Category: Daily Trust

The 2025 Lagos State Secondary Schools Handball Championship (Opeifa Cup) continued in spectacular fashion on Wednesday, October 29, as the tournament’s third day delivered a feast of goals, drama, and exceptional performances across the senior and junior girls’ categories.

In the senior girls’ division, Keke Senior High School fell 1-3 to a disciplined CMS Grammar School side, while Creek Senior High School edged Cardoso Senior High School 2-1 in a closely fought encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Jagunmolu Girls and United Christian College played out a hard-earned 1-1 draw in their opener, but Jagunmolu bounced back impressively later in the day with a commanding 5-1 victory over Girls Senior High School.

Elsewhere, Government College Agege and Lagos City College shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, before Government College returned to action with a narrow 1-0 win over United Christian College in a tight, tactical duel.

The junior girls’ matches were equally entertaining. Igbobi Junior High School narrowly lost 1-2 to Herbert Macaulay Junior High School, while Ikeja Junior Girls and Government College played out a 0-0 stalemate. Government College, however, roared back with a convincing 3-1 victory over Dolphin Junior School in their next fixture.

There were also dominant displays from Muslim Junior College and United Christian Junior School, who both recorded emphatic 10-0 wins over Okesuna Junior School and Greek Junior School, respectively. Dolphin Junior School later cruised to a 5-0 win against Ikeja Junior Girls, while United Christian Junior School capped off a perfect day with another strong 3-0 triumph over Government College.

The competition continues to gather momentum as teams battle for qualification spots, with more excitement expected in the days ahead.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has disclosed that the company is reviewing the technical performance of its refineries ahead of plans to bring in new partners for their rehabilitation.

Ojulari, in a post on his official X handle, said the ongoing technical and commercial assessments would determine whether the refineries would undergo ‘high-grade repairs or repurposing to ensure optimal performance and sustainability.’

The move marks a shift from Ojulari’s earlier stance suggesting that the refineries might be sold, following years of failed rehabilitation efforts and billions of dollars spent without tangible results.

According to him, the next phase of the review will focus on selecting technical equity partners with proven expertise in running refineries to international standards.

He added that once selected, these partners would finalise necessary agreements and mobilise for the execution of the repair or upgrade plans.

Ojulari said NNPCL’s broader objective is to strengthen energy security and enhance its capacity to meet the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) requirements as the ‘supplier of last resort’ for petroleum products.

‘We are repositioning as a commercially driven, transparent energy company serving Nigerians. Our determination is unwavering.

‘We’re conducting a detailed review and are eager to implement sustainable solutions that will make our refineries efficient and profitable,’ he said.

He added that NNPCL’s commitment is guided by the belief that Nigeria’s prosperity and energy future must take precedence over individual or corporate interests.

The pioneer leader of the Coalition of Abuja Indigenous Association, an umbrella body for the original inhabitants of the FCT, Comrade Dalhatu Ezekiel Musa, has charged the Abuja-based indigenous newspaper, Aso Mirror, to make it a duty to enlighten the grassroots about the numerous misconceptions concerning the original inhabitants of Abuja.

Musa, who is also the immediate past National Commissioner for the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), representing the FCT, stated this when he delivered a lecture themed, ‘The Role of Community Newspapers in Shaping FCT’s Narrative,’ at the one-year anniversary of the Aso Mirror newspaper, held at the Arts and Culture complex in Abuja.

He asserted that since the government has ‘played their politics by misinforming the society’ about settling and compensating every inhabitant of Abuja following the indiscriminate and unjust displacement of the natives from their ancestral homes, the newspaper should carry out investigations to correct this singular narrative and false impression.

He said the natives are glad that the Aso Mirror newspaper was an indigenous initiative, but noted that its impact would be better felt if the campaign and advocacy against such injustices melted upon the natives spread through the newspaper down to the grassroots.

‘Just as national newspapers investigate and report on federal or state matters, community newspapers serve as watchdogs for local government by holding local power accountable. The paper should also be seen creating a platform for local businesses too,’ he said.

Musa commended the publisher, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi Candido, for the initiative of setting up a community newspaper. He stressed that the paper and other stakeholders must also support government at all levels through enlightenment on government policies, initiatives, and the security outlook.

Also speaking at the event, the Agaba of Jiwa Chiefdom, HRH Alhaji Idris Musa, stressed the need for unity among the nine tribes who are natives of the FCT.

A former governor of Bayelsa State and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, yesterday confirmed that military operatives raided his Abuja residence.

Sylva, in a statement by his media aide, Julius Bokoru, also denied involvement in any attempt to topple President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.

