Category: Nigerian Tribune

Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Ms Wasilat Adegoke, has urged young people to harness technology and acquired skills to become self-reliant and contribute to the state’s economic growth.

Adegoke, who was represented by Mrs Funmilayo Oyeniran, made the call on Saturday in Ibadan during the graduation ceremony of the September cohort of the Shining Stars Global Impact Foundation (SSGIF) Tech Innovation Boot Camp.

She commended the foundation for supporting government efforts to equip young people with relevant skills to improve their employability and create opportunities for themselves and others.

‘This kind of initiative that equips youths with practical skills is essential for preparing them for the changing world of work and fostering economic independence,’ the commissioner said.

The founder of SSGIF, Dr Omokehinde Deji-Akinpelu, said the boot camp was designed to develop problem-solvers and future employers of labour.

She said the September cohort differed from previous editions as it combined technology training with soft skills and other areas, including communication, leadership, anti-drug awareness, physiotherapy, and sports.

According to her, 30 of the 36 participants admitted for the program completed training in artificial intelligence tools, graphic design, web development, content creation, and social media management.

‘I urge the graduates to be self-reliant, accountable, and responsible. The skills they have acquired will enable them to work remotely, even while studying, and provide support for their families,’ Deji-Akinpelu said.

She also called on the state government, organizations, and philanthropists to support the next cohort of the program.

Prof. Isaac Adebayo Adeyemi, former Vice-Chancellor of Bells University of Technology and member of the foundation’s Board of Trustees, described the initiative as a foundation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, driven by information and communication technology and artificial intelligence.

The guest lecturer and CEO of KEC Group, Mr Kayode Adeleke, urged the graduates to turn their ideas into impact by addressing real community problems and developing scalable business models.

In a goodwill message, the Vice-Chancellor of Dominican University, Ibadan, Prof. Jacinta Opara, who was represented by Prof. Timothy Odiaka, urged the graduates to use their skills positively and shun cybercrime.

Also, the former Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ibadan Branch, Mr Folarin Bello, advised the graduates to embrace lifelong learning, collaboration and service to society.

Bello also urged the foundation to partner with universities and industries to provide internship and mentorship opportunities for participants.

The ceremony featured participants’ feedback, presentation of awards and networking.

The beneficiaries of the boot camp included secondary school leavers, undergraduates and some National Youth Service Corps members.

An eyewitness, Oluboyo Olusola, who visited the scene of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo, on Monday, said he saw parts of the aircraft, human remains and personal effects scattered around the swampy area, with some bodies inside the water.

Olusola, who explained that the incident happened around 10 am, said difficult terrain made access to the crash site challenging, adding that it took the intervention of naval personnel in the area to eventually assist in reaching the area.

He said although he did not witness the aircraft crash, the deafening sound alerted residents of the community, adding that what he saw at the scene suggested that there might be no survivors among those on board.

He explained that ‘We heard a loud noise like thunder and rushed to the scene, only to discover that it was an aircraft crash. Initially we thought it was an helicopter but later understood it was an aircraft.

‘It was difficult to access the terrain, but with the assistance of some naval officers, we were able to get there and saw the remains of the aircraft, as well as human remains, clothes, shoes, and other personal effects.

‘Some of the bodies were also inside the water. From what I saw, it appeared that there was no survivor,’

Also speaking with our reporter, the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, said he was in court when the incident occurred and immediately directed some of his palace aides to visit the crash site.

The traditional ruler said he initially feared that the aircraft might have been a commercial passenger plane because of the potentially high number of casualties.

He said: ‘I was in court when the incident happened, and I directed some of my palace officials to visit the site. At that time, nobody could determine whether it was an aircraft or a helicopter.

‘I was worried because it must not be a plane, because the number of casualties would be just too high.

‘Our first thanks to Almighty God is that it did not happen inside the town; otherwise, the casualties would have been too many, but we sympathised with the families of the victims.

‘The aircraft crashed into the river and a swampy area. It was raining when the incident happened, and the place was waterlogged.

‘The aircraft did not catch fire, but a substantial part of it has gone into the water.

‘We cannot describe the exact situation for now, but from my investigation and what we have gathered so far, there was no survivor.’

The aircraft, an ATR-42 with tail number NGR 931, was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members when it crashed in a swampy area opposite the Naval Base in the Igbokoda area of the state.

The aircraft was reportedly on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.

The crash threw the coastal community into panic as residents, security personnel and emergency responders moved towards the scene.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force confirmed the accident and said it had immediately activated a search and rescue operation.

In a statement issued by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the NAF said the search and rescue operation was being conducted in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.

