Category: Business Day

When the House of Representatives voted on one of Nigeria’s most consequential constitutional reforms in decades, the outcome was never really in doubt.

One after another, lawmakers lined up behind the proposal to establish state police, arguing that Nigeria’s overstretched federal police can no longer cope with the country’s worsening security crisis. By the time the votes were counted, 289 members had backed the bill.

One lawmaker was in opposition.

That lone voice belonged to Bashir Usman, who represents Birnin Gwari/Giwa Federal Constituency of Kaduna State-an area that has, ironically, suffered some of the country’s worst attacks by bandits and armed groups.

In the voting process which had near-unanimity, Usman’s solitary ‘No’ vote instantly stood out. It also raised an obvious question: Why would the representative of one of Nigeria’s most insecure constituencies oppose a proposal many believe could strengthen local policing?

The answer, it turns out, is more nuanced than a simple rejection of state police. Before the House voted, Usman argued that lawmakers were being rushed into approving far-reaching constitutional amendments without enough time to study them.

According to him, members received the report of the Constitution Review Committee only shortly before deliberations began. For a proposal that could fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s policing structure, he believed legislators deserved more time to scrutinise the details before taking a position.

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His intervention did little to slow proceedings.

The House proceeded with the vote, and the bill sailed through with overwhelming support.

For supporters of state police, the outcome reflected growing acceptance that Nigeria’s centralised policing system has struggled to respond to today’s security realities. From terrorism in the North-East to banditry in the North-West, farmer-herder clashes in the Middle Belt, kidnapping across the South and oil theft in the Niger Delta, many security experts have long argued that policing should be brought closer to the communities it serves.

The federal police, with roughly 370,000 officers for a population estimated at more than 220 million, have often been criticised as overstretched, underfunded and too centralised to respond effectively to local threats.

Successive administrations have acknowledged these shortcomings. Over the years, governors, traditional rulers, security experts and civil society organisations have repeatedly renewed calls for state police, arguing that governors already shoulder much of the financial burden of policing in their states despite having no operational control over officers.

Opponents have consistently warned that giving governors control of state police could expose opposition politicians, critics and even traditional institutions to intimidation, particularly in states where democratic institutions remain weak.

Those concerns have not disappeared. Instead, lawmakers backing the constitutional amendment say safeguards have been built into the proposed framework to reduce the risk of abuse while allowing states to establish their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force.

Even so, Usman appeared unconvinced that lawmakers had sufficiently interrogated the bill before voting.

His objection was largely procedural rather than ideological. At no point did he argue that insecurity was not a serious national problem. Rather, his position suggested that constitutional reforms of such magnitude deserve careful examination instead of hurried approval.

Whether Nigerians agree with him or not, his vote has highlighted an issue that often receives little public attention: how thoroughly Parliament examines constitutional amendments before passing them.

There is another layer of irony to his position.

Birnin Gwari, one of the local government areas he represents, has become almost synonymous with bandit attacks over the past decade. Communities have repeatedly suffered killings, abductions, attacks on highways and displacement, making the constituency one of the strongest examples often cited by advocates of decentralised policing.

That reality has prompted some observers to question why a representative from such an area would oppose the bill. But his push back, however seem more procedural.

However, the constitutional amendment has already secured passage in both chambers of the National Assembly. But several hurdles remain before Nigerians begin to see state police.

The proposal must still receive the approval of at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before it is transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent. Only then would the constitutional changes take effect.

In many ways, therefore, the parliamentary vote marked not the end of the debate but the beginning of a more complicated conversation.

History may ultimately judge whether Bashir Usman’s concerns were justified or misplaced. But in a vote where almost everyone said yes, his lone ‘No’ ensured that, for at least one day, he became the most talked-about lawmaker in the House of Representatives.

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God has expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation in Nigeria, saying terrorism has become a personal reality rather than a distant problem.

Speaking at the inaugural U.S.-Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala in Washington, D.C., Pastor Adeboye urged the United States and its allies to strengthen cooperation with Nigeria in addressing terrorism and violent extremism.

According to the respected cleric, the growing insecurity has spread beyond previously affected regions, making it a national challenge that requires greater international collaboration.

