Category: Nigerian Tribune

Building a house or commercial property is one of the biggest investments anyone can make in this current economy. To avoid structural failure and speed up work, many developers now order ready-mix concrete straight from batching plants to pour their columns, beams, and suspended slabs.

?When the heavy mixer truck arrives on site, drivers or impatient site workers often open the water hose and pour dozens of liters directly into the mixing drum. They do this simply to make the wet concrete extra runny so it can flow easily out of the chute without requiring heavy manual labor.

?While wet concrete is easier to spread around reinforcement bars, adding unauthorized water destroys the core design mix ratio calculated at the factory. Water added beyond the specified limit drastically reduces compressive strength, making your decking porous, fragile, and prone to sudden structural failure.

?According to technical technical publications from the American Concrete Institute and engineering research groups, every additional gallon of water added beyond the original mix design can cut the overall load-bearing strength of cured concrete by up to ten percent. This structural compromise leaves multi-story buildings vulnerable to severe cracking and collapse over time.

?In this article, Tribune Online examines five unmistakable signs that premix concrete delivered to your building site has been diluted with excess water, alongside step-by-step measures to verify concrete quality before pouring.

?Excessive bleeding and puddles of free water on top

?One of the earliest warning signs occurs immediately after the mixer discharge chute pours the wet concrete onto the deck or formwork.

?When concrete contains the correct balance of cement, sand, gravel, and water, the liquid stays bound tightly within the paste. When too much water is added, the heavy stone aggregates settle rapidly toward the bottom, forcing excess water to rise quickly to the surface in dirty puddles, a condition civil engineers call severe bleeding.

?If you observe thick sheets of free-standing water pooling on top of freshly laid concrete within minutes of pouring, the mixture is heavily over-saturated. This surface water carries fine cement dust away, leaving behind a powdery, weak surface layer that easily peels off when dry.

?Total collapse during the on-site slump test

?A standard slump test measures the consistency and workability of fresh concrete before it leaves the delivery truck.

?The test involves filling a standard metal cone with fresh concrete, turning it upside down on a flat surface, and lifting the cone off to see how much the pile settles. A balanced structural mix will sink slightly while holding a firm, conical shape, which indicates high load strength.

?When concrete has been diluted with extra water, the lifted pile instantly loses all structural cohesion and spreads out completely flat like soup. This total collapse proves that the water-cement ratio has been destroyed, and site supervisors should reject the load before it enters the building structure.

?Severe segregation of gravel and cement paste

?Properly manufactured premix concrete presents a uniform, creamy mixture where stones and sand remain fully coated by thick cement paste.

?When excess water is mixed into the drum, the viscosity of the liquid paste drops too low to suspend heavy granite stones. As the mixture slides down the delivery chute, the heavy stones separate entirely from the grey liquid, piling up awkwardly on one side while runny water flows ahead.

?This separation creates honeycombing inside your concrete columns and beams once cured. Honeycombing leaves hollow air pockets around steel rebar, exposing structural steel to moisture rust and dramatically lowering the building’s load capacity.

?Unusually long setting and hardening times

?Fresh concrete designed for residential and commercial slabs typically achieves its initial stiff setting state within a predictable timeframe under normal tropical temperatures.

?When a truckload contains excessive water, the cement particles become widely separated in the watery liquid, delaying the chemical hydration process that transforms fluid paste into solid rock. Slabs poured with diluted concrete remain soft, muddy, and workable for hours beyond normal limits.

?If workers walk on a poured slab several hours after placing and their boots sink deep into soft slush, the batch was severely diluted. Extended drying delays disrupt construction schedules and permanently weaken the internal crystalline bond of the concrete structure.

?Early plastic shrinkage cracks across the surface

?As freshly placed wet concrete begins to dry under the sun, excess internal water evaporates rapidly into the atmosphere.

?In diluted concrete, the massive volume of escaping water causes the concrete volume to shrink dramatically while still in its plastic, unhardened state. This rapid loss of internal volume tears the delicate surface apart, creating long, parallel cracks across suspended decks before the cement even hardens.

?These shrinkage cracks are not merely cosmetic flaws; they form deep pathways through which rainwater will later penetrate the slab. Over time, trapped moisture corrodes internal reinforcement steel, leading to costly structural repairs and leaking ceilings.

