Category: Daily Trust

Many communities in Plateau, Katsina and Kano states have been hit by diphtheria outbreaks as the authorities battle to halt the spread of the infection, which has claimed several lives and sickened many others.

No fewer than 23 people have died from diphtheria, while 143 others are suspected to have contracted the disease in various communities of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The state government said most of the casualties were recorded in the last three weeks as it intensified efforts to contain the spread of the highly infectious disease.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, disclosed this on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen in Jos, the state capital.

Baamlong said nine patients were currently receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and the Plateau Specialist Hospital.

He said the patients were being treated at isolation centres as the government stepped up surveillance, public enlightenment and other containment measures across affected communities.

The commissioner identified shortages of diphtheria antitoxin and the late presentation of patients at health facilities as major challenges in the fight against the outbreak.

‘The biggest challenge is getting antitoxin, and most of them are presenting late,’ the commissioner said.

Baamlong explained that diphtheria could spread through close contact, coughing and sneezing, stressing the need for residents to take preventive measures and promptly seek medical attention when symptoms are noticed.

He further disclosed that the state is facing challenges in confirming suspected cases due to the unavailability of specialised containers required for collecting and transporting samples to laboratories for diagnosis.

‘We are having challenges with the diagnosis because the sample is supposed to be collected in a special container so that we can send it for confirmation, but we do not have such containers,’ he said.

The commissioner, however, said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) had been notified of the development and that the state was expecting support, particularly the supply of diphtheria antitoxin and specialised sample collection containers.

‘The NCDC is aware, and we are hoping that they will assist us with the antitoxin and the special containers,’ he added.

Baamlong said the state government had activated awareness campaigns across communities, working through traditional rulers and other stakeholders to educate residents on the symptoms, transmission and prevention of the disease.

‘We have so far activated awareness campaigns to communities through traditional rulers and other stakeholders to curtail the spread,’ he said.

Earlier, the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO) in Jos North Local Government Area, Baks Bulus, told Daily Trust that the council had recorded 15 deaths from 117 suspected cases.

‘I can account for what is happening in Jos North. According to the data we have, 117 people from communities are suspected to have contracted the disease. Out of this number, 15 people have died, based on the records available to us,’ Bulus said.

He warned that people who had close contact with infected persons were at risk of contracting the disease, particularly those who shared utensils, towels and other household items with them.

‘It can be transmitted from person to person. It keeps spreading when people come around the patient. It can be disastrous,’ he said.

Bulus said vaccinated children usually experienced milder symptoms, while those who were unvaccinated or had not completed their doses were at greater risk of severe illness and death.

How we lost our children – Parents

Panic spread tharough Jos North following reports of a diphtheria outbreak in some communities, with families saying fear and lack of awareness led some victims to self-medicate.

Some parents said their children were initially given herbal concoctions or malaria drugs before they were diagnosed with the disease.

Lubatu Abdullahi, a resident of Layin Dan Maraya Street and mother of Umar Mukta, said her son first complained of a sore throat after accompanying his sister to an Islamic school.

‘I thought it was just an ordinary cough, so I bought medicine and told him to sleep. But he couldn’t. By morning, he could barely eat. Later, we suspected malaria, and I bought malaria drugs for him,’ she said.

She said the family did not realise he had diphtheria and did not take him to hospital. A day later, she noticed a growth around his throat.

‘We then took him to a herbalist who prepared a concoction for us. We also gave him hot water and salt, but nothing changed. We hardly slept because of what he was going through,’ she said.

She explained that it was only after his death that the family was told he had diphtheria. Health workers later visited the family and vaccinated all its members.

Shafi’u Abdullahi, the father of another victim, Hauwa, said her daughter initially complained of a sore throat and could not eat.

After drugs failed to improve her condition, the family took her to Jos University Teaching Hospital, where she was moved to an isolation centre and diagnosed with diphtheria.

‘But it was too late to save her,’ he said.

Shafi’u said the family later realised that Hauwa’s cousin, Umar, had also died from the disease after experiencing similar symptoms.

‘I lost a daughter who had memorised the Holy Qur’an and was expected to sit for her Senior School Certificate Examination next year. It is a big loss to the entire family,’ he said.

What to know about diphtheria

Dr. Aminu Mato Jitandutse of the Community Medicine Department at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) described diphtheria as a serious, vaccine-preventable bacterial infection caused mainly by toxin-producing strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

He explained that the infection commonly affects the nose and throat, though the skin may also be involved, and spreads mainly through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, as well as close contact with infected persons or contaminated materials.