It was gathered that soldiers had, on Sunday, raided Sylva’s Abuja and Bayelsa residences and arrested his brother.

The managing director of a federal agency located in the South-South was also said to have been arrested and interrogated by security agencies for allegedly transferring funds to Sylva for the purported coup financing.

Penultimate weekend, there were reports that 16 army officers were arrested and detained over an alleged coup attempt which was rumoured to have forced the president to cancel the October 1 Independence Day Anniversary parade.

But the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) dismissed the report as false and malicious, claiming the cancellation of the parade had nothing to do with any alleged coup attempt.

The DHQ had also clarified that the arrest and ongoing investigation of the officers reported in the media was a purely internal process aimed at upholding discipline and professionalism within the ranks, not a politically motivated action.

This is even as Daily Trust learnt yesterday that the number of army officers detained over the alleged coup plot had grown to 42.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, on Friday, made changes in the hierarchy of the Service Chiefs in what the Presidency explained was part of efforts to strengthen the national security architecture.

Major-General Olufemi Oluyede replaced General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff, while Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke was appointed Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas became Chief of Naval Staff. The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye, was retained.

Daily Trust had earlier reported that a former governor from one of the southern states was being investigated for alleged links with the detained army officers.

Sources had told this medium there was suspicion that the former governor financed the alleged plot, which was reportedly scheduled for October 25.

Sylva’s media aide, while responding to reports linking his principal to the rumoured coup, stated yesterday that some politicians were taking their desperation to a sickening level following his ‘intimidating political presence and credibility’.

He described the former governor as an unrepentant and thoroughbred democrat, who had shown unwavering support to Tinubu and his administration.

He recalled that Sylva recently mobilised the entire structures of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa to unanimously endorse President Tinubu at the APC Bayelsa expanded stakeholders’ meeting.

Bokoru said the security operatives that raided Sylva’s house did not provide any reason for their action.

He confirmed that Sylva and his wife were already out of the country at the time of the raid.

Explaining their absence, Bokoru said Sylva was in the United Kingdom for routine medical checks and would soon be on his way to Malaysia to attend a professional conference.

Bokoru said: ‘In the past forty-eight hours, I have been inundated with calls from members of the press, political associates, and concerned individuals regarding a circulating report alleging that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, has ‘fled’ the country in connection with certain purported matters.

‘For the avoidance of doubt, it is true that the residence of His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, was recently subjected to a raid by individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters. During the said operation, considerable damage was inflicted upon the property.

‘Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid. To the best of my knowledge, the officers involved did not provide any categorical explanation for their actions, either at the time or subsequently.

‘It is important to state unequivocally that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, CON, and his esteemed wife, Her Excellency, Alanyingi Sylva, were both outside the country at the time of the incident.

‘As at my last communication with His Excellency, he was engaged in a routine medical check-up in the United Kingdom, after which he was scheduled to proceed to Malaysia to attend a professional conference.

‘The next development I was made aware of, regrettably, were reports circulating across social media and other platforms concerning the raid on his residence.

‘While the Defence Headquarters has already debunked the swirling rumours of a coup in Nigeria, it is important to state emphatically that Chief Timipre Sylva, CON, has no involvement whatsoever, either in planning or in logistics with any such plot.

‘Chief Sylva is a thoroughbred democrat, whose entire political journey has been defined by his faith in democratic processes and institutions. From the 1990s, when he was first elected into the Old Rivers State House of Assembly, to his tenure as Governor of Bayelsa State, Sylva has achieved every milestone through transparent, democratic engagement and the will of the people.

‘His unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a matter of public record. It remains fresh in memory how he mobilized the entire Bayelsa APC structure to unanimously endorse President Tinubu at the APC Bayelsa Expanded Stakeholders’ Meeting.

‘These rumours are nothing more than the handiwork of desperate and narcissistic politicians, already consumed by ambitions for 2027, who see Sylva as their last real obstacle-a man whose political presence and credibility continue to expose their dark, self-serving ambitions,’ he said.

Daily Trust yesterday sought to know from the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, why Sylva’s home was raided, but calls to his mobile telephone line were declined. Gusau did not reply to text and WhatsApp messages sent to him either.

‘Detained military officers now 42’

Sources at the Defence Headquarters, who spoke anonymously to Daily Trust, revealed that more officers had been detained in connection to the alleged coup attempt, bringing the number of the detainees to 42,

‘So far, 42 officers have been picked up. They are being interrogated to establish the depth of involvement and whether there was any concrete plan beyond mere discussions,’ one of the sources said.

