigerian content, technical excellence, safety and environmental responsibility, with local participation embedded in the Company’s operating philosophy and the development of Nigerian capability across the energy value chain.

The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri urged the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and other operators to take shorter time to take their FIDs.

Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, he said taking FIDs at a shorter period will be more beneficial to the industry.

The minister stressed that it was unreasonable to spend years waiting to take FIDs.

Lokpobiri said: ‘Let me also, you know, take the opportunity to say that, look, you are the experts. And I believe that if you can take FIDs within a shorter period, it will be better for the industry. I don’t see the reason why it would take you years to be able to get to FID.

‘This partnership, from what you said, took over two years, from the handshake, you know, in Houston, now over two years. I believe that going forward, I appeal to the industry that let’s try and see how we can negotiate these FIDs within a shorter period, you know, so that we can also, you know, get FIDs within a shorter period. These things are doable.’

Buttressing the possibility of taking the FID in a shorter time, the minister cited an instance of a firm that vowed to take its FID in November.

He said the issues of energy transition discouraged financiers from involving in oil and gas FIDs, noting that following the available statistics, oil and gas will still constitute over 50per cent of global energy for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas) Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo urged the joint venture to sustain momentum and work closely with government institutions to deliver the project on schedule.

He said with the FID and the expectation of the first gas in 2028, the push towards the target of President Tinubu of 12 BCE by 2030 is assured.

In his opening remarks, the TotalEnergies Managing Director, Mathieu Bouyer said the FID confirms that the partners are technically, commercially and legally set to invest in a new adventure.

He described IMA as a gigantic project that is over $600million investment. The TotalEnergies boss said the FID is a clear vote of confidence in Nigeria and its oil and gas industry.

‘It is a big project, it’s more than $600 million dollars of investment and a clear vote of confidence into Nigeria and its oil and gas industry, in its true confidence also in the potential of the oil and gas people of this country,’ he said.

The strength of the project, he said, is reflected also in its financing, acknowledging the seven financial partners as Zenith Bank, Access Bank, United Bank of Africa, GTB, Standard Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and First Bank.

Bouyer revealed that financing the project is 75 per from Nigerian banks, stressing that it is made of indigenous banks, contractors and financed by Nigerian institutions.

He said: ‘One particular thing about this financing is that it’s more than 75per cent from Nigerian banks, so it’s a Nigerian project made by Nigerian contractors and financed by Nigerian institutions, and I think it’s a very, very powerful project.’

Bouyer further described the project as being that of shallow waters on the front of Bonny Island.

According to him, it is eight kilometers offshore. It is designed to produce 350 million cubic meters per day.

He added that ‘That is 10 million cubic meters. It is a third broadly of the train seven of Nigerian LNG, so it shows the materiality of the investment that we are making today, and the first gas is anticipated to be in 2028, end of 2028. We are pushing for that.’

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan attributed the FID to the Executive Order of President Tinubu.

She said the possibility of the FID could not have been conceived five years ago.

2 soldiers slain in Maguindanao del Norte gun attack

Two soldiers of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion were killed in an early evening ambush in Maguindanao del Norte on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Capt. Steffi Salanguit, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-Bangasmoro Autonomous Region, citing police reports from Maguindanao del Norte police provincial office, identified the victims as Private First Class Jobert C Labuson and Private First Class Johnmark C Dumaguing, both members of Bravo Company, 7th IB.

They were pronounced dead on arrival at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City.

The off’ duty soldiers were riding tandem on motorcycle heading to a store to buy food at about 6:10 p.m. when attacked by suspects on board separate motorbike along portions of Davao-Cotabato national highway, specifically in Barnagay Ladia, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte.

ýýResponding police found empty shells for caliber .45 pistol based on empty casing found at the ambush site.