‘Terrorism is now at my doorstep,’ Pastor Adeboye told an audience comprising religious leaders, US policymakers, Nigerian diplomats, human rights advocates, and members of the Nigerian and American communities.

The cleric, who had presided over the RCCG Annual Convention in America held in Dallas, Texas, urged the United States and other Western nations to deepen their support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, insisting that the scale of the challenge had exceeded the capacity of local institutions acting alone.

The event, organised by Save Nigeria Group USA and the U.S.-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition, was held at the Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC/U.S. Capitol under the theme, ‘Thank You, America. Please Do More.’

The African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re) has entered a new phase of growth with the commissioning of its state-of-the-art multi-million-dollar headquarters in Abuja, marking a significant milestone in the corporation’s 50-year history.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Corneille Karekezi, group managing director/CEO, Africa Re described the project as the fulfilment of a promise made six years ago to establish a headquarters befitting Africa’s leading reinsurance institution.

‘Today, I am pleased to say that as of June 24, 2026, Africa Re is officially headquartered in Abuja. This marks the completion of a journey and the beginning of a new chapter in our long and fruitful relationship with our host country,’ Karekezi said.

Taiwo Oyedele, Nigeria’s minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the Economy, who commissioned the 11-story building on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the choice to build this elegant structure in Abuja by Africa Re is a testament to the confidence that the Pan-African Institution have on Nigeria.

Oyedele said it’s a reflection of the kind of partnership and good relationship Africa Re has had with the people of Nigeria and the country’s insurance industry.

Reflecting on the corporation’s evolution, the Africa Re GMD noted that it began operations in July 1977 in Accra, Ghana, from a modest apartment made available by its pioneer Managing Director, the late Sir Edward Mensah.

‘Nearly 50 years later, Africa Re stands as a globally respected institution with multi-billion-dollar assets, serving the development of Africa through a network of offices across the continent,’ he said.

According to Karekezi, the new headquarters symbolises the corporation’s strength, ambition and confidence in the future.

‘This headquarters reflects the strength of the corporation, the ambition of its people, and our confidence in the future. Today, we are not merely inaugurating a building; we are bringing to life a vision.’

The 11-storey headquarters spans about 25,000 square metres and was designed to meet international standards of quality, efficiency and sustainability. Karekezi said the facility is targeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, underscoring Africa Re’s commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable development.

‘As a smart and resilient building, it is designed to serve not only the needs of Africa Re today but also those of future generations,’ he said.

Karekezi also highlighted the economic value of the investment, noting that despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, inflationary pressures and exchange-rate uncertainties during construction, the project remained viable.

‘Together, we are delivering today an investment achievement which shall earn rental income and pay itself back within eight to ten years, generating an average return of about 7 per cent annually in US dollars under realistic assumptions,’ he said.

Describing the headquarters as more than a physical structure, Karekezi said it would serve as a hub for innovation, partnerships and collaboration that support Africa Re’s mission of contributing to the continent’s economic development.

‘This building is more than steel, glass and concrete. It is a place where ideas will flourish, partnerships will be strengthened and innovation will continue to support our mission of contributing to the economic development of Africa.’

He added that the commissioning reinforces Africa Re’s commitment to excellence, integrity and sustainable growth as it positions itself for the next phase of expansion across the continent.

The discovery of a vast polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State should have been another reminder of Nigeria’s enormous untapped mineral wealth.

Beneath the state’s soil lie deposits of platinum group metals, gold, nickel, copper, lithium and rare earth elements, resources capable of attracting billions of dollars in investment and reducing the country’s dependence on crude oil.

Yet, beyond the excitement over new discoveries lies a stubborn reality that has continued to undermine every reform effort: illegal mining.

Across large swathes of Nigeria, particularly in the North-West, criminal mining operations continue almost unchecked despite repeated government crackdowns, new security formations and multiple arrests. Rather than declining, the illicit trade has evolved into an entrenched underground economy that enriches criminal networks, fuels insecurity and deprives government of billions of dollars in revenue every year.