Another source stated that the number could rise as the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the military police continued to trace communication links and funding trails.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to the President, Sunday Dare, while appearing TVC yesterday, said the Presidency aligned with the position of the military authority on the rumoured coup attempt.

He noted that the Armed Forces remain the constitutionally empowered institution to secure Nigeria’s unity and territorial integrity, adding that the Tinubu administration has confidence in their loyalty.

‘We are going to stick to the narrative of the military because they are the ones constitutionally empowered to secure this country. They are given the power, arms and ammunition as the intelligence power.

‘So, when the military says these are the reasons why we have this development, we are going to stay with that narrative because that is the brief that is out there.

‘Until the military comes with a different narrative, we are going to stay with that narrative,’ Dare said.

‘Why FG may not confirm coup plot attempt’

In an interview with one of our correspondents, a security expert and retired military officer, Bashir Galma, said the government might not confirm the alleged coup plot in order not to scare investors away.

He said, ‘In Nigeria, we always claim that we are progressives, we have a way of doing things, if you remember, there is something they call FOI.

‘This is the time we are going to ask ourselves questions. Is that FOI working at all? Secondly, I am not going to blame the government if they deny that there is something like that for so many reasons.

‘This is a country that is looking for investors to come. This is a country where tension has not really eased due to the condition of living of the general populace.

‘However, it is not good for a country like Nigeria. If something like this happens, let them not just deny it vehemently like this. To come out and deny, and the truth comes at the end of the day, then it means in the future, if the government says something serious, doubts will be in the minds of people.’

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the permanent forfeiture of 49,700 dollars allegedly recovered from Dr Nura Ali, former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for Sokoto State in the 2023 general elections.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), moved a motion to the effect.

Akponimisingha, while moving the application, told the court that the ICPC had complied with the earlier interim order made by the court for the temporary forfeiture of the money.

The lawyer said a publication was made for interested person(s) to show cause why the recovered funds should not be forfeited permanently to the Federal Government as directed by the court.

He, however, said that no interested person had shown up since the day of the publication, and neither was any interested person represented in court today.

‘We, therefore, seek an order forfeiting the sum of $49,700 US dollars to the Federal Government in view of the processes filed in respect of this matter from interim forfeiture to this stage,’ he said. (NAN)

Delivering the ruling, Justice Nwite held that the application by the lawyer was meritorious.

‘Consequently, the application is granted,’ the judge ruled.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Nwite had, on December 30, 2024, ordered the temporary forfeiture of the seized funds, after the lawyer moved the ex-parte motion.

The federal government had told the court that the money could not be the legitimate earning of Dr Ali, adding that it is suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

It argued that INEC does not pay its staff members with United States dollars as salaries or allowances

The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has convened a two-day National Disability Summit in Abuja, aimed at transforming Nigeria’s global commitments into tangible progress for persons with disabilities.

The summit, held from Wednesday to Thursday, follows the 2025 Global Disability Summit in Berlin and is themed ‘From Commitments to Action: Advancing Disability-Inclusive Development and Governance in Nigeria.’

Speaking at the opening, Executive Secretary of NCPWD emphasised that the summit is not just about promises but about accountability.

‘We are here to assess progress, confront challenges, and strengthen our collective accountability.

‘Nigeria’s commitments at the global level must translate into tangible changes in the lives of persons with disabilities at home.’

He noted that Nigeria has participated in every Global Disability Summit since 2018 and reaffirmed its dedication to implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.

The summit brought together policymakers, development partners, civil society, and organizations of persons with disabilities to review Nigeria’s commitments, share best practices, and agree on a National Disability Action and Accountability Plan for 2025-2030.

‘We have developed frameworks for accessibility, inclusive education, employment equity, and access to work.

‘But true inclusion requires the active participation of every stakeholder – ministries, departments, agencies, the private sector, the media, and most importantly, persons with disabilities themselves.’

Dr. Markus Wagner, GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS Country Director, echoed this sentiment, stating, ‘Inclusion is not an act of charity but a matter of justice, respect, and dignity.’

He highlighted Germany’s hosting of the 2025 Global Disability Summit and the adoption of the Amman-Berlin Declaration, which aims to ensure that 15% of all development interventions directly advance disability inclusion by 2028.

Wagner also revealed that GIZ Nigeria has reached over 2,800 persons with disabilities through interventions in vocational training, digital inclusion, and livelihoods support.

‘Accessibility is not just about ramps, but about opportunity and participation,’ he said.

As the summit continues, stakeholders are expected to finalize a national action plan and strengthen collaboration across sectors.