The NAF said further details would be communicated as the operation progressed.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board the aircraft.

The Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, Hon. Maurice Oripelaye, who earlier confirmed the incident, said military equipment was recovered from the crash site.

Oripelaye, however, said it was too early to establish the number of casualties, adding that the aircraft had been badly damaged.

The Ondo State Police Command also confirmed the crash and urged residents to remain calm and refrain from circulating unverified information.

In a statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO Abayomi Jimoh, the command said details of the incident were still emerging as authorities worked to establish the full circumstances surrounding the crash.

The command assured members of the public that credible information would be released as soon as it became available.

Meanwhile, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has expressed sadness over the incident and directed relevant state agencies to provide full support for the ongoing search and rescue operation.

The governor, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, said he had been in contact with the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force, the Ilaje council chairman and security agencies on the ground.

Aiyedatiwa directed the State Emergency Management Agency, Ministry of Health and relevant security agencies to immediately mobilise logistical and human support for the NAF and other emergency response agencies involved in the operation.

He also ordered that the crash site be cordoned off and secured to ensure unhindered rescue operations.

The governor expressed sympathy to the Chief of Air Staff, the Nigerian Air Force family and the families of the passengers and personnel on board.

He urged residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities to remain calm, cooperate with emergency responders and refrain from circulating unverified reports.

As of press time, the official casualty figure had yet to be released, while search and rescue operations continued at the crash site, and the cause of the crash also remained unknown.

THE aim of a leader should be the welfare of the people whom he leads. I have used ‘welfare’ to denote the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of the people-Chief Obafemi Awolowo in his 1967 address to Western leaders of thought in Ibadan. On that premise, today’s intervention serves two purposes: a response to President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day Address and a continuation of my structural amendment to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s production-subsidy proposal.

Mr President told us that ‘the emergency treatment is over’, and now begins the ‘age of prosperity’. I submit that while Nigeria may have achieved macroeconomic stabilisation, inclusive prosperity cannot exist without energy availability and affordability at the grassroots. I will show this through the ledger of three Nigerian teachers, using illustrative profiles with plausible salary benchmarks.

Fundamentals

Energy availability is reliable access to electricity, petrol, diesel, or compressed natural gas (CNG) to power households, transportation, and productive activities. It is central to energy security, where supply meets demand through distribution networks. Energy affordability is the capacity to pay for energy without sacrificing food, healthcare, housing and other necessities. This requires bringing the structural cost of essential energy within reach, not merely raising salaries. For a poor but resource-endowed Nigeria, the security and equity dimensions of the energy trilemma-expressed practically as availability and affordability-are urgent. Sustainability matters too, but these two are foundational.

The International Energy Agency’s July report projects coal at 32.94 per cent of global electricity generation in 2026-the largest single source even as renewables collectively overtake it. The global system still depends on a diverse energy mix. Should Nigeria not?

The grassroots middle class under the lens

Mrs Yewande Tinubu, a Level 10 Accounting teacher at Iragbiji Grammar School, Osun State, earns ?160,000 monthly. Mallam Ibrahim Shettima, a Level 9 English teacher at Jere High School, Borno State, earns ?150,000. Miss Chinwe Okeke, a Level 8 Chemistry teacher at Aguleri Community High School, Anambra State, earns ?135,000. Parents entrust these teachers with educating their children-the future leaders of Nigeria. Their work continues after school: marking scripts, preparing lessons and researching curricula. They pay taxes and represent Nigeria’s productive grassroots middle class.

Mr President, here is the brutal reality of your abrupt first-day declaration that ‘fuel subsidy is gone’, before sufficient protections had been put in place for workers like these. Let us use conservative assumptions. Over 22 school days, each teacher commutes five kilometres each way, totalling 220 kilometres monthly. In a 2005 Toyota Corolla averaging 7.8 litres/100 km, that requires 17.16 litres of petrol. At home, 82 hours of professional work monthly on an ‘I better pass my neighbour’ generator assumed to consume 0.60 litres/hour requires another 49.2 litres. At ?1,350 per litre, generation costs ?66,420 monthly and commuting ?23,166. Each teacher spends ?89,586 monthly on 66.36 litres of petrol for school and preparatory work at home-before food, rent, healthcare, phone and internet data.