Salanguit said the motive for the attack and the identities of the perpetrators are still being determined

PETROAN orders members to calibrate fuel dispensers after NMDPRA warning

Following a directive from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) over reported cases of under-dispensing of petroleum products nationwide, the Petroleum Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has mandated its members to immediately inspect, calibrate and verify dispensing pumps and totalizers at their retail outlets,

A circular signed by PETROAN national president, Dr Billy Gillis-Harry, and the National Secretary, Adedibu Aderibigbe, said the Association was acting on an industry circular from NMDPRA, which described under-dispensing as a breach of consumer trust that will not be tolerated.

The circular added that all petroleum retail outlet operators are required to carry out immediate calibration and verification of their dispensing equipment to ensure accurate measurement and guarantee that consumers receive full value for the products they purchase.

According to PETROAN, NMDPRA has intensified inspection and enforcement activities across the country, saying outlets found under-dispensing, using improperly calibrated equipment, or otherwise compromising dispensing accuracy would be required to take immediate corrective action.

While warning that persistent or serious violations could attract sanctions, including revocation of operating licenses, PETROAN urged its members to conduct immediate inspection and calibration of equipment, maintain accurate records of calibration and maintenance activities, cooperate fully with regulatory inspection teams, and uphold transparency and consumer protection standards across their operations.

‘Your prompt action and full compliance with this directive are highly appreciated as this require utmost seriousness from members,’ the circular read in part.

FG pushes culture, tourism as new frontiers of Nigeria-China ties

The Federal Government has identified culture and tourism as new frontiers for deepening Nigeria-China relations, with emphasis on cultural diplomacy, creative industries, tourism development and people-to-people exchanges.

The government made its position known at the ‘Shared Moon, Shared Moment, Meet in Africa – Hunan Culture and Tourism in Nigeria’ event in Abuja, where a delegation from China’s Hunan Province showcased its cultural heritage through music, dance, acrobatics and other traditional art forms.

Representing the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Abdulkarim Ozi Ibrahim, Musa Alhamdu said cultural exchange could strengthen bilateral relations while creating opportunities for tourism, skills development and the creative economy.

He described the event as more than a cultural performance, saying it was a celebration of Nigeria-China friendship, cultural diversity, mutual respect and people-to-people exchange.

‘Culture has a unique ability to bring people together. It translates language, geography and differences, allowing us to discover what we share as human beings,’ Alhamdu said.

He said Nigeria’s cultural diversity, reflected in its music, dance, theatre, visual arts, festivals, crafts, fashion, film, literature and contemporary creative industries, provided a strong foundation for sustained cooperation with China.

According to him, cultural diplomacy is an important instrument for strengthening international relations, promoting tourism and creating opportunities for creative practitioners.

He said Nigeria’s engagement with China in the cultural sector should extend beyond artistic exchanges to include creative collaboration, tourism opportunities, skills development and greater participation of young Nigerians in the global creative economy.

‘For us at the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, cultural diplomacy is an important instrument for strengthening international relations, promoting tourism and creating opportunities for our creative practitioners,’ he said.

Alhamdu urged both countries to expand exchanges among artists, cultural institutions, museums, theatres, creative entrepreneurs, young people and tourism stakeholders.

He said such partnerships would help transform cultural exchanges into enduring relationships capable of contributing to economic and social development.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Social Development Secretariat of the FCT Administration, Olubunmi Olowokere, said Abuja offered significant opportunities for collaboration with Hunan in cultural exchange, creative industries, heritage promotion, tourism development, skills development and preservation of traditional arts.

Olowokere said culture often provided the first avenue through which people from different countries encountered and understood one another.

‘So when a Nigerian watches a Chinese cultural performance, or when a visitor from China experiences Nigerian music and traditional arts, something important happens. We move from simply knowing each other to experiencing each other. And that experience creates understanding,’ she said.

She called for the establishment of long-term institutional partnerships rather than limiting cultural cooperation to one-day celebrations.

She urged artists, cultural institutions, tourism professionals, museums, cultural centres, performing arts organisations and creative entrepreneurs from both countries to develop partnerships.

Olowokere also encouraged Chinese visitors to explore Abuja and Nigeria’s tourism attractions, while urging Nigerians to discover the cultural and tourism opportunities in Hunan and other parts of China.