The rising incidences of building collapse have become a disturbing trend. Many structures collapse at the construction stage, while some collapse when fully occupied, resulting in fatalities. Nigerians now die or get maimed from either improperly constructed or ill-maintained buildings which collapse like a pack of cards.

The latest is the one that occurred at 54 Cole Street, Cemetery Bus Stop, Oyingbo in Lagos State, where two persons were confirmed dead and 26 rescued from under the rubble on October 28. On August 4, the nation woke up to yet another sad story that a mother and her five children died when their house collapsed on them in Dankama village of Kaita Local Government Area of Katsina State.

So far, data independently gathered by this newspaper show that about 44 people have died and more than 125 others injured in 29 incidents of building collapse since the beginning of this year, with Lagos State topping the list with 13 incidents, followed by other states across the country. The data further show that from 2023 till date, there have been 127 deaths, while more than 373 were injured in such incidents across Nigeria. In 2023, there were 49 deaths and 201 injuries in 37 incidents; in 2024, there were 83 deaths and 248 injuries; while in 2025, there were 42 deaths and 114 injured.

It is beyond doubt that shoddy workmanship is often behind structural failures. This is often facilitated by officials who compromise their site supervisory duties and property owners who, in their apparent ignorance or selfishness, want to get more for less. Many reports on building collapse have attributed such incidents to the use of substandard materials and the engagement of incompetent or unqualified artisans. Non-compliance with specifications and standards due to weak supervision could also be a factor. Also, lax enforcement of building codes and the endemic poor work ethic in some professions have been cited in many reports on building collapse in the country.

It is this culture of complete disregard for law and order and complacency that makes a Nigerian alter land-use regulations by building, say, a four-storey structure when he or she has been given approval to build a two-storey one. Unfortunately, relevant officials often turn a blind eye to the infraction. This, of course, brings upon us the tragedies we have been mourning for a long time now. Surely, a stop has to be put to this particular case of negligence, which has made it possible for just about anybody to put up any structure that is nothing more than a death trap for many innocent Nigerians.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, described the frequent incidents of collapsed buildings as a national embarrassment. According to him, the government could no longer afford to allow the crisis to continue unchecked. To avoid further loss of lives due to building collapse, he inaugurated a 14-man task team to address the growing crisis of building collapses nationwide on June 18 this year.

The committee is made up of representatives of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria; Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria; Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria; Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria; and Surveyors Council of Nigeria. Others are the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria, Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria, and the Building Collapse Prevention Guild.

Daily Trust hopes that the recommendations of the expanded committee will be fully implemented to avoid further loss of lives.

At the national level, the government should ensure inspections at ongoing projects are professionally done. The procedure that allows only the architect and the surveyor to sign the appropriate documents to attest to the integrity of structures should be strengthened. Often, people submit plans to build a one-storey structure but illegally add more floors during actual construction. Effective supervision should eliminate this practice that puts lives at risk. Many architects act as building contractors when that duty properly belongs to structural engineers and building technologists. Before any development takes place on a parcel of land, soil tests and topographical surveys should be carried out to determine the suitability of the structure for the site; but this is seldom done.

Government should also license building contractors who must have a recognised qualification, as well as enforce an easily understandable building code. If the relevant insurance firms did their work properly, ensuring that every building adheres to the minimum standards, the spate of building collapses would be minimized, if not eliminated entirely.

But overall, we believe that this tragedy can only be averted when those responsible for such tragedies are fully brought to book. We should not spare any official or selfish property owner who continues to cause avoidable deaths in the country.

The Gombe State Civil Service Commission has commenced a verification and digital data capture exercise for about 7,000 civil servants in the state to ensure accurate and reliable records.

The Chairman of the Commission, who also chairs the verification committee, Hajiya Rabi Shu’aibu Jimeta, said the exercise aims to authenticate workers’ records, including their dates of birth and genuine academic certificates.

According to her, the verification will be completed within eight weeks, during which all civil servants under the commission will have their data digitised for easy access and record management.

She said the move would help prevent the loss of files and other administrative inefficiencies that have long affected the system.

Jimeta noted that the exercise does not include staff of the Judiciary, Teachers Service Commission, and health sector personnel since those categories are under separate regulatory bodies that had already conducted their own verifications.

She explained that the exercise is part of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s reforms to sanitise the civil service by identifying ghost workers and those who have overstayed in service.

‘When the verification is completed, we will advise the government to fill existing vacancies by employing qualified and deserving candidates,’ she added.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Gombe State, Comrade Yusuf Ash Bello, commended the initiative, describing it as a necessary step to ensure transparency and accountability in the state workforce.

The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has dispatched a Rapid Response Team (RRT) to Rurum Ward in Rano Local Government Area following reports of a suspected diphtheria outbreak in the community.