Unreliable grid supply makes petrol generators necessary. Teachers servicing car loans may struggle to finance solar-inverter systems. CNG conversion costs ?350,000-?600,000-two to five months of salary-and CNG access remains sparse in these locations. In these illustrative profiles, Miss Okeke’s productive-energy costs consume 66.4% of her gross salary. She survives partly on remittances from her big brother, Chinedu, in the UK while awaiting admission to a foreign university-one more young science teacher preparing to join the brain drain. For Mallam Shettima, with two wives and four young children, energy consumes 59.7 per cent of his salary; for Mrs Tinubu, a single mother of three who lost her husband to kidney disease, 56.0 per cent. Both would need additional income, compromising the attention they can devote to their classrooms.

For a more conservative test, suppose Shettima rides a fuel-efficient Bajaj Boxer. At 55 km/litre, his monthly commuting bill falls from ?23,166 to ?5,400, yet his productive-energy cost remains ?71,820-47.9 per cent of salary. The motorcycle lowers cost but increases road-crash exposure. Mr President, how exactly do you plan to bring prosperity to these teachers?

Energy policy and productivity

This is why I support Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s proposal for production subsidy for locally refined petrol. However, my amendment remains critical: do not begin with the refinery; begin with Nigerians. Identify productive activities society has a structural reason to protect. For these teachers, the goal should be to halve their productive-energy burden-from ?89,586 to about ?44,793 monthly. That reduces it to 33.2% of Miss Okeke’s gross salary, 29.9 per cent of Mallam Shettima’s and 28.0 per cent of Mrs Tinubu’s-still substantial, but far below 56 per cent to 66 per cent.

That reduction should come first from improved energy-system efficiency; lower production costs across the value chain; functioning public refineries; and tax-deductible productive-energy costs-then, where necessary, targeted production support for verified users.

Together, these three teachers require about 199 litres monthly. Applied to 937,000 public primary and secondary teachers, based on 2022 UBEC data, this benchmark translates to about 2.07 million litres of PMS daily. Dangote’s 39.9 per cent PMS output share for the year to June 2026-against the IMF’s earlier 55 per cent assumption-implies about 32,700 barrels/day of crude-equivalent throughput. The pilot could also include an assumed 271,800 eligible non-VIP police personnel, whose mobility, communication and power needs underpin community security, especially around vulnerable schools.

Assume a 30-litre monthly PMS cap per officer-roughly half the teacher benchmark because some police mobility is institutionally supported. That adds about 4,300 crude-equivalent barrels/day, taking the combined requirement to about 37,000 crude-equivalent barrels/day. Under the pilot, any crude-price discount should apply only to the crude-equivalent share attributable to verified eligible PMS volumes. Such a mechanism may require amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act. Supported PMS should be tracked through custody-transfer metering and digital reconciliation from refinery gate to participating filling stations across the 774 LGAs, with eligible litres redeemed by verified beneficiaries.

The same architecture could extend to verified diesel needs for large farms and factories. Fiscal exposure would be limited by capping both eligible volumes and support per litre. As grid reliability improves, generator dependence falls; as CNG infrastructure expands, government’s exposure should decline further.

Admonition

Mr President, you warned against ‘certain influential but regressive voices’ seeking a return to the ‘abuse of addictive subsidies’. That framing creates a false binary. Nigeria need not choose between yesterday’s corrupt universal subsidy and today’s exposure of low-income productive citizens to international energy prices. Band A customers pay about ?209.50 per kWh before VAT for a minimum 20-hour daily service commitment-roughly the July 2026 Texas residential average at current exchange rates-yet Texas has no service-band rationing structure. Petrol at ?1,400-?1,500 per litre likewise rivals or exceeds prices in parts of the United States. This is utterly preposterous. Nigeria’s lower labour costs should offset part of the domestic energy-cost structure.

The policy question is: how much of today’s price reflects legitimate costs versus power-system inefficiency, underutilisation of mature oilfields, poor infrastructure, financing dysfunction, system losses, weak competition and institutional failure. Why should those failures be transferred to workers paid in naira? That is an assignment for your energy and economic teams. Advanced economies combine market pricing with targeted relief for productive uses. The U.S. provides fuel-tax relief for qualifying farm and off-highway uses; the UK permits rebated fuel for qualifying agricultural uses. The principle is targeted support-not universal subsidy.

The statecraft question is: who should be supported, for what productive purpose, in what quantity, at what cost, for how long and with what verification and monitoring?

Until your administration shifts from macroeconomic rhetoric to grassroots energy availability and affordability, any proclamation of national prosperity will remain a dangerous delusion.

The Lagos State Government has commended Greenwich Bank Limited for opening its first three commercial banking branches in Lagos, describing the expansion as a positive development that would support financial inclusion, wealth creation and economic growth in the state.

Greenwich Bank on October 2 officially opened branches in Surulere, Ikoyi and Victoria Island, marking the first major phase of its physical branch rollout following its transition from a Merchant Bank to a commercial bank with Regional authorisation.

