Category: Nigerian Tribune

Lere Olayinka, spokesperson to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Friday clashed with ARISE Television anchor, Rufai Oseni, during a live programme.

Lere Olayinka, who appeared on The Morning Show, declined to answer questions from Rufai, saying he preferred to engage in a discussion with ‘reasonable human beings.’

The disagreement appeared to stem from Olayinka’s objection to Oseni’s alleged description of some people as ’emudani.’

Oseni had earlier asked Olayinka to explain the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, in the presidential campaign council despite allegations of corruption against her.

However, Olayinka declined to respond to questions from Oseni.

‘Well, I’m very sorry to say this, Oseni Rufai, I don’t want to answer any question from you. I want to concentrate.

‘I want this conversation to be among reasonable human beings, people who will not come and tell, who will not come and describe other people as ’emudani’,’ Olayinka said.

The interview was subsequently cut short amid the disagreement between Olayinka and the television anchor.

African women innovators are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) and smart technologies to address critical challenges in healthcare and agriculture, with new tools helping to accelerate disease diagnosis and improve potato production.

The innovations were showcased by researchers from Uganda and Rwanda during a webinar hosted through the Africa Science Dialogue, highlighting how locally developed technologies are being adapted to tackle health and food-system challenges across the continent.

In Uganda, Dr Rose Nakasi, a researcher at the Makerere AI Health Lab and lecturer at Makerere University, is leading the development of an AI-powered diagnostic system designed to make the detection of diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and cervical cancer faster and more accurate.

Nakasi said the technology was developed in response to gaps in access to simple, rapid and reliable diagnostic services, particularly in health facilities with limited laboratory expertise.

‘One of the key contributors to some of the increased severity of this burden is that we lack simple, rapid, accessible and accurate diagnostics,’ Nakasi said.

The system, known as an ocular system, combines microscopes, smartphones and AI to automate the analysis of patient samples. A 3D-printable adapter connects a smartphone to a microscope, enabling images of samples to be captured and analysed using AI models trained to identify disease-causing pathogens.

‘If a disease is not accurately diagnosed, you are not going to get the right treatment, you are not going to get the right care,’ she said.

The researchers reported that the malaria model has achieved 92 per cent specificity, while the cervical cancer model has recorded more than 94 per cent accuracy.

The innovation is also moving beyond research into practical healthcare delivery, with more than 150 laboratory technicians and 10 pathologists trained to use the system across more than 35 health facilities in Uganda.

In Rwanda, agroforester and innovator Clémence Uwamutarambirwa is applying smart technology to improve potato production through her Smart Potato Greenhouse Technology.

The system combines sensors, cloud-based analytics and a mobile application to enable farmers and greenhouse managers to remotely monitor growing conditions and respond to changes affecting their crops.

Sensors installed in greenhouse beds continuously measure temperature, humidity and soil moisture, with the data transmitted to a cloud platform for analysis. Farmers receive alerts on their mobile phones and can remotely control irrigation.

The technology also incorporates hydroponic production, allowing potatoes to be grown using water-based nutrient solutions rather than conventional soil.

Uwamutarambirwa said the soil-less method increases potato seed output, conserves water and protects crops from soil-borne pathogens.

She added that feedback from greenhouse managers indicated that the technology had improved remote monitoring of production, management of temperature and humidity, and the security of produce.

The two projects demonstrate the potential for African researchers to develop technology tailored to local conditions rather than relying solely on solutions imported from elsewhere.

Dr Margaret Karembu, Director of ISAAA AfriCenter and Chair of Africa Women for Biosciences, said greater participation of women in science and emerging technologies would require support from the wider society.

‘Increasing women’s participation in science and technology cannot be viewed as a responsibility for women alone. The support of men – as colleagues, supervisors, mentors, partners, institutional leaders and policymakers – is critical,’ Karembu said.

She also called for stronger networks and more opportunities for women seeking to participate in science and innovation, stressing that membership of Africa Women for Biosciences should not be restricted to those with formal bioscience training.

‘I want to emphasize something very important: you do not have to be a bio-scientist to belong in AWfB,’ she said.

More than 50 participants, including early-career scientists, agricultural researchers, policymakers, farmers, journalists, academics and industry representatives, took part in the webinar.

A report coming out of the University of Lagos has examined the environmental effects of British colonial rule in Africa and has asked that this value be included in all reparation conversation.

The report, titled CO2lonianism, Ecocide, Reparations, argues that the long-lasting ecological harm caused by British colonial rule on its former African colonies constitutes a separate and vast category of damage, distinct from the humanitarian harm of the slave trade, with a valuation that could exceed hundreds of trillions of dollars.

The report’s lead author, Professor J. G. Nkem Onyekpe, PhD, Head of the Department of History and Strategic Studies at the University of Lagos stated that: ‘The report documents that valuation exercises of comparable ambition and scale have already been attempted successfully.’

He cited a peer-reviewed 2022 estimate that valued resources appropriated from the global South through unequal exchange at over $10 trillion per year in 2015 alone.

‘If the same order of logic, that large-scale, structurally unequal appropriation of resources is capable of rigorous monetary valuation, were extended backward across the full duration of colonial rule and across the full set of affected African states, the resulting figure would run into the hundreds of trillions of dollars, and quite possibly beyond,’ he added.

The report was presented to a distinguished audience of academics, legal experts, and public activists at the press conference in Lagos University on August 28, 2026.

The report has now been formally submitted to the African Union’s newly established sub-commissions – the Committee of Experts on Reparations (AUCER) and the Legal Reference Group on Reparations (AULER). These bodies, now operational under the AU’s Decade of Justice and Reparations (2026-2035), are tasked with developing a harmonized methodology for evaluating and advancing a common African position on reparations claims.

Another case separately mentioned in the report argues that land degradation in Kanungu District, Uganda found a statistically significant relationship between land degradation and farmer livelihoods resulting ‘hunger, famine related resource constraints, and insufficient food.

The legal and institutional environment for such claims has shifted markedly since 2021, creating a unique window for advancing an African-led claim. Key developments include the adoption of a working legal definition of ecocide by the Independent Expert Panel, followed by binding or soon-to-be-binding instruments at the Council of Europe (2025) and the European Union (2024), and a proposal before the International Criminal Court.

Most critically, the African Union’s own decision in July 2025 to establish an ad hoc committee to examine the classification of ‘massive destruction of environmental ecosystems’ as a crime provides direct institutional support for the report’s premise.

Speaking about the report, Ogunlade Olamide M., an Associate Director at CAPPA NGO, said, ‘Colonial reparations cannot stop at counting the lives taken, the people enslaved, the resources extracted and indigenous survival altered. The ecological destruction that made those systems possible and whose consequences continue to shape Africa’s climate vulnerability today, must be recognized as part of the debt owed to African peoples.’

The report also documents a directly on-point international legal precedent: the 1990s Certain Phosphate Lands in Nauru case before the International Court of Justice. In that case, a formerly colonized state successfully brought a claim against its former colonial administrator (Australia) specifically for environmental devastation caused by colonial-era phosphate mining. This landmark ruling provides a template, however imperfect, for what an African claim of this kind might look like in practice.

‘The Nauru case proves that such claims are not merely theoretical but are grounded in established international law,’ remarked Dr Karibi-Whyte, a legal expert familiar with the report. ‘Africa is now building on that precedent to address a harm that is orders of magnitude larger.’

The submission comes at a time of an increased interest for the reparations movement, with the African Union having declared 2025 as the Year of Reparations and formally established the AUCER and AULER mechanisms to guide the continent’s strategy. Authors hope this report to become an important document framing environmental repair as