For many observers, the persistence of illegal mining raises uncomfortable questions about whether Nigeria’s biggest obstacle is the absence of laws or the lack of political will to enforce them against powerful interests.

The contradiction is glaring. While government officials continue to promote Nigeria as an attractive mining destination, illegal operators have effectively established parallel mining systems in several communities, extracting valuable minerals beyond the reach of regulators and tax authorities.

Security experts warn that the consequences extend far beyond economic losses.

In many parts of the North-West, illegal mining has become intertwined with the region’s worsening security crisis. Mining sites have increasingly served as financial lifelines for armed groups, who exploit mineral-rich communities, extort operators and use proceeds from illegal extraction to sustain violent activities.

Reports indicate that nearly 80 percent of mining activities across Nigeria’s North-West are conducted illegally, largely through artisanal operations outside government regulation.

The connection between illegal mining and insecurity is not new. As far back as November 2020, the Katsina State Government warned that illegal mining had become the economic engine driving armed banditry across Katsina and neighbouring states. Since then, repeated attacks, kidnappings and violent clashes around mining communities have only reinforced concerns that criminal groups have diversified beyond cattle rustling into the lucrative mineral trade.

The financial incentives are enormous. A 2025 report by the Africa Defense Forum (ADF) estimated that Nigeria loses about $9 billion annually to illegal mining. The report noted that foreign nationals often collaborate with local actors to extract and smuggle valuable minerals out of the country without paying royalties, taxes or export duties.

The result is a thriving black market that robs government of critical revenue while strengthening criminal enterprises.

Kabir Adamu, a security analyst, captured the depth of the challenge when he explained that illegal mining sites often evolve into territories beyond state control.

‘Once criminal control of a mining site is established, it becomes a mini-fiefdom,’ Adamu said in a report published by Albarka 89.9 FM. ‘The proceeds don’t just fund AK-47s; they pay for informants, bribes and logistics networks that can outlast military operations.’

His remarks reflect growing concerns among security experts that Nigeria is confronting far more than economic sabotage. Illegal mining, they argue, has become part of a wider criminal ecosystem where proceeds from mineral theft sustain insurgency, banditry and organised crime.

Successive administrations have acknowledged the threat and introduced measures aimed at reclaiming the sector.

One of the most ambitious interventions came in 2024 with the establishment of the Mining Marshals, a specialised security outfit created to combat illegal mining across major mineral-producing states.

The unit initially deployed more than 2,200 officers to monitor mining activities in 10 states. By 2025, its strength had increased to about 2,670 personnel.

Government officials have pointed to tangible results. Hundreds of illegal miners, including foreign nationals, have been arrested, prosecuted and, in some cases, convicted.

Authorities insist the operations demonstrate that Nigeria is becoming increasingly hostile to illegal mining.

However, experts argue that arrests alone cannot dismantle a criminal economy sustained by influential sponsors, porous borders and weak institutional enforcement.

Many believe the real architects of illegal mining rarely appear at mining sites or face prosecution.

Instead, they allegedly operate through networks of financiers, middlemen, transporters and exporters who profit immensely while remaining largely invisible.

That perception has fuelled widespread calls for government to move beyond arresting artisanal miners and confront the politically connected individuals believed to be financing illegal operations.

Analysts argue that without targeting the economic and political structures sustaining illegal mining, enforcement efforts will continue to resemble treating the symptoms rather than curing the disease.

Unless illegal mining is brought under control, experts warn the country risks losing both investor confidence and the economic opportunities presented by the global shift toward critical minerals.

Beyond lost revenue, illegal mining also leaves devastating environmental and social consequences.

Unregulated excavation destroys farmlands, contaminates rivers with hazardous chemicals, accelerates deforestation and exposes mining communities to dangerous working conditions. Child labour and unsafe mining practices remain common features of many illegal mining camps, further complicating the humanitarian dimensions of the crisis.

For communities living around these sites, the costs are often measured not only in environmental degradation but also in violence, displacement and the collapse of lawful economic activities.

Until enforcement extends beyond low-level operators to include financiers, sponsors and influential collaborators, Nigeria may continue to celebrate new mineral discoveries while losing much of its existing wealth to criminal networks operating in plain sight.