‘The toxin produced by the bacteria can damage the heart, nerves and other organs, making early recognition, treatment and prevention very important,’ he said.

According to him, common signs and symptoms include sore throat, painful swallowing, low-grade fever, general weakness, swollen glands in the neck, and in severe cases, a markedly swollen ‘bull neck’ appearance.

Other features include a thick grey or whitish membrane over the tonsils or throat, hoarseness, cough, difficult breathing, nasal discharge, and in cutaneous diphtheria, skin sores covered by a greyish membrane.

Dr. Jitandutse explained that a severe case may lead to myocarditis, abnormal heart rhythm, nerve damage, paralysis, kidney problems, airway obstruction or death. On prevention, he stressed the importance of routine childhood vaccination and booster doses later in life. He advised early identification of suspected cases, prompt medical evaluation, and isolation of confirmed cases to reduce transmission.

Close contacts of confirmed cases, he said, should be assessed promptly and may require preventive antibiotics and vaccination.

He also highlighted basic hygiene practices such as regular handwashing, covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, avoiding the sharing of personal items, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.

‘Diphtheria is a medical emergency. Anyone with a sore throat accompanied by a grey throat membrane, neck swelling, or breathing difficulty should be assessed urgently at a health facility,’ he warned.

Also, Professor Sabo Ahmed of the College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, said diphtheria has several symptoms, with the disease mainly affecting the respiratory system, particularly the throat.

He said common symptoms include sore throat, fever, headache, swelling of the throat and lymph glands, as well as difficulty or pain when swallowing.

‘An adult patient may have a greyish material, like a thin membrane, in the throat. That is one of the symptoms,’ he said.

Ahmed said the disease could also cause skin rashes and other complications when the bacteria produces toxins that damage body tissues.

He said the toxins could continue to cause complications even after the bacteria began to die, leading to what he described as systemic manifestations that could affect different parts of the body.

On prevention, Ahmed said diphtheria vaccination was part of routine childhood immunisation but called for a review of the vaccination programme and assessment of the effectiveness of the vaccines.

He said early reporting was particularly important during an outbreak to ensure that patients, especially children, received prompt treatment.

‘There are reports of deaths in many parts of the country from this disease. There is a vaccine for it, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control may come up with additional measures,’ he said.

Ahmed, however, stressed the importance of hygiene, early diagnosis and immediate treatment in preventing complications and deaths from diphtheria.

Disease spreads to 30 LGAs in Katsina

Meanwhile, diphtheria has spread to 30 of the 34 LGAs in Katsina State, the state government has said.

The state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Musa Adamu, disclosed this in an interview with Daily Trust on Tuesday.

However, the state government and the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina (FTHKT) disagree over the scale of the outbreak.

While the government puts the number of confirmed cases at 31 since the recent surge began about three weeks ago, officials of FTHKT said about 150 patients with confirmed diphtheria had been admitted to the hospital within the same period, with 29 deaths recorded.

The commissioner said the state government had intensified efforts to contain the outbreak.

He said three additional isolation centres had been established in Daura, Funtua and Katsina to expand the state’s capacity to treat patients and ease pressure on existing facilities.

Adamu said the government, in collaboration with development partners, had also procured vaccines, essential consumables and other medical supplies for the prevention and treatment of diphtheria.

Giving a breakdown of the government’s figures, he said 15 confirmed cases were recorded at FTHKT, four in Funtua, 10 at the newly established isolation centre at Ahmadi Rimi Hospital and two in Daura, bringing the total to 31.

He, however, expressed concern over what he described as exaggerated reports of high casualty figures and large numbers of patients at isolation centres.

‘Although diphtheria cases have continued to decline considerably since the disease was first identified in the state in 2023, we have witnessed an increase in admissions in 2026,’ Adamu said.

He said 1,837 suspected cases had been recorded across the state this year, while 719 patients had presented with symptoms associated with the disease.

The commissioner described diphtheria as a seasonal and vaccine-preventable disease, urging parents and caregivers to adopt an ‘early warning, early response’ approach by taking children with suspected symptoms to health facilities promptly.

The Acting Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr Shaima’u Kabir Abba, said only 15 patients were currently confirmed at FTHKT.

She put the casualty rate recorded across the state at 5.6 per cent.

But the chairman of FTHKT’s Medical Advisory Committee, Dr Abdulfatah Muhammad Lawal, said about 150 patients with confirmed diphtheria had been admitted at the facility during the current outbreak, with 29 deaths recorded.