?Step-by-Step: How to control concrete quality on your site

?Protecting your building from diluted concrete requires strict supervision from the moment the delivery truck arrives.

?First, instruct your site engineer or supervisor to check the delivery ticket before discharge. The ticket states the exact water-cement ratio and designed slump level specified by the batching plant, giving you the legal basis to refuse unauthorized modifications.

?Second, perform an immediate slump test using a standard metal cone right at the truck discharge point before allowing workers to pour concrete into formwork. If the slump measurement exceeds the specified limit on the batch ticket due to water added by the driver on the road, halt operations immediately.

?Third, maintain a strict no-added-water policy on site. If workers complain that the mix is too stiff to pump or place manually, do not permit them to add plain water; instead, require the ready-mix supplier to adjust workability using approved chemical plasticizer admixtures at the batching plant.

The Nigerian naira depreciated against the United States (US) dollar, trading at N1,347.7983, at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official foreign exchange (FX) window, on Wednesday, November 4th, 2026.

The data shared on the CBN’s official platform shows that the naira traded at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) rate of N1347.7983 per dollar and closed at N1,348.0000 per dollar.

The currency, which traded at an NFEM rate of N1,347.9435 on November 3rd, 2026, depreciated by at least N0.86 after trading activities on Wednesday.

At the parallel market, the buying rate increased by N10, while the selling rate increased by N20, when compared to the previous trading rate on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026.

According to Aboki FX , the Naira-to-dollar exchange rate at the black market on Wednesday, November 4t

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has cautioned that Nigeria risks repeating the costly mistakes of its oil economy if it continues to rely heavily on foreign infrastructure for storing and processing its data, instead of harnessing the economic value of its expanding digital sector.

Speaking in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, while delivering the convocation lecture titled ‘Digital Sovereignty and Ethics: Guarding the Economy for the Next Generation’ at the University of Uyo, Oyedele recalled that exporting crude oil and importing refined petroleum products deprived Nigeria of substantial domestic value, expertise, and employment opportunities, stressing that the country must not allow a similar pattern to emerge in the digital economy.

He maintained that the scale of the opportunity is already evident, citing Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) figures showing that Nigeria had more than 157 million active internet subscriptions as of May 2026. However, he highlighted an estimate by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) that over 90 per cent of the country’s data is hosted abroad.

According to a statement signed by Efe Ovuakporie, the minister observed that such dependence comes at a considerable economic cost, including foreign exchange outflows for offshore data hosting and processing, lost opportunities for local businesses and professionals, and the exposure of Nigerian data to foreign laws and jurisdictions.

The statement noted that the minister explained that digital sovereignty entails a country’s ability to determine, under its own laws, how its data is collected, stored, accessed, and utilised. He clarified that this does not mean shutting Nigeria out of the global digital economy, but ensuring that its participation advances national interests.

He called for deliberate investment in domestic digital infrastructure, stronger regulatory institutions, and the development of local expertise and businesses capable of converting data into valuable products and services within Nigeria.

Speaking on artificial intelligence, Oyedele highlighted its growing capacity to reshape employment and redefine the skills required in the emerging economy. He charged the graduating students to embrace AI and other emerging technologies while retaining their independent judgement, critical thinking, creativity, empathy, and integrity.

He also enjoined young Nigerians to be circumspect about their conduct in the digital space, noting that their online footprints increasingly influence their personal and professional reputations. Their posts, comments, and reactions, he said, could shape how employers, institutions, and society perceive them.

The statement added that the minister counselled graduates to disagree respectfully, challenge ideas rather than attack individuals, and understand that online attention does not necessarily translate into respect, popularity into credibility, or virality into value creation. He equally drew attention to the capacity of artificial intelligence to amplify misinformation, impersonation, and intellectual dishonesty, making ethical conduct and public trust increasingly important.

Turning to the role of universities, Oyedele charged higher institutions to move beyond the traditional conferment of certificates and position themselves as centres of innovation, entrepreneurship, ethical leadership, and practical problem-solving.

He argued that their relevance should also be measured by the problems their alumni solve, the commercial enterprises they establish, and the tangible contributions they make to their host communities.

The minister identified agriculture, energy, healthcare, marine resources, environmental management, and digital services as sectors offering significant opportunities for innovation and enterprise, calling on universities to equip students with practical knowledge and technical skills to pioneer solutions in these fields.