As the race for critical minerals intensifies globally, the stakes have never been higher. The success of Nigeria’s mining reforms may ultimately depend not on the number of discoveries announced, but on whether the government can muster the political will to reclaim its mineral resources from those who have turned them into a thriving illicit economy.

Kogi State government has over the weekend flagged off the Integrated 1st Round Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Campaign, with services across the state.

Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, the state’s Commissioner for Health, described the campaign as ‘an integrated campaign for life’ to tackle maternal deaths, child illnesses, cervical cancer and NTDs, adding that state data shows where children miss vaccines, mothers skip antenatal care, HPV affects girls, and NTDs keep children out of school.

The flag -off ceremony held on Thursday in Lokoja had traditional rulers, religious leaders, development partners, health workers and community members in attendance.

He said, ‘But data without action is just numbers. That is why Kogi, through KSPHCDA and the State Ministry of Health, with support from WHO, UNICEF, Sight Saver and partners, is integrating these interventions into one round. One team. One visit. Multiple protections’.

‘Services include Vitamin A, deworming, growth monitoring, antenatal care, iron -folate for pregnant women, nutrition counselling, HPV vaccination for girls aged 9 years to prevent cervical cancer, and mass drug administration for schistosomiasis and soil -transmitted helminths.

Abdulazeez equally said the campaign promotes health equity by taking services to hard -to-reach areas, riverine communities, markets and schools, just as he urged mothers and caregivers to bring children under 5 and pregnant women to health facilities, noting Vitamin A prevents blindness, and deworming improves learning. To parents of 9-year-old girls, he stressed the HPV vaccine is safe and prevents cancer.

Flagging off on behalf of Gov. Ahmed Ododo, the Commissioner said the administration is guided by Truth, Service and Urgency to ensure no one is missed, just as he assured that security

and logistics support have been put in place to reach all communities, including riverine areas.

Musa Omeiza Muazu, the Executive Director, Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA), also said ‘integrated’ is key because communities face health problems together, saying, ‘one health team will deliver multiple interventions per visit for efficiency and equity’.

He commended the government, WHO, UNICEF, Sight Saver and partners, and urged traditional rulers, market women and youth groups to mobilise communities. ‘Let no child be missed,’ he charged.

Olumide Adeyeye, UNICEF State Facilitator, on behalf of partners, said the exercise combines three components for mothers’ and children’s well-being, as he urged stakeholders to unite for success and called on health workers to be professional.

Earlier, Abdulazeez Usman, the State Nutrition Officer, said nutrition teams will weigh children under 5, give Vitamin A, counsel mothers on affordable Kogi foods like beans, eggs, ugu and moringa, and provide iron -folate to pregnant women, adding that HPV vaccination prevents cancer and deworming removes worms that steal nutrients.

Sadiya Abubakar, a nursing mother beneficiary, said she was excited for the program and thanked the governor for bringing it to benefit nursing mothers and children free of charge.

The federal government is apparently rattled and miffed by the escalating price of cement as it is calling on cement manufacturers to, as a matter of urgency, reduce the price of the product.

David Umahi, minister of works, who made the call, noted that it is not only that the price hike is piling pressure on infrastructure projects, but also increasing demands for contract variations by contractors handling government projects.

In Nigeria, material inflation is currently structural rather than cyclical. A 50kg bag of cement that was priced between N7,500 and N10,000 in 2025 increased to as much as N13,000 in 2026, with some other construction materials experiencing a 100 percent increase.

Overall, cement prices in Nigeria are currently soaring, reaching as high as N13,000 per 50kg bag, with retail prices hovering between N11,500 and N15,000 in various parts of the country. This steep surge is driven by elevated production and energy costs, and has stalled major construction projects while threatening homeownership dreams.

The latest hike follows recent price adjustments by major manufacturers, including Dangote Cement and BUA Cement, leaving builders, contractors, landlords, and prospective homeowners struggling to cope with rising costs.

Dealers and distributors have expressed frustration over the persistent upward review of cement prices, saying the development is becoming unbearable for both businesses and ordinary Nigerians.