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Abayomi Oluyomi, said Greenwich Bank had an important role to play in the economic development of the state, particularly given its decades of experience and contribution to Nigeria’s financial services industry.

The governor, who performed the commissioning of the Awolowo Road, Ikoyi branch, expressed optimism that the bank would support individuals and businesses while contributing to the continued growth of the Lagos economy.

‘Lagos needs banks like Greenwich to expand business opportunities, and we are confident that Greenwich Bank will support businesses and customers to grow. The entrance of the bank into the state’s financial ecosystem is very important to the business enterprise of the state,’ he said.

Sanwo-Olu congratulated the management of the bank, describing its emergence as a commercial bank as an important milestone in the institution’s evolution.

The commissioning ceremonies attracted senior government officials, business and corporate leaders, financial market regulators and other stakeholders.

The opening of the three branches represents a significant step in Greenwich Bank’s strategy to take its expanded range of banking services closer to individuals, businesses and institutions across its approved operating regions.

The bank also disclosed plans for further expansion, including the opening of branches in Akure, Ondo State and Ado-Ekiti I Ekiti State with plans to open more in the South West, South South, Northwestern regions of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory. There are plans to pursue a national banking licence in the medium term.

The expansion follows the regulatory approval granted the bank in August 2026 for Greenwich to operate as a commercial bank. The new licence broadens the bank’s scope beyond its traditional merchant banking activities, enabling it to serve retail customers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), commercial organisations and public-sector institutions.

Group Chairman of Greenwich Holdings Limited, Kayode Falowo, emphasised that the bank would establish additional branches in other locations within the regions approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to him, Greenwich Bank would bring the discipline and professionalism of institutional banking to the everyday financial needs of Nigerians.

‘We will bring the discipline of institutional banking to bear on those everyday needs, so that a market trader and a corporate client can both expect the same professional service and respect,’ Falowo said.

He added that the new branch network would complement the bank’s digital channels by combining physical accessibility with technology-driven banking services.

‘The bank will focus on and address the challenges average Nigerians and businesses face. We will advise, and we will invest in the growth of enterprises with the same seriousness we bring to the largest corporate clients,’ he added.

Also speaking, Chairman Greenwich Bank Limited, Segun Olekutuyi, described the opening of the branches as a significant milestone and the beginning of a new chapter for the institution.

He said the bank would seek to meet the aspirations of its broad range of stakeholders through quality services and products, integrity, speed and value for customers.

Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, commended the Board of Greenwich Bank for its vision, noting that NGX Group was proud of the institution’s evolution over the decades and its contribution to Nigeria’s financial system.

Kwairanga said that despite the competitive nature of the banking industry, Greenwich Bank had a unique role to play in deepening the financial market and supporting customers to grow.

Group Managing Director of Greenwich Holdings Limited, Oyewale Ariyibi, said the group would continue to strengthen its capital base, expand its retail financial services footprint and accelerate its digital transformation agenda.

He said the expansion of Greenwich Bank formed part of a broader strategy to build a stronger financial services group capable of providing complementary solutions across banking, asset management, securities and other related financial services.

Managing Director of Greenwich Bank Limited , Benson Ogundeji, said the branch openings marked an important stage in the bank’s evolution and its efforts to make its expanded capabilities more accessible to customers.

According to Ogundeji, the commercial banking licence provides Greenwich with an opportunity to build on its corporate and institutional banking heritage while extending its relationship-driven model to individuals, SMEs and a wider range of businesses.

He said the group’s strategy combines the accessibility and relationship-building advantages of physical branches with the speed and convenience of digital banking, providing customers with multiple channels through which they can access the bank’s services.

Greenwich Holdings comprises Greenwich Bank Limited, Greenwich Asset Management Limited and Greenwich Securities Limited, while its broader financial services ecosystem includes Greenwich Registrars and Data Solution Limited and Greenwich Trustees Limited.

The Federal Government, state governments, non-state actors and development partners have renewed their commitment to implementing the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration 2026-2035 to accelerate Nigeria’s agricultural transformation and strengthen food security.

The commitment was made on Monday in Maiduguri, Borno State, during the Annual Community of Practice (CoP) Meeting, organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with state governments, development partners and other stakeholders.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said effective alignment between the Federal Government, states and development partners was critical to achieving sustainable food security and resilient livelihoods.

Kyari said such alignment must go beyond policy statements to include compatible policies, reliable data, complementary investments and clearly defined responsibilities.

‘We need one coherent agrifood system in which national direction and state-level execution reinforce one another,’ the minister said.