He outlined five cardinal responsibilities for the graduating class: lifelong learning, value creation, integrity, responsible digital citizenship, and active participation in nation-building.

Oyedele stressed that Nigeria’s digital future would depend not only on technology and physical infrastructure, but also on the values, choices, and capabilities of the people driving its development.

He challenged the graduates to see themselves as active contributors to that future, drawing on the words of management thinker Peter Drucker: ‘The best way to predict the future is to create it’ the statement noted.

The Justice Musa Kakaki-led Federal High Court, Ikoyi, has directed the remand of a 42-year-old businessman, Prince Blessed Peters, in a Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) facility over an alleged ?3.53 billion investment fraud involving 191 investors.

Prince Peters was dragged before the court on a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, and unlawful conversion of funds.

The allegation emanated from an investigation by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex at Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.

Addressing the court, the counsel for the prosecution, Samuel A. Ogala, insisted that Peters, alongside accomplices now at large, allegedly committed the offences between March and September 2026 in Lagos.

The 42-year-old man is being accused of fraudulently obtaining a sum to the tune of ?3,531,747,465 from 191 investors of Solid Trust Service Limited under the pretext of investing their money in the company’s agricultural investment scheme.

The prosecution alleged that Peters promised the investors an approximately 75.7 percent return on investment (ROI) within three months, a representation he allegedly knew to be false, adding that after collecting the funds, the defendant diverted and converted the money for his use.

According to the ForceCID, the offences are contrary to Sections 8 and 1(1)(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, LFN 2004.

But Peters pleaded not guilty to all counts charged against him.

As a result, the prosecution prayed to the court to fix a trial date and to remand the defendant in custody pending the determination of the case.

On his part, Peters, through his counsel, asked the court to hear his bail application.

Handing down his ruling, Justice Kakaki ordered that the defendant be remanded to an NCoS facility and adjourned the matter until December 3, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.

President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians, particularly voters in Ekiti State, to reject the presidential ambition of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, arguing that he lacks the political support of former governors and other influential stakeholders in his home state of Adamawa.

Tinubu, who was represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Thursday, said Atiku’s inability to secure the backing of former governors from Adamawa State raised questions about his political relevance and grassroots acceptance.

He challenged the former Vice-President to demonstrate his political strength at home before seeking the mandate of Nigerians, noting that politics was about grassroots mobilisation and not social media popularity.

‘With all due respect to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, since the advent of the current democratic dispensation, we have had about five different governors in Adamawa. Not a single one of them is standing with him,’ Shettima said.

He listed former governors Boni Haruna, Murtala Nyako, Bindo Jibrilla, Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla and Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri among those he claimed were not supporting Atiku, adding that they were aligned with the APC and backing Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The Vice-President urged voters to assess political candidates based on their achievements rather than sentiments, insisting that the Tinubu administration had taken difficult but necessary decisions to reposition the country’s economy.

Shettima recalled that Ekiti State delivered 201,495 votes for Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, winning all 16 local government areas, and expressed optimism that the state would deliver between 90 and 95 per cent of the votes in the January 16, 2027 election.

He also commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his re-election victory in the June 20 governorship poll, in which he secured 85.7 per cent of the votes, describing the outcome as evidence of the APC’s growing acceptance in the state.

Highlighting federal government interventions in Ekiti, Shettima listed the ongoing reconstruction of the Akure-Ekiti and Itawure-Aramoko roads, the establishment of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences Iyin-Ekiti, and the approval of a mining and geosciences institute for the state.

He added that the administration had supported students through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), while also facilitating the establishment of an ICT experience centre at Ekiti State University.

Shettima said the administration remained committed to completing ongoing projects and delivering on its promises, urging Nigerians to renew Tinubu’s mandate to enable the government to consolidate its achievements.

In his remarks, Oyebanji described the rally as an opportunity for Ekiti people to reciprocate Tinubu’s support for the state, saying the President had demonstrated unprecedented commitment to its development since its creation.

He recalled that Tinubu, during the 2022 governorship campaign, had appealed to Ekiti voters to support both his presidential ambition and Oyebanji’s governorship bid, a request he said the people honoured through their votes.

The governor said the President’s support for his administration had been unprecedented, adding that the 85.7 per cent of votes secured in the June 20 governorship election reflected the people’s satisfaction with the APC-led government.