In recent times, the Federal Government has been actively transitioning its federal road networks from traditional asphalt to heavy-duty, reinforced concrete pavements. This policy is being spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Works with the aim of extending highway lifespans to between 50 and 100 years, drastically reducing the need for continuous, costly maintenance.

This explains why Umahi, in his keynote speech at a new corporate identity unveiling by Lafarge Africa in Lagos recently, stressed that the federal government would engage cement manufacturers to address the issue of cement prices.

‘I insist that Lafarge and other manufacturers of cement should reduce their prices because, according to him, ‘contractors are chocking me to review their contracts. But nobody is reviewing anybody’s contract. It’s the manufacturers of cement that should review their cost.’

The minister noted the federal government is investing heavily in critical infrastructure across the country, creating opportunities for manufacturers and investors. He therefore urged Lafarge and other industry players to expand their capacity to meet the growing demands of the nation’s infrastructure revolution.

He used the occasion to highlight the remarkable progress being recorded the federal government on infrastructure, citing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as evidence of the administration’s bold vision and commitment to national transformation.

According to him, ‘the quality and scale of the project have continued to attract global attention and admiration. When the Dudge Bank came to evaluate our project, they said it was undervalued and that the project is of topmost quality.

Umahi expressed profound appreciation to President Tinubu for providing the leadership and political will driving the country’s infrastructure renaissance, assuring Nigerians that the administration remains firmly on course to restore national prosperity.

Osinbajo sees a solution to housing in planning, not just building more structures

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, has said that the solution to the housing crisis Nigeria is facing is not just in building more structures, but also in planning for both the present and the future.

The former vice president added that the planning should include legal frameworks and structures that will make it possible for the country to have the number, not just the number of houses, but also the number that matches the rapid rate of the country’s growth.

Explaining the need for legal frameworks in planning for housing, Osinbajo, who spoke at the 35th anniversary dinner hosted by Ubosi Eleh and Co in Lagos, recalled a memo he got from Bola Tinubu, then governor of Lagos State, now the president of Nigeria.

According to him, the memo concerned a survey which showed that the number of low- and middle-income houses was actually declining, suggesting that people were building fewer of them because they preferred to invest instead in stocks and shares at the time.

‘One of the reasons the scope was falling was because people were scared that if they invested in houses and rented them out, the tenants would not pay for two years, and so the investors would be stuck for years without earning anything from their investment.

Because of all these, and with them travelling, the magistrates’ courts were taking forever to be able to resolve similar and other tenancies. So, we had to find common-sense solutions to design the mediation centre that we have today, Osinbajo stated.

He noted that magistrates’ courts were only able to deal with about 2,000 cases a year. But the moment the state started using mediation centres for settlement of land and housing, the state was able to deal with 8,000 to 9,000 cases.

He revealed that, presently, there have been over 20,000 cases every single year. ‘So we have to keep thinking and keep planning,’ he advised.

The former vice president advised further that Nigeria must plan for its population, noting that the country has a huge population that is growing at 5 million every single year. He argued that ‘if a country is growing at 5 million people every year, there is a need for its people to actually sit down and plan.’

Continuing, he said, ‘I think we have to really pay attention to practically everything, education, healthcare, especially for a country that is growing as quickly as we are. By 2030, there will be at least 85 million children under the age of 7. So there’s no question at all that we must plan for education.’

Osinbajo reasoned that there is no where in the world that a country this size, a country with all of the various inventions, can ever succeed if people are not sitting down and planning everything.

He also advised that as part of the planning, Nigeria has to pay attention to technology, noting that as of 2022, nobody was using AI the way they’re using it now, especially generative AI.

‘Now, it’s evident that AI is going to transform all our lives and everything that we do. Someone was saying the other day that he suspected that at least 50 percent of entry-level jobs in finance, law, consulting, and even some new tech jobs will be lost to AI in the next five years, he stated.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is putting fuel marketers and depot operators on notice, warning that it will sanction those found to be exploiting consumers after a sharp global drop in crude oil prices failed to translate into meaningful relief at the pump.