Earlier, the Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy and Director of the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, said cultural and artistic exchanges could strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between Nigeria and China.

Yang said the Mid-Autumn Festival, which centres on the full moon, represented values of family reunion, harmony, peace and the shared aspiration for a better life.

‘Culture and art know no borders. A song, a dance or a sincere gathering can cross mountains and oceans and touch people’s hearts,’ he said.

He said Hunan had three World Heritage sites and nine elements inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Yang noted that Changsha, the provincial capital, had served as the permanent host city of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo since 2019, adding that Hunan and Nigeria had developed ties in trade, investment, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

He said the Hunan delegation brought songs, dances, acrobatics and other performances to Abuja, while Nigerian cultural presentations were also featured to promote mutual appreciation.

Yang said the programme was particularly significant as 2026 marked the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China and the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

He expressed hope that the cultural engagement would lead to stronger ties between Hunan and Nigeria, particularly between Hunan and Abuja, while encouraging more Nigerians to visit the province and experience its cultural heritage and tourism attractions.

WHO recommends mifepristone for pregnancy prevention after unprotected sex

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended mifepristone as an additional emergency contraceptive option for preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex, with the medicine advised for use as soon as possible and within five days of the sexual encounter.

The recommendation is part of the WHO’s new Guidelines on Expanding Contraceptive Options, released on Wednesday to help countries increase access to contraceptive methods supported by available scientific evidence.

Mifepristone is being recommended specifically for emergency contraception, rather than routine contraceptive use. WHO said doses ranging from 10mg to 50mg are likely to be as safe and effective as other emergency contraceptive methods.

Under the recommendation, mifepristone should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex and no later than five days afterwards.

The updated guidance also expands the recommended use of some existing contraceptive methods. Combined oral contraceptive pills, for instance, can be taken for extended periods of up to six months or continuously for up to one year, rather than being used only in cycles.

WHO also supports the use of contraceptive implants for up to five years, a change it said could reduce replacement procedures, clinic visits and related costs.

The recommendations are designed to widen contraceptive choices and give people greater flexibility in deciding whether to use contraception, which method to choose and when to change or stop using it.

WHO said an estimated 164 million women who want to delay or avoid pregnancy are currently not using contraception, highlighting the need to expand access to contraceptive options.

The Director of the WHO Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, Dr Pascale Allotey, said contraceptive choice should be viewed as a gender equality issue.

‘Contraception isn’t one-size-fits-all. Men and women both need a range of options that reflect what science and innovation can now offer, weighed against convenience, invasiveness, behaviour, reliability and accessibility,’ Allotey stated.

‘Real choice means the confidence and control to choose a method, change it, or stop it,’ she added.

However, WHO said evidence remains insufficient for some other contraceptive methods and called for further research before they are considered for inclusion in family planning programmes.

The organisation said more research is needed on ormeloxifene because available evidence on its safety remains limited.

WHO also recommended against including quinestrol-containing contraceptive pills in national contraceptive programmes, citing limited evidence and reports of serious adverse events.

Beyond expanding options for women, the new guidance also addresses the limited range of contraceptive methods available to men.

WHO noted that men currently have relatively few contraceptive options under their control, mainly condoms, withdrawal and vasectomy. Despite this, about 30 per cent of couples rely on a male contraceptive method.

The organisation said more than 75 per cent of couples surveyed would be willing to use a new male contraceptive, while more than 85 per cent of women said they would trust their male partners to take responsibility for contraception.

To support the development of additional male contraceptive options, WHO has created its first Target Product Profile for male contraceptive methods, setting out characteristics such products should meet, including safety, effectiveness, acceptability and affordability.

Several hormonal and non-hormonal male contraceptives are currently under research, with several candidates in advanced clinical trials, according to the organisation.

WHO said new reversible male contraceptives could become available within the next five to 10 years.

The organisation said the broader recommendations are intended to help countries update their family planning policies and programmes in line with the best available scientific evidence.