Oyebanji, who was joined at the rally by the governorship candidates of the PDP, SDP and APM in the June election, said their decision to support the APC had further strengthened the party’s chances in the state.

He assured Shettima that Ekiti was politically united behind Tinubu, pledging that the state would improve on its previous electoral performance in the 2027 presidential election.

‘Come January 16, we are going to double the tally of what we did in June this year. We are one and united,’ he said.

The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, described Tinubu as a performer and reformer, citing the administration’s tax reforms and education interventions as evidence of its commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerians.

He said the new tax regime had exempted small businesses and low-income earners with annual earnings below N100 million from tax obligations, while NELFUND had expanded access to higher education for financially disadvantaged students.

Yilwatda urged Ekiti residents to vote for Tinubu, the party’s National Assembly candidates and its candidates for the state House of Assembly in the forthcoming elections.

Similarly, the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Abdulaziz Yari, called on Ekiti voters to deliver at least 800,000 votes for Tinubu, representing about 90 per cent of the expected votes in the state.

The former governor of Zamfara State said the APC-led administration had recorded progress in addressing economic challenges, including inflation, food prices and exchange-rate pressures, and challenged opposition parties to explain what they intended to do differently.

He also expressed confidence in the support of northern voters for Tinubu, saying the President had earned another opportunity to complete the reforms initiated by his administration.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District, defended the Tinubu administration’s economic, security and workers’ welfare policies.

He said the President approved a recent N70,000 allowance to improve workers’ living conditions and had strengthened the country’s security architecture through additional military formations and recruitment into security agencies.

Oshiomhole also criticised previous administrations, especially under Atiku as vice president, over the decline of major industries, including textile companies, Michelin and Dunlop, arguing that the Tinubu government was taking steps to address the country’s economic challenges through its reforms.

The rally was attended by Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his wife; his counterpart in Ondo, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; former governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru; former governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole; APC National Secretary, Dr Ajibola Basiru; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, among others.

Also, former Ekiti governors, including Kayode Fayemi, Ayodele Fayose and Niyi Adebayo, alongside National Assembly members, party leaders, traditional rulers and APC supporters attended the rally.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that President Bola Tinubu will win the 2027 presidential election in Rivers State with ease, urging the people to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) at all levels.

The Minister spoke on Thursday during a town hall meeting in Abonnema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, saying the political structure being mobilised across the state was firmly behind Tinubu and other APC candidates.

He urged the people to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, as well as the APC governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, and other candidates seeking election into the Senate, House of Representatives and Rivers State House of Assembly.

Wike said the APC had become the strongest political platform for the forthcoming elections, insisting that voting for candidates outside the party in the area would amount to wasting votes.

He specifically cautioned the people against supporting a son of the area contesting the governorship election on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), arguing that the party lacked the political strength to win the presidency or governorship.

‘I know one of your sons is running for governorship under NDC. We want our son to be governor, but we must be realistic. As it is today, he cannot be under that party. It is not possible,’ he said.

Wike argued that the people should distinguish between emotional attachment to a candidate and the political realities of winning an election, noting that the area already had a governorship candidate and a deputy governor from its political fold under the APC.

The former Rivers governor also dismissed the prospects of opposition parties challenging Tinubu in 2027, citing the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the difficulty of building a formidable opposition coalition.

‘Talking about the crisis in the PDP, I have said it will be difficult for us to present a credible presidential candidate that can challenge this election. Therefore, there is no need to bother ourselves. Let us continue to support Bola Ahmed Tinubu,’ he said.

Wike defended Tinubu’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy, describing the decision as a demonstration of political courage and leadership.

He acknowledged that the policies had brought hardship to Nigerians but maintained that the sacrifices were temporary and necessary to reposition the country, adding that previous administrations had avoided taking such decisions because of their potential political consequences.

‘Leadership is key. This country requires leadership with courage. Our problem has been leadership,’ he said.

Wike cited former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, as having questioned whether a conventional politician would take such politically risky decisions while seeking a second term. He added that the President’s policies would yield positive results when fully implemented.

The Minister also credited the Tinubu administration with improving federal revenue allocations to states and local governments, noting that local government chairmen now had greater financial resources to execute projects.

He further claimed that Rivers State had received no fewer than 47 federal appointments under Tinubu’s administration, describing the figure as unprecedented compared with previous administrations.