The Head of the Paediatric Ward, Dr Abdulrazak Alege, corroborated the figure, saying 29 patients had died out of approximately 150 admitted cases within three weeks.

9-year-old returns to hospital with complications

Meanwhile, nine-year-old Hafsat, who was recently discharged after receiving initial treatment for the disease, has returned to FTHKT after developing swelling in her legs and face.

Her mother told Daily Trust that doctors at the hospital confirmed the swelling was associated with complications from diphtheria.

When our correspondent attempted to interview the nine-year-old, she had difficulty speaking.

Her mother explained that the illness had affected her daughter’s voice, leaving her with distorted speech that is difficult to understand.

Dr Alege said one of the major challenges was the management of patients who return after initial treatment with serious complications affecting vital organs.

‘The major challenge at the moment is that some patients with severe cases return after treatment with heart and kidney complications,’ Alege said.

He urged parents and caregivers to seek medical attention as soon as children develop symptoms associated with diphtheria, saying delayed presentation could increase the risk of complications and death.

He said the hospital had begun to see some relief following the establishment of three additional isolation centres and the provision of 50 vials of diphtheria antitoxin by the state government.

Kano gets 650,000 vaccine doses

The Federal Government has supplied 650,000 doses of diphtheria vaccines to Kano State, but the state insists that at least nine million doses are required to effectively contain the outbreak across all 44 LGAs.

The Director General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), Prof. Muhammad Adamu Abbas, confirmed the delivery on Tuesday, noting that the vaccines would be administered to both children and the elderly.

‘We have been battling to get it until now. But I keep saying that we want nine million, as this won’t be enough,’ he said.

Abbas also said he met all the district heads of the state at the Kano Emir’s palace on Tuesday, where he briefed them on the outbreak and urged them to help mobilise households for vaccination and containment.

Earlier, he explained that while the Federal Ministry of Health had initially deployed 500,000 doses to Kano and Katsina, the scale of the emergency demanded a much larger intervention.

He noted that diphtheria cases had been confirmed in different LGAs, with most fatalities occurring among unvaccinated children and those who presented late for treatment.

Prof Abbas disclosed that the state government had embarked on active case searches in affected communities in Rano LGA, working with traditional leaders, surveillance officers, and health workers to verify reported cases and deaths.

The exercise, he said, was designed to strengthen surveillance, improve daily reporting, and mobilise households for vaccination.

His remarks came amid controversy over the true death toll. Last week, a member of the State House of Assembly representing Rano Constituency, Ibrahim Malami, had alleged that more than 50 children died in his area.

But the KNCDC DG dismissed the claim as ‘unverified and misleading,’ clarifying that only two deaths were recorded in Rano in 2026, with a cumulative 29 deaths statewide since July 2023.

The state government has also inaugurated a Special Committee on Diphtheria Outbreak Response, comprising officials from the Ministry of Health, KNCDC, Primary Healthcare Board, Hospitals Management Board, and Emirate Councils.

The committee is mandated to verify cases, coordinate interventions, and ensure transparency in reporting.

With cholera also reported in parts of the state, Kano faces a dual public health challenge requiring sustained federal and state collaboration.

Nigeria records 10,000 confirmed cases – NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has recorded more than 10,000 confirmed diphtheria cases this year.

The NCDC Director General, Dr Jide Idris, at a recent briefing, said despite the substantial burden, the proportion of confirmed cases resulting in death had declined considerably compared with the same period last year.

‘While this remains a substantial burden, we have seen an important improvement: the proportion of confirmed cases resulting in death has declined considerably compared with the same period last year,’ Idris said.

The NCDC boss said gaps in vaccination coverage remained a major factor, particularly among children who were unvaccinated or had not completed their recommended doses.

He also identified insecurity, hard-to-reach communities, displacement and population movement as factors making it difficult for health authorities to reach all eligible children.

‘It is important to emphasise again that diphtheria is vaccine-preventable,’ Idris said.

He urged parents and caregivers to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated against the disease.

‘If a child has missed any recommended dose, please take the child to the nearest health facility to complete it,’ he said.

He said diphtheria vaccines were available free of charge through routine immunisation services and vaccination campaigns.

He also urged healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for diphtheria, promptly report suspected cases and ensure appropriate management.

Some farmers and input suppliers in Bwari Area Council of the FCT, have raised concerns over rising cost of agricultural inputs, warning that they threaten food production and farmers’ livelihoods.