He said the need for stronger coordination had become more important with the adoption of the Kampala CAADP Declaration and its Strategy and Action Plan for 2026-2035.

According to him, the Kampala framework adopts a broader agrifood systems approach, covering sustainable production, investment and finance, food and nutrition security, trade, inclusion, resilience and stronger governance.

Kyari said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had placed food security at the centre of the national agenda, adding that the Federal Government’s responsibility was to translate the mandate into increased production, affordable food, stronger rural economies and a resilient food system.

He disclosed that some essential food commodities had recorded price reductions of up to 50 per cent, alongside expanded input delivery, investments in rural infrastructure and support for smallholder farmers.

He, however, stressed the need to sustain and deepen the gains. The minister said Nigeria had developed and validated a 10-year National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan to domesticate the Kampala commitments, describing it as the vehicle for translating the framework into concrete action.

He said the strategy would provide a harmonised implementation framework with clear roles, responsibilities, timelines and accountability mechanisms.

Kyari added that CAADP Biennial Review indicators had been integrated into national planning, budgeting and reporting systems to help align federal and state budgets, reduce duplication and channel investments towards agreed priorities.

He urged states to leverage their comparative agricultural advantages rather than attempt to produce every commodity, stressing that the country’s diverse agricultural zones offered opportunities for specialised production supported by appropriate technology, infrastructure and market linkages.

On fertiliser supply, the minister said early procurement under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, now under the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, helped secure supplies for the 2026 farming season and generated N61.58 billion in savings.

He added that Nigeria was on course to deliver a 1.1 million metric-tonne fertiliser programme in 2026.

Kyari also highlighted the recently unveiled National Agricultural Mechanization Policy and National Agricultural Mechanization Investment Strategy, saying the initiatives would move the country away from fragmented equipment interventions towards a sustainable mechanisation ecosystem.

He disclosed that plans included the establishment of a mega tractor assembly plant with the capacity to produce between 2,000 and 4,000 tractors annually.

The minister further said the government was expanding all-season production through irrigation, improving access to quality seeds, supporting national agricultural research institutes and strengthening the translation of research into practical solutions for farmers.

He also highlighted the role of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones in connecting production areas with processing facilities and markets.

Kyari called for stronger participation of women and young people across agricultural value chains, as well as improved conditions for private investment and development finance.

He urged state governments to ensure their agricultural action plans were aligned with the Kampala commitments and national priorities, particularly in rural infrastructure, extension services, agricultural credit, quality inputs, labour-saving technologies, post-harvest loss reduction and climate-resilient agriculture.

The Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum, represented by his deputy, Usman Kadafur, described the meeting as more than a gathering of policymakers and development practitioners, saying it provided an opportunity for shared learning, reflection and collective action.

Zulum said a Community of Practice should translate experience into knowledge, knowledge into action and action into measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.

Also speaking, the Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Nigeria, Dr Karin Jansen, said Germany welcomed Nigeria’s leadership in advancing the Kampala Agenda and was committed to supporting the country in moving from commitments to coordinated implementation.

Jansen stressed the importance of cooperation between the Federal Government and states, as well as the active participation of non-state actors, in transforming Nigeria’s agrifood systems.

She said the Community of Practice provided a mechanism for connecting national priorities with action at the state level while facilitating knowledge exchange, learning and joint problem-solving.

According to her, the first Community of Practice focused on developing a common understanding of the Kampala Declaration and strengthening state-driven implementation, while the second meeting represented a shift from understanding to implementation and from commitments to coordinated action.

She noted that Germany, through the Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies (AgSys) project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ, was supporting Nigerian partners to strengthen agricultural policy processes, scale successful approaches and enhance civil society participation.

In his closing remarks, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said Nigeria must move away from a siloed approach to agricultural development by encouraging states to focus on their specific comparative advantages.

He said the challenges facing Nigeria’s agrifood systems were multidimensional and required an integrated approach involving agriculture, health, the environment and rural development.

‘The nexus between food production, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and rural development is the cornerstone of our national prosperity,’ Abdullahi said.

The Anambra State Government has called on voters, particularly supporters of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to reject Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in the upcoming 2027 general election.

The call was issued in a statement posted on the state government’s official X handle, managed by the New Media office of Governor Charles Soludo, on Monday.

In the post, state authorities accused Obi-who served as governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2014 under APGA-of consistently seeking to weaken the party since his departure, while claiming that President Bola Tinubu had shown support for APGA.

Accompanying the post with a graphic aimed at Obi, the government characterised the former governor as having betrayed the party that launched his political career.