The visit was in response to a directive from the Kano State House of Assembly, which called for an on-the-spot verification of the situation amid reports of increasing diphtheria cases.

The technical team, led by the Director General of KNCDC, Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas, had earlier conducted a preliminary assessment and active case review on October 22, 2025 by the state’s epidemiologist.

It was revealed that the latest visit was to consolidate findings and ensure that accurate and evidence-based information was communicated to the public.

An active case search was also conducted across all health facilities visited, with no new deaths recorded apart from the four previously documented cases confirmed by both state and national response teams.

Speaking to journalists, the Director of Disease, Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (DHEPR), Dr Abdulwahab Kabir Sulaiman, who represented the KNCDC Director General, outlined the major symptoms of diphtheria as sore throat, fever, breathing difficulties, swollen neck, and a thick grey coating on the throat and tonsils.

Tanzania’s general election has been overshadowed by widespread unrest, internet shutdowns, and a heavy security crackdown, raising serious concerns about the credibility and transparency of the electoral process.

With over 37 million registered voters expected to cast their ballots on Wednesday, the atmosphere across the country was anything but calm.

The incumbent, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, 65, is seeking her first full term in office after assuming power in March 2021 following the death of her predecessor, John Pombe Magufuli.

Running under the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, Suluhu faces 16 other candidates.

However, the absence of key opposition figures, either barred, disqualified, or facing legal battles, has cast a long shadow over the legitimacy of the contest

Internet blackout and suppressed opposition

In the early hours of election day, Tanzanians woke up to a nationwide internet shutdown.

According to internet watchdog NetBlocks, the blackout disrupted access to major platforms and communication tools, effectively silencing online mobilisation and independent reporting. The move, widely condemned by civil society groups and international observers, came amid mounting protests across the country.

The demonstrations, driven largely by youth and civil society activists, were sparked by allegations of political intimidation, suppression of free speech, and worsening economic conditions.

Protesters also decried the exclusion of major opposition parties from the ballot. Tundu Lissu, the most prominent challenger and leader of the CHADEMA party, is currently on trial for treason.

His party was barred from participating in the polls. Another opposition figure, Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, was disqualified on technical grounds.

In many parts of the country, polling stations were reportedly raided and ballots destroyed.

In Dar es Salaam, a police station along Nelson Mandela Road was set ablaze by demonstrators. Despite these disruptions, voting continued in some areas, albeit with low turnout. President Suluhu cast her vote in Dodoma, while her running mate, Ambassador Dr Emmanuel John Nchimbi, also participated in the exercise.

Curfews, crackdowns

As tensions escalated, Tanzanian authorities imposed a nationwide curfew beginning at 6 pm East African Time. Police Chief Camillus Wambura announced the measure on national broadcaster TBC, warning that military and police personnel would patrol the streets of Dar es Salaam and other hotspots.

The curfew followed earlier statements by Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Alfred Chalamila, who vowed that the government would respond with overwhelming force to any attempts to disrupt public order.

‘Even if you see propaganda of any kind on social media about any area of the Dar es Salaam Region, know the power that will be used to control the matter is seven times more than the force applied planning it,’ Chalamila warned.

Police in the Kimara Kibo area of Dar es Salaam dispersed groups of youths attempting to march, while patrol vehicles were seen along major highways.

The protests, largely organised through online platforms before the blackout, have spread from Kimara to Magomeni and other parts of the city.

In another development, the US Embassy in Tanzania issued a security alert, advising American citizens to avoid crowded areas and remain indoors.

Embassy staff were instructed to shelter in place as security forces responded to the unrest. The embassy emphasised the need for caution amid reports of demonstrations in multiple locations.

A one-sided election

Critics argue that the election has been reduced to a symbolic exercise, with President Suluhu effectively running unopposed. With CHADEMA barred, ACT-Wazalendo disqualified, and other opposition figures either jailed or missing, many Tanzanians feel disenfranchised. ‘It’s either you vote for Samia Hassan or you don’t vote at all,’ one activist lamented.

While voting proceeded relatively calmly in Zanzibar, access for foreign media on the mainland has been heavily restricted. Observers have raised alarms over the shrinking political space and the erosion of democratic norms in what was once considered one of East Africa’s more stable democracies.

As the polls close and counting begins, the question remains not just who will win, but at what cost. The events of October 29 have left a deep scar on Tanzania’s democratic fabric, and the days ahead will test the resilience of its institutions and the will of its people.

Whether the government can restore calm and legitimacy or whether the unrest will deepen remains to be seen. For now, Tanzania waits, tense, angry and uncertain.