Wike contrasted the appointments with what he said Rivers State received under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.

He also cited the completion of the Bodo-Bonny Road as one of the major benefits of the Tinubu administration to Rivers State, noting that residents who previously depended on water transportation could now travel by road.

The Minister recalled projects executed during his tenure as Rivers governor, including roads, bridges, the rehabilitation of facilities and the recognition of traditional rulers in Abonnema and surrounding communities. He challenged opposition politicians to explain their contributions to the development of Akuku-Toru.

Wike also took a swipe at opposition presidential hopefuls, particularly former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, dismissing what he described as social media popularity and public displays of humility as insufficient qualifications for leading Nigeria.

‘If it is to vote for who will be the president of social media, vote for Obi. But when you are talking about the President of Nigeria, no. This country requires leadership,’ he said.

Wike urged the people of Akuku-Toru to vote for APC candidates from the presidency to the National Assembly and state legislature, insisting that the area stood to benefit more from remaining within the ruling party’s political structure.

Wike had earlier paid traditional homage to the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, HRM King Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel (II), who thanked him for past infrastructural interventions and expressed confidence that there would be no crisis during the election season. The Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Aboiya Bob-Fubara, also vowed to continue mobilising his people for the re-election of President Tinubu and other candidates.

The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has called for stronger collaboration between federal and state civil service commissions to build a professional, efficient and future-ready public service capable of driving national development.

Olaopa made the call while speaking at the 45th National Council and Annual Conference of Civil Service Commissions of the Federation in Asaba, Delta State, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Ibraheem Zakariyya.

He described the annual gathering as an increasingly important platform for institutional renewal, peer learning, knowledge exchange and collective action towards strengthening public service administration in the country.

The FCSC chairman said stronger technical collaboration between the federal and state commissions was necessary, particularly in developing competency-based human resource management practices and standardised guidelines for appointment, promotion and discipline.

He noted that the success of national development initiatives, including the ambition to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030, would depend significantly on the capacity of subnational governments and their public institutions to deliver results.

Olaopa, who highlighted some of the achievements of the 10th FCSC, identified the introduction of online recruitment and Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the first time in about four decades as a major institutional milestone.

He also cited the introduction of online accreditation and CBT for promotion exercises as measures that had strengthened merit-based selection, reduced opportunities for undue influence and improved public confidence in the Commission’s human resource management processes.

According to him, the Commission had also strengthened its strategic communication, stakeholder engagement and internal controls to address corruption and compromise in recruitment, promotion and career management.

Looking ahead, he advocated the integration of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies into public administration, alongside research, training and knowledge-sharing initiatives, to prepare the civil service for the demands of the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions.

He further identified the revival of the National Association of Public Administration and Management (NAPAM), stronger institutional partnerships with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and a comprehensive reorientation of public service values as priorities for building a more professional workforce.

Olaopa reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to implementing its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, which is anchored on institutional repositioning, digital transformation, professionalisation and evidence-based administrative practices.

In his remarks, the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, described the civil service as the backbone of government, stressing that it translates policies into action and sustains public service delivery.

Oborevwori, who spoke through his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, at the opening of the conference, said the effectiveness of the civil service depended on strong institutions, competent personnel and a culture of professionalism, integrity and accountability.

He described the conference theme, ‘Towards a Future-Ready Civil Service’, as timely, noting that the public service must adapt to the changing governance landscape, particularly as technology and artificial intelligence reshape public administration.

The governor said his administration was investing in capacity building, digital transformation and workers’ welfare through its MORE Agenda to strengthen the state’s public service.

He urged participants to use the conference as an opportunity for meaningful deliberations and practical recommendations that would advance civil service administration across the country.

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has rejected the purported withdrawal of its governorship and deputy governorship candidates in Oyo State, insisting that Mr Adebiyi Adedapo and Alhaja Muibat Folasade Durojaiye remain its authentic candidates for the respective positions.

The party made its position known in a formal petition addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), rejecting any unauthorised attempt to withdraw or substitute the names of its candidates through disputed letters, affidavits and signatures.

The petition, signed by the party’s National Secretary, Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday, stated that the NNPP leadership, under the supervision of Dr Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam, neither authorised nor sanctioned any attempt to alter its duly established governorship and deputy governorship nominations in the state.