The stakeholders expressed their concerns in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

They said the constant increase in the prices of fertilisers, improved seeds, agrochemicals and other essential inputs had forced many farmers to reduce the sizes of their farmlands under cultivation.

The farmers warned that if the situation persisted, it could worsen food shortages and push food prices beyond the reach of many households.

Mr Samuel Audu, a farmer in Ushafa community, said he was forced to reduce the size of his farmland because he could not afford enough fertiliser and improved seeds.

According to him, many smallholder farmers were struggling to remain in business amid rising production costs.

‘This year, a bag of fertiliser costs between N48,000 and N55,000, while herbicides and pesticides range between N3,000 and N4,000 per litre, depending on the container.

‘If farmers cannot afford inputs for better yields, harvests will reduce and food prices will continue to rise, because not every farmer can afford these inputs for large farms at these high costs.

‘Government at all levels must stand up and support farmers with subsidised inputs before the next planting season if we really want to achieve the food sufficiency goal we are striving towards,’ he said.

Audu also advocated for stronger security networks that would allow farmers in hinterland communities the freedom to cultivate their lands in peace without fear of bandits and kidnappers.

This, he noted, was another factor threatening production and must be addressed alongside other challenges to boost the agriculture sector.

He, however, expressed optimism that he would record a bountiful harvest at the end of the season, irrespective of the situation.

Similarly, Mrs Ruth Yakubu, a vegetable farmer in the area, said she had resorted to using organic manure to supplement chemical fertilisers because of the high prices of the latter.

Although, Yakubu described the alternative as helpful, she added that it could not fully replace inorganic fertilisers needed for optimal yields.

‘We are doing our best, but production is lower than expected.

‘The high cost of inputs is affecting our income and the quantity of food we produce. Government does not seem to be bringing succour to the situation, yet we hope to boost production in the near future.

‘If we do not prioritise this sector, we might experience the worst in the coming years.

‘The cost of production and food prices keep soaring, and Nigerians are not finding it easy. The time to act is now,’ she said.

Another farmer, Mr David Shuaibu from Igu community, said some farmers had abandoned farming entirely because they could no longer finance cultivation and support their families at the same time.

Shuaibu said this was not encouraging at all, because farming, he noted, was the oldest occupation that sustained livelihoods.

He appealed to the government to strengthen agricultural support programmes in rural communities to not only encourage food production, but also support livelihoods that do not depend on white-collar jobs. (NAN)

Mr Ibrahim Musa, a fertiliser dealer in Zamayi Market, Bwari, said the cost of major farm inputs had risen significantly in 2026, compared to previous farming seasons.

According to him, many farmers now buy fertilisers in smaller quantities because they can no longer afford the recommended application rates.

‘Some farmers who usually buy 20 or 30 bags now settle for five or 10 bags.

Others simply buy in mudus or walk away after hearing the prices.

‘Our sales have dropped because the products are expensive and many customers lack purchasing power,’ he said.

Another supplier, Mrs. Deborah Mai-Kasuwa, said transportation costs and inflation had contributed to the increase in prices.

Meanwhile, Mr Olatunbosun Akinsoye, an agricultural expert in the area, said affordable access to farm inputs remained critical to improving productivity, enhancing food security and reducing poverty among rural farmers.

Akinsoye, a retiree, urged relevant authorities to ensure the timely distribution of subsidised fertilisers and quality seeds to farmers in communities, while also providing them with easier access to agricultural loans and extension services. (NAN

Eko Electricity Distribution Plc (EKEDP) has announced a power outage across parts of Lagos, including Lekki, Ajah and Ibeju-Lekki, following a loss of supply affecting 12 feeders.

The affected feeders are Ibeju, Ajah Local 1, Medallion Data, Urban Prime, Main One, Maroko, Chevron, Oke-Ira, Ikate Express, Ilasan, NTDA 1 and Eleko.

In a notice to customers, EKEDP said the VGC, Oke-Ira and Agungi injection substations were also affected by the disruption.

The distribution company attributed the outage to a fault affecting electricity supply within the Lekki, Ajah and Ibeju-Lekki axis.

‘The following feeders are currently out of supply: Ibeju, Ajah Local 1, Medallion Data, Urban Prime, Main One, Maroko, Chevron, Oke-Ira, Ikate Express, Ilasan, NTDA 1, Eleko,’ the company said.