Nigeria’s consumer protection agency said Sunday it had been monitoring the downstream petroleum market and found that price reductions by local refiners, marketers and retail outlet operators were ‘token’ at best, far out of step with a steep decline in international crude benchmarks that has now returned oil to where it was in February.

Crude prices have collapsed from a peak of $120 per barrel in April to $73 following a ceasefire accord between the United States and Iran two weeks ago and the subsequent reopening of the Straits of Hormuz, a fall of nearly 40 percent in roughly two months.

Yet Nigerian motorists are still paying an average of N1,200 per litre for petrol, a far cry from the N800 to N900 range that prevailed in February when global prices were at comparable levels.

‘We are concerned that while dealers often respond swiftly by hiking pump prices whenever crude prices rise, it is curious that it is taking forever for consumers to benefit significantly when crude prices fall,’ Tunji Bello, FCCPC executive vice chairman and chief executive officer, said in the statement. ‘Competitive markets must work fairly in both directions.’

When tensions in the Gulf escalated between April and May, local refiners and marketers wasted no time pushing petrol prices to between N1,350 and N1,500 per litre, with diesel hitting N2,000.

The speed of that upward move now sits in sharp contrast to the sluggish downward adjustment the FCCPC says it is observing. Some local refiners have so far set gantry prices between N1,025 and N1,075 per litre, reductions the commission considers inadequate given the scale of the global reprieve.

The FCCPC was careful to draw a clear boundary around its authority. The commission does not set or approve petroleum prices in what is now a deregulated downstream market, Bello said. Its mandate under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 is narrower but still consequential – it is charged with promoting competitive markets, preventing anti-competitive conduct, and shielding consumers from what it described as unfair, deceptive and exploitative business practices.

That mandate, the commission argued, remains fully intact regardless of deregulation.

‘Market liberalisation does not diminish businesses’ obligations to compete fairly or consumers’ right to fair treatment,’ Bello said. ‘Where credible evidence indicates conduct that undermines competition, exploits consumers or otherwise contravenes the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, the Commission will investigate and take appropriate enforcement action.’

The commission said it recognises that domestic fuel prices are shaped by a range of legitimate commercial variables, including refining costs, foreign exchange movements, logistics, financing and distribution expenses. But it argued that competitive market dynamics should, under normal circumstances, have already driven those cost efficiencies down the chain to end consumers.

Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers State, has submitted the 2026-2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Martin Amaewhule, speaker of the House, announced receipt of the document during an emergency plenary session held Thursday.

The Assembly resumed sitting Thursday after more than three-month recess that followed attempts to impeach Governor Fubara.

The House deferred the debate on the MTEF to the next legislative day for proper and detailed scrutiny.

The Assembly also received a petition from the Ngo-Oyorokoto Communities Stakeholders, presented by Ofiks Kagbang, member for Andoni Constituency, which asked the House, among other things, to order a full legislative investigation into the circumstances surrounding the stoppage of work on the Ngo-Oyorokoto Atlantic Road Project.

Governor Fubara’s submission of the MTEF to the Assembly marks a significant engagement between the executive and legislative arms of government.

The Assembly last met in February 2026, when it screened and confirmed Fubara’s commissioner-nominees before adjourning indefinitely.

The medium-term expenditure framework is a key step in the state’s budget planning process, providing the fiscal projections and policy direction that will guide the preparation of future budgets.

Abia State Government has announced that the proposed Citizens’ Engagement Centrwas ready for commissioning, as it continuto tstrsteps towards st?rengthening g?ood governance, improving se?curity, enhancing service delivery, and promoting innovation across the state.

Okey Kanu, state’s commissioner for Information, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of the week’s State ExCouncil meeting, presi?ded over by Gove?rnor Alex Otti.

The Citizens’ EngCentre is a technologydriven platform d?esigne?d to deepen communication betwe?en government and citizens, by provian effective channel forreal-time interaction.

The centrwill receive aprocess citi’? inquiries, complaints, su?ggestions, and? feedback, directing them to the relevan?t M?inistries, Departments, and Agencies for prompt attention.

Beyond citiengage?ent, the centre will also serve as a d?ata collection and processing hub that will support evidence-based policymaking, programme evaluation, and improved gover?nment service delivery.