Expressing concern over the alleged use of signatures attributed to the two candidates, the party said it would not recognise any withdrawal documents or affidavits submitted in its name unless their authenticity, proper execution and compliance with the Electoral Act were established.

‘The party is particularly concerned about the alleged use of signatures attributed to the governorship candidate and his deputy in connection with purported withdrawal documents. The NNPP leadership denies authorising any forgery or falsification of the signatures of either candidate and does not endorse any purported withdrawal or substitution founded upon documents that have not been duly authenticated,’ the petitioner stated.

It added: ‘Any allegation of forgery or fraudulent representation must be investigated thoroughly, and responsibility must be established through a fair and lawful process.’

The NNPP further warned against the use of fraudulent documents to interfere with its nomination process, declaring that no individual or group should be allowed to exploit the party’s name to procure unauthorised changes to its candidates’ records.

‘We wish to emphasise that the leadership of the NNPP will not condone the use of fraudulent documents, unauthorised affidavits, or any other unlawful means to mislead the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or interfere with the party’s duly established nomination process,’ it said.

Consequently, the party urged INEC to carefully review and preserve its existing nomination records, reject any documents found to be forged, falsified, improperly executed or submitted without the requisite authorisation, and maintain the status of its duly nominated candidates pending the lawful determination of the matter.

It specifically appealed to the commission not to effect any substitution or alteration of the candidates’ names on the strength of disputed documents without first establishing their authenticity and compliance with the law.

The party also called for a comprehensive investigation to identify anyone responsible for preparing, signing, submitting or facilitating the use of forged or unauthorised withdrawal letters and affidavits, insisting that credible evidence of forgery, perjury or fraud should be referred to the appropriate law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities.

‘We further request that the Commission examine the circumstances surrounding the purported withdrawal of both the governorship and deputy governorship candidates, including whether the relevant documents were genuinely executed by the candidates concerned, whether the required procedures were followed, and whether any substitution was undertaken on a lawful basis,’ the petition added.

Reaffirming its position, the NNPP declared that the integrity of its nomination process was paramount and that any attempt to manipulate its candidates’ identities through forged signatures, false affidavits or unauthorised withdrawal letters required prompt and impartial investigation.

The party specifically requested that INEC preserve the names of Adebiyi Adedapo and his deputy, Alhaja Muibat Folasade Durojaiye, in its records as the NNPP’s governorship and deputy governorship candidates in Oyo State, subject to verification of the relevant documents and applicable legal requirements.

It expressed confidence that the electoral commission would treat its complaint with the seriousness it deserved, safeguard the credibility of the electoral process, uphold the rule of law and prevent the manipulation of candidates’ nomination records through fraudulent or unauthorised documentation.

Scientists may have found a safer, more reliable way to use a traditional plant remedy to help people living with Sickle Cell Anaemia.

A team of researchers from the University of Ibadan took the roots of Cissus populnea, a traditional West African plant long used for blood conditions, and transformed them into easy-to-drink fizzy (effervescent) powders.

By converting the crude ethanol extract of Cissus populnea roots into effervescent granules, the research team successfully demonstrates how traditional African medicine can be successfully modernized into a standardized, highly effective, and consumer-friendly oral drug formulation.

Published in the West African Journal of Pharmacy, the researchers resolved major manufacturing limitations while boosting the extract’s biological ability to prevent and reverse the sickling of human red blood cells.

‘Cissus populnea effervescent granules showed better flow and antisickling properties than those of the crude extract, and may play important roles in the management of sickle cell anaemia,’ they said.

Sickle cell disease, also called sickle cell anemia, is a group of inherited disorders that affect hemoglobin, the major protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells.

Normally, red blood cells are disc-shaped and flexible so they can move easily through the blood vessels. In sickle cell disease, red blood cells are misshaped, typically crescent- or ‘sickle’-shaped due to a gene mutation that affects the hemoglobin molecule.

When red blood cells sickle, they do not bend or move easily and can block blood flow to the rest of the body.

Serious problems may come from having sickle cell disease, including sudden onset of strong episodes of pain, called pain crises. People who have sickle cell disease may also experience other serious health complications, such as chronic pain, stroke, lung problems, eye problems, infections, and kidney disease.