‘A betrayal alert for Ndi APGA. Since 2014, Obi has had one mission: to destroy the party that made him,’ the statement read.

‘In 2015, while President Tinubu stood with APGA, Obi backed the opposition to bury us. Do not be deceived by a man who abandoned his own house. Anambra is APGA. Ndi APGA, defend your home, resist the NDC.’

The police in Imo State have arrested a man, identified as Lucky Adim, for allegedly using an electric cable to inflict multiple injuries on his 10-year-old daughter, Confidence Adim, in Owerri.

The suspect was arrested on Friday following a petition by the Stand for Humanity Foundation, a human rights organisation, after the child was brought to the organisation in a severely injured condition.

The President of the Foundation, Chidiebube Okeoma, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

He said that the victim and her two younger siblings were rescued from the streets by concerned Nigerians and taken to the organisation for assistance.

According to Okeoma, the Foundation petitioned the Owerri Urban Divisional Police Headquarters, urging the police to investigate the alleged abuse, arrest the suspect and prosecute him.

He said the police subsequently arrested Adim, who, according to the organisation, admitted to assaulting his daughter.

He said: ‘Mr Lucky Adim was arrested by the police in Owerri on Friday. His arrest was initiated by us at Stand for Humanity Foundation after good Nigerians brought the brutalised child and her two younger siblings to us.’

According to him, the man used cable wire to brutalise his 10-year-old daughter and has owned up to the crime.

Okeoma said the Foundation took the victim to the Police Hospital in Owerri for medical treatment, while her two younger siblings were taken to an orphanage in Owerri for temporary care.

He added that the organisation was covering the victim’s medical expenses.

The child-rights advocate urged the police to prosecute the suspect, stressing that child abuse should not be treated as a private family matter.

He said: ‘Child abuse is not a family affair. It is a constitutional issue and punishable under Section 355 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, as applicable in Imo State.’

Okeoma assured that the Foundation would pursue the matter through the appropriate legal channels, adding that the case should serve as a deterrent to parents who abuse their children.

The body insisted that the suspect be arraigned by the police so as to serve as a deterrent to parents who abuse their children, thinking that the law permits them.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday ordered the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately uphold Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim’s name as the Accord Party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, also ordered the Accord Party to submit the candidate’s name to the electoral umpire in line with the provisions of Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026, which should be accepted by INEC.

Justice Umar, in a judgment he delivered in a suit filed against the Accord Party and INEC, held that Section 86 of the Electoral Act was flagrantly violated by the refusal to submit the plaintiff’s name to INEC after he emerged victorious in the May 30 primary election of the party as sole aspirant.

Although the Accord Party denied ever conducting any primary election, Justice Umar discountenanced the claim because of the evidence that Olawepo-Hashim paid N50 million for expression of interest and nomination forms, which were accepted from him.

The judge held that most of the claims of the Accord Party in respect of the disputed primary election were contradictory and unbelievable in the face of the law.

Olawepo-Hashim, through his counsel, Henry Akunebu, SAN, had urged the court to direct the Accord Party to immediately upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal as its presidential candidate and compel the electoral body to recognise and accept the nomination.

The senior lawyer challenged the authenticity of documents tendered by the party and INEC, particularly a letter allegedly cancelling the party’s presidential primary.

He had argued that the document lacked the party’s official stamp and was addressed to the INEC chairman but was received by an unnamed national commissioner.

Akunebu argued that political parties are bound by the Electoral Act, their constitutions and INEC guidelines in the nomination of candidates, adding that a party that conducts a valid primary has a statutory duty to submit the winner’s name to INEC.

He urged the court to discountenance the exhibits, describing them as documents fabricated during the proceedings.

In the originating summons, Olawepo-Hashim asked the court to determine whether the party’s refusal to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal, despite his alleged emergence as the sole winner of the May 30 presidential primary, violated the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution and INEC’s Guidelines for Political Parties.

He sought a declaration that the party’s failure to submit his name breached Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026 and Clauses 28(1) and 28(2) of the INEC guidelines on candidate nomination.

The plaintiff further prayed the court to order the Accord Party to submit his name to INEC or, in the alternative, to direct the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would participate.

In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Olawepo-Hashim said he was a registered and financial member of the party, claiming he funded its electronic membership registration with N7 million and paid N50 million as a nomination fee for the presidential primary.

He maintained that he emerged as the sole aspirant and winner of a primary allegedly monitored by INEC officials but accused the party of failing to forward his name to the electoral commission.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has prayed the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to dismiss a N1 billion fundamental rights suit filed by former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged refusal to allow him access to his family members.