Kanu also updaresidents on the state government’s strategic p?artnership wi?th MTN Nigeria, aimed at achieving 100 percent voice and data network coverage across the state.

He said that the first ph?ase of the proj?ect was expected to be completed within 8 to 10 weeks.

W?hen completed, Kanu said that the in?itiative would significa?ntly improve digital connectivity,? promote sociand fin, enhance accesto edand healthcare services, and strengthen se?curity by e?nsuring reliable n?etw?ork coverage across communities, including remote areas.

On secu?rity and public safety, the Abia State Commissioner for Information said that the Governmenthas commencedthe comprehenenfoothe ban on commercial? motorcycles, popularly known a?s Okada in designated restricted? areas of Umuahia, Aba, and Ohafia.

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The enforcement is p?art of government’s comm?itment to strengthening security and ensuring a safer? e?nvi?ronment? for residents.

He explained that motorcycles operating on A?bia roads, whether for commercial, private, courier, or d?elivery purposes, are now required to ber, noting that Abia State Harmonised Task Force, working wi?th security agencies, will enforce compliance.

He noted that contravening operinrestricted areas wifa penalty of N50,000, whil?e designateloading bays have beeprovided for impounded motorcycles.

Kanu said that the Abia StaB?ard of Internal Revenue will maintain a comprehen?sive database of registered motorcycles, while approved riders will receive colour-coded reflective j?ckets based on t?heir senatorial districts and unique local government identification numbers? for easy identi?fication and monitoring.

For registermotorcycles used for courier and delivery services, Kanu said that they will stricnot be allowed tocarry passeng?ers, and that a?ll rid?ers must comply with the approved identific?ation system.

Kanu, while acknowledging the temchall?e?nges t?he policy may bring to citizens, emphasised that the safety and secu?rity of Abians r?mained the priori?ty of government.

He added that alternative transportation arrangements were beingconsid?ered to cushion the impact on residents and operators, noting that the Governor Alex Otti-led adminis?tration? rem?ains committed to building a secure, in?tive, people-c?entred, and dig?itally con?nected Abia State, where governance is closer to the people.

Bose Matanmi, a widow residing in Ilorin, Kwara State, alongside her two surviving children, has appealed to community leaders, relevant stakeholders, and church authorities to intervene in an alleged dispute over properties belonging to her late husband.

In a statement jointly signed by Bose Matanmi and her children; Titi and Tunde Matanmi, the family expressed concern over the management of properties they believe were developed and owned by their late husband and father, Oluyinka (Yinka) Matanmi, prior to his death on December 18, 2009.

At the centre of the dispute is a commercial property comprising about 45 lock-up shops located at No. 135, Murtala Muhammed Way, Ilorin, Kwara State, which the family maintains forms part of the deceased’s estate.

According to documents made available to journalists, Matanmi, stated that she was served a notice to quit the family residence in 2010, where she had been living with her children. The notice was later followed by a reminder letter, which eventually led to the family’s relocation from the property in 2013.

The widow alleged that since her husband’s death in 2009, the property has remained under the control and management of Babajide Matanmi, a professor, former Commissioner for Agriculture in Kwara State, and a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

She further alleged that rental proceeds from the property have been collected and managed without the involvement of, or accountability to, her and her children.

The statement noted that the widow had approached members of the extended family and respected community leaders in search of a peaceful resolution.

It added that several efforts were made over the years to resolve the matter amicably through family intervention and mediation, but these attempts reportedly yielded no positive outcome.

Among those said to have intervened was the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kwara State, who reportedly sought to facilitate dialogue between the parties, albeit without success.

It was also gathered that Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), was approached to intervene in the lingering estate matter.

The widow and her children stressed that their demand is not driven by confrontation but by a desire for transparency, accountability, and clarity regarding assets they believe belong to the estate of their late husband and father.

According to the family, the issue extends beyond questions of property ownership and directly affects the welfare and future of the deceased’s children.

They maintained that they are not seeking revenge, but rather justice, fairness, and recognition of their legitimate interests in their late father’s estate.