EKEDP said it was working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to restore the affected transformer and reconnect all the impacted feeders.

‘We are working closely with our partner, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), to restore the affected transformer and reconnect all impacted feeders as quickly as possible,’ it said.

The company apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused by the outage and assured them that further updates would be provided as restoration efforts progressed.

It urged residents in the affected areas to remain patient while its technical teams and TCN worked to restore electricity supply.

The latest disruption comes amid recurring complaints over power outages and reduced electricity supply in the Lekki axis.

In a similar incident, EKEDP had attributed a previous disruption affecting parts of Lagos, including Ibeju-Lekki, to a technical fault on key transmission lines outside its distribution network.

The company explained at the time that the fault had significantly reduced the volume of electricity available for distribution across its franchise area.

It said it was managing the limited supply and distributing the available electricity as fairly as possible among customers.

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has approved enhanced remuneration for traditional rulers across the state.

According to the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kaduna State chapter, the approval covers paramount rulers, including Emirs and Chiefs, as well as district and village heads.

The association commended the governor for the decision, describing it as a boost to the traditional institution and its role in promoting peace, security and grassroots development.

In a statement issued by its chairman, Sheikh Jamilu Abubakar Albani, ALGON said traditional rulers remained indispensable partners in governance and served as a vital link between the government and the people.

It said the improved remuneration would motivate traditional leaders and strengthen their capacity to support intelligence gathering, conflict resolution, peaceful coexistence and community mobilisation.

According to the association, improved welfare for traditional rulers would also contribute to efforts to address security challenges and promote peace and harmony across the state’s 23 local government areas.

ALGON commended Sani for strengthening the relevance of traditional institutions as partners in his administration’s peace-building and development efforts.

The association, on behalf of the 23 local government councils, pledged continued collaboration with the state government and other stakeholders to consolidate peace, security, good governance and sustainable grassroots development.

It also urged traditional rulers to reciprocate the gesture by strengthening their collaboration with local government councils and relevant agencies in promoting peaceful coexistence, security and the overall development of the state.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has vowed to take decisive measures against bandit following incidents reported in four local government areas of the state.

The affected areas are Chiromawa in Garun Mallam Local Government Area, Beli in Rogo, Bebeji and communities around Gwarzo.

Yusuf, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, expressed sympathy with victims and families affected by the attacks, describing the incidents as ‘deeply disturbing and unacceptable.’

The governor said his administration was working with security agencies to strengthen security and protect lives and property in the affected communities. He said relevant authorities had been directed to intensify surveillance, intelligence gathering and rapid response mechanisms in the affected areas.

Yusuf urged residents to remain calm and avoid actions capable of escalating tension, assuring them that the government was working closely with security agencies to restore confidence among affected communities.

He also appealed to residents to cooperate with security personnel and provide credible information that could assist in preventing further attacks and apprehending the perpetrators.

The governor commended security personnel for their efforts and urged them to sustain intelligence-led operations to protect vulnerable communities across the state.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed in the attacks, speedy recovery for the injured and the safe return of any persons abducted.

Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of residents and ensuring peace and security across Kano.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has clarified the absence of its presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, from Monday’s G-100 opposition summit held at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre in Abuja.

Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s Day Break program on Tuesday, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated that the summit was primarily organized to foster inter-party dialogue rather than serve as a forum for individual presidential candidates.

‘The summit-the way we understand it, the summit is more about conversation between political parties, rather than conversation among candidates,’ Abdullahi said. ‘It’s more about exploring cooperation opportunities among political parties. So, it’s not consequential that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was not present.’

Addressing concerns over representation, Abdullahi emphasized that the ADC was fully represented at the talks, noting that he attended the event alongside four of the party’s national vice chairmen.

‘I was there, the party was highly represented-we had like four Vice Chairmen there at the G100 Summit. So, ADC was fully represented, and we participated in the process,’ he added.

The G-100 summit convened delegates from six opposition political parties aimed at building a unified framework to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

While the gathering featured presidential candidates such as Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Moses Adebisi of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), several high-profile figures were notably absent.

Atiku, Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), did not attend the summit.

Abdullahi clarified that while the ADC remains open to opposition collaboration, its strategy to contest the 2027 presidential election does not depend on producing a single consensus candidate.

‘We in the African Democratic Congress, we are happy to have this conversation, but everything we are doing is not dependent on whether we are able to produce a single presidential candidate,’ Abdullahi stated. ‘We are saying that on our own, as the ADC, we can defeat President Bola Tinubu in 2027. But if we are able to negotiate this cooperation, then it makes the job easier.’