Also in a separate counter affidavit filed before the court, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) urged that the suit, which has been assigned to Justice Chigozie Onah, be dismissed, on the ground that the ICPC is empowered to put in place protocols within its facilities to prevent breach of security.

The detained former governor had filed the suit against the ICPC, its Chairman, Musa Aliyu, SAN, and the AGF as 1st to 3rd respondents, respectively.

El-Rufai, in the Originating Motion, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026 and filed by Ubong Akpan on August 13, sought a N1 billion in damages for allegedly preventing him from having access to his wife, Mrs Aichatou Asabe and son, Abba El-Rufai, while in custody.

The former governor, who alleged that his wife and son were denied to see him, prayed the court to declare that his fundamental human rights guaranteed under Part IV of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) remain inviolable and in force notwithstanding his detention by the Commission and should be honoured.

Responding in a joint counter affidavit filed by the ICPC and its chairman but deposed to by John Uche, a Chief Anti-Corruption Assistant in the Internal Security Support Unit, said, many paragraphs in El-Rufai’s affidavit in support of his suit were false and further averred that the former governor was in the lawful custody of the Commission by an order of the Federal High Court, Kaduna Division, in charge number: FHC/KD/73C/2025.

He said on July 7, in compliance with the order of the Kaduna Federal High Court, permitting access to El-Rufai’s personal physician, the Commission facilitated a medical visit to his personal physician accompanied by their officers and his wife, Asabe.

Shortly after the hospital visit, he said, the ICPC received reports that the said medical visit was turned into a political meeting in breach of its security protocol, demonstrating that the existing access control environment was vulnerable.

Uche said that, against this development, the Commission adopted a temporary access control measure, temporarily restricting non-essential access to the former governor because unrestricted access presented a continuing risk until the vulnerability was understood and adequately mitigated.

The officer said as this was happening on July 7, El-Rufai’s son, Abba, came to their office requesting to visit his father and approached him (Uche) at his desk.

Uche said he then contacted his superior, Mr Henry Hwande, who instructed him to find out the purpose of his visit.

He said he made the enquiry and was told that it was a regular visit and the information was relayed to his superior, who instructed that Abba should wait in the Commission’s waiting area.

The officer said while El-Rufai’s son was waiting, Asabe met him (Abba) and, after conversing with him, began raising her voice and demanding that Abba be granted access to his father.

‘That my colleague, Miss Titilayo Remi, tried to speak and reason with her to de-escalate the situation, but she was uncooperative’, Uche said and added that, several minutes later, Abba attempted to proceed into the Commission’s building, but he quickly stood in his way to prevent him and Asabe from gaining access.

‘That while being focused on preventing him from gaining access, I fell into a ditch where my leg trapped and I called out for help at which point the applicant’s son and Aichatou Asabe continued to make their way towards the building’s entrance, as captured by the CCTV footage.

‘That my cry for help attracted the security personnel, who then swung into action to prevent the unauthorised entry of the applicant’s son while Aichatou Asabe gained access into the building and headed for the detention area.

‘That after he was prevented from gaining entry into the building, the applicant’s son lay in the gutter and repeatedly rubbed his leg against the edge of the gutter.

‘That the 1st respondent has Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed at various strategic locations within and around its office premises for security and monitoring purposes, which cameras record activities and events occurring with their respective fields of view.’

He said that the contents of the storage system, including the CCTV recordings, remained accurate and were not altered or tampered with during the material period.

Uche said, following a second security breach on July 7, the ICPC determined that its existing access arrangements were no longer adequate warranting an urgent review.

The officer said during the course of the review, the Commission uncovered another security breach involving Asabe; who was allegedly smuggled into the ICPC’s premises on Saturday, July 4 at about 7:35pm after official visiting hours with the connivance of some officers of the Commission, who are currently facing disciplinary action.

He said that based on Asabe’s repeated disregard for access control protocols, the Commission determined that her continued access posed a specific security risk, ‘As such, her visiting access to the applicant was temporarily suspended pending completion of the security review and implementation of appropriate mitigation measures.’

He said he was informed by Mr Henry Hwande, Head of the Internal Security Support Unit, on August 26, which he believed to be true, that: ‘On 8th of July, 2026, Asia Ahmed El-Rufai, one of the applicant’s wives wrote requesting audience with the Director of Operations following the incident of 7th July, 2026.

‘Further to the letter, the Director of Operations, alongside Mr. Henry Hwande met with Asia Ahmed El-Rufai and a counsel by name, Mr Aremu, at the Director Operations office on the 9th of July, 2026.