Sickle cell disease is a lifelong illness that may be managed through preventive screening and treatment strategies. Treatment reduces or helps manage symptoms and increase longevity. With the right care, many people who have sickle cell disease live fulfilling lives and safely participate in most activities.

Cissus populnea have been widely utilised across Nigeria, Ghana, and neighbouring countries as natural remedies for SCA management; raw crude extracts present severe pharmaceutical drawbacks.

Its unprocessed botanical extracts lack standardised dosing, exhibit poor powder flowability during mass production, decompose quickly, and often suffer from low patient acceptance due to unpalatable taste or gastrointestinal irritation.

Known as Okoho (Igbo), Ogbolo or Ajara (Yoruba), and Dafaaraa or Latutuwa (Hausa), Cissus populnea’s stem is heavily utilised in Northern and Middle Belt Nigeria (especially among the Idoma people) as a natural food thickener for local soups.

It is also frequently used in traditional herbal medicine to manage male infertility, treat erectile dysfunction, venereal diseases, skin wounds, urinary tract infections, and digestive ailments as well as for managing sickle cell disease symptoms and supporting metabolic health.

To produce the consumer-friendly oral drug formulation, the researchers led by Temitayo O. Ajayi, Oladapo A. Adetunji, and Jones O. Moody from the University of Ibadan’s Faculty of Pharmacy harvested fresh Cissus populnea roots, dried and pulverised them before preparing their extract with ethanol.

Using a wet granulation method, the scientists produced three distinct effervescent granule formulations alongside a baseline control of crude extract alone. The effervescent granules were formulated and made to undergo rigorous physical testing for powder flowability during industrial capsule filling or sachet packaging.

The team also tested the formulations using blood samples collected from confirmed HbSS sickle cell patients attending routine clinics at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

In lab tests on affected human blood cells, the new plant mixture prevented up to 72% of red blood cells from bending into the abnormal ‘sickle’ shape. It also managed to reverse sickling in 57% of cells that had already changed shape.

The new herbal powder performed just as well as, and in some tests better than, standard chemical treatments used to treat the condition.

The researchers explained that the successful development of Cissus populnea effervescent granules holds widespread implications for public health, clinical pharmacy, and African medical sovereignty.

Raw herbal decoctions suffer from variable potencies depending on weather, harvesting season, and preparation methods. Standardised effervescent granules guarantee that every batch delivers a uniform, predictable therapeutic concentration of active phytochemicals.

Effervescent granules offer key clinical advantages: when dissolved in water, the pre-dissolved liquid state allows rapid absorption into the bloodstream during sudden painful crises, while masking the bitter taste of raw herbs to improve compliance among children and elderly individuals who struggle with swallowing whole tablets or capsules.

By bridging traditional ethnobotanical knowledge with modern drug design, the Ibadan team has laid a rigorous scientific foundation for clinical trials-bringing an affordable, locally sourced treatment one step closer to the patients who need it most.

HIGH consumption of instant noodles, soft drinks, sugary cereals and ready meals may be associated with brain damage linked to future stroke and memory problems, a Canadian study suggests.

Researchers from McMaster University and the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI), examined approximately 9,000 Canadians aged 35 to 69 and found that participants who consumed the most ultra-processed food were 40 per cent more likely to show signs of damage associated with silent stroke.

Published in JAMA Network Open, the study raises concerns about how dietary habits may affect brain health before noticeable problems with memory or thinking develop.

Silent strokes can cause permanent brain damage without the obvious symptoms associated with a conventional stroke. They may also signal an increased risk of future stroke and cognitive problems.

Russell de Souza, an Associate Professor at McMaster University and scientist at PHRI, said the findings were unexpected because this type of brain damage is more commonly associated with health conditions identified later in life.

Ultra-processed food made up about 25 percent of participants’ diets, though, the proportion reached 40 per cent for some individuals.

These products can displace healthier food, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables and protein-rich options, potentially reducing overall diet quality.

Sonia Anand of PHRI said the relationship between diet and brain health may become detectable before people experience noticeable difficulties with memory or thinking. She added that dietary habits established earlier in life could influence cognitive health in later years.

The researchers said longer-term studies, including investigations using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), are needed to determine whether high consumption of ultra-processed food directly contributes to silent brain damage.

The findings establish an association, not proof that these food cause silent strokes. Other health and lifestyle factors may also contribute to the observed risk.