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged Nigerians not to mistake any temporary relief from the cost of living for genuine economic recovery, accusing the President Bola Tinubu administration of responding to hardship only as the 2027 elections approach.

In a statement on Tuesday, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said it was contradictory for the president to condemn Atiku’s proposal to reduce energy costs as a return to the past while promising cheaper transportation, increased food production and relief for vulnerable Nigerians.

‘For more than three years, Nigerians have endured punishing transport fares, soaring food prices, crippling energy costs and wages that buy less every month,’ Shaibu said.

He questioned why the government had taken more than three years to recognise that economic growth must reach ‘the dining table and the pocket’.

‘Why is intervention backwards when Atiku proposes it, but progressive when you announce it? You cannot condemn cheaper living when Atiku proposes it and rename the same objective Renewed Hope when you promise it,’ he said.

Shaibu also criticised the high cost of petrol in Nigeria, arguing that the country’s status as a major oil producer should translate into lower energy costs for citizens.

He cited Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Algeria and Angola as examples of oil-producing countries where petrol prices are lower than Nigeria’s.

He said Nigerians were being offered ‘a temporary dose of political anaesthesia’ as 2027 approaches.

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has warned members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against actions capable of creating divisions within the party, insisting that the party remains united ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Aiyedatiwa gave the warning on Monday at the APC Elders Council meeting.

The governor declared that the APC has only one structure in Ondo State and urged members to close ranks in order to strengthen the party’s chances in future elections.

Aiyedatiwa said efforts were ongoing to reconcile members and prevent the emergence of parallel groups within the party.

‘We don’t want to leave anybody out. Even those who are trying to create another faction, we are talking to them that APC must remain one,’ he added.

The governor stressed that unity within the party is critical to achieving electoral success and directed that the APC Elders Council be activated across the 18 local government areas of the state adding that the party must strengthen its structures from the local government level down to the wards and polling units in preparation for the next election cycle.

He urged party members to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid, describing the President as courageous in implementing reforms that have increased resources available to states for developmental projects.

Speaking at the meeting, APC State Chairman, Kolawole Babatunde, said the experience and guidance of party elders remain essential to sustaining the growth and stability of the party.

Earlier, Chairman of the APC Elders Council, Senator Nimbe Farukanmi, urged members to remain united and support both Governor Aiyedatiwa and President Tinubu, describing the gathering as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among party leaders across the state.

The Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria, (CIOD) has introduced a Chartered Director Certification Programme to train company’s directors in a bid to strengthen corporate governance.

The registration for the programme begins today, Wednesday, 2 September 2026 and closes on Tuesday, 22 September 2026.

Speaking during a press conference yesterday, the institute’s president Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji underscored the importance of directorship in shaping the future of an organization.

Themed: ‘Advancing Board Excellence and Corporate Governance Through the Chartered Director Certification,’ he said boards occupy a critical position in every organisation.

‘They provide strategic direction, oversee management, safeguard stakeholder interests and ensure that institutions remain accountable, resilient and focused on sustainable value creation.

‘The decisions made in boardrooms affect not only organisations and their shareholders. They also affect employees, customers, investors, communities and the wider economy,’ he said.

He stressed that directorship must therefore be recognised as a position of profound responsibility requiring competence, sound judgement, integrity and continuous professional development.

‘Today’s directors operate in an increasingly complex environment. Boards must contend with economic uncertainty, rapid technological change, digital disruption, cybersecurity threats, evolving regulations, sustainability considerations and heightened expectations from stakeholders.

Justice Abdullahi Mahmud Bayero of the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division, who passed away last week in Cairo, Egypt, has been laid to rest in Kano.

Family sources confirmed that the funeral prayer was conducted at the Kano Emir’s Palace around 5:00 pm, yesterday with relatives, colleagues, and members of the public in attendance.

He was later buried at Farm Centre Cemetery in Kano.

Justice Bayero was elevated from the Kano State High Court to the Court of Appeal in 2018 and took his oath of office on June 22 of that year.

He was widely respected for his integrity, fairness, and dedication to justice, delivering landmark rulings on criminal case transfers, fundamental rights enforcement, and capital offences.

His death has elicited widespread condolences and prayers. Well-wishers have asked Allah to forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds, and grant him the highest rank in Jannatul Firdaus.

Justice Bayero was remembered not only as a disciplined and principled judge but also as a generous figure in his community.