‘One of the issues discussed at the meeting was the denial of access to Aichatou Asabe to which the Director Operations responded that there was an ongoing investigation and Aichatou Asabe was temporarily suspended from accessing the 1st respondent’s premises until same was completed.

‘The 1st respondent, having earlier responded to the issue of Aichatou Asabe’s temporary denial of access, did not see the need to respond to the letter of 16th July, 2026, as nothing new had come up,’ he said and added that, contrary to El-Rufai’s claim, other members of his family, including his son who was refused entry on July 7, had severally been granted access to visit him, bringing meals, medication and other necessary supplies after the July 7 incident.

Uche, who attached a copy of the Commission’s visitors log as ‘Exhibit ICPC D,’ to prove their case, said it would be in the interest of justice to dismiss the detained ex-governor’s claim against the 1st and 2nd respondents.

The AGF, in its counter affidavit filed on September 11 and deposed to by Oni Michael, an Administrative Officer in Civil Litigation and Public Law Department of Federal Ministry of Justice, denied some of the averments in El-Rufai’s affidavit.

Michael stated that the AGF, listed as 3rd respondent in the suit, is not saddled with the responsibility of arresting and/or detaining any person suspected to have committed any crime whatsoever, including El-Rufai, and neither does he maintains a detention facility.

‘That the alleged infringement of the applicant’s right was not done by the 3rd respondent in any way whatsoever as he is not responsible for the maintenance and control of the 1st and 2nd respondents’ detention facility.’

The admin officer further stated that the AGF was not part of the alleged events of July 7 and at no time did he deny El-Rufai’s family members access to him.

According to Michael, the order of Hon. Justice R.M. Aikawa solely directed the 1st and 2nd respondents to allow the applicant access to his counsel and personal physician.

‘That the attached order did not include access to Aichatou Asabe or any other person. That the 1st and 2nd respondents are empowered to put in place protocols within their facilities to prevent breach of security,’ he said.

The officer submitted that maintenance of serious security protocols at the ICPC’s detention facility is a matter of national security.

Michael said he was informed by Mosunmola Yetunde, lawyer to ICPC, of the following facts which he verily believed to be true that the Commission, in compliance with court order allowed El-Rufai access to his personal physician accompanied by ICPC’s officers and Asabe, his wife.

‘That the medical meeting turned into a political meeting. That the 1st respondent adopted a temporary access control measure which resulted in temporarily restricting non-essential access to the applicant due to vulnerability risk.

‘That the restriction put in place was to ensure a serious security protocol, necessary for the maintenance and control of the 1st respondent’s detention facility. That it became necessary following the events of 7th July, 2026, to review the CCTV Security footage of the 1st respondent’s facility.’

Michael, however, corroborated that during the course of the review, it was discovered that there had been an earlier security breach involving Asabe. This, he said, happened in connivance with an ex-officer of the Commission, wherein Asabe was smuggled into the Commission’s facilities after official visiting hours.

‘That the act of Aichatou Asabe and the ex-officer of the 1st respondent breached the Ist respondent’s security access protocol. That the officer found liable in smuggling Aichatou Asabe into the 1st respondent’s detention facility has been dismissed from the service of the 1st and 2nd respondents,’ he added.

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) on Monday drew the attention of the Federal Government to the deteriorating road network in the Niger Delta, saying the condition of roads in the region had reached the level of a national emergency.

The National Chairman of PANDEF, Ambassador Godknows Igali, made the call in a 66th anniversary message to Nigeria, in which he urged greater attention to infrastructure and environmental challenges in the Niger Delta.

Igali, while congratulating President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians on the nation’s 66th Independence Anniversary, also commended the governors and other leaders in the South-South for their contributions to peace, infrastructure development and social welfare.

PANDEF also acknowledged the efforts of intervention agencies, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority and the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), in advancing development in the region.

The forum, however, urged the Federal Government to give greater priority to infrastructure in the Niger Delta, particularly the road network, which it said had deteriorated to an emergency level.

Igali said, ‘We take the opportunity to remind the Federal Government to continue to pay greater attention to the state of infrastructure in the Niger Delta, especially the road network, which has reached a proportion of national emergency.

‘Equally, the question of environmental remediation, which the area has had to bear for 70 years of oil pollution and gas flaring, needs to be placed on the front burner.’

The chairman noted that the infrastructure challenges were particularly significant given the environmental conditions in the region, with large parts of the six South-South states characterised by waterlogged terrain.

PANDEF also called for sustained action on environmental remediation, particularly the effects of decades of oil pollution and gas flaring in the Niger Delta.

The forum urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the peace and progress of the country, while congratulating citizens across the country on the Independence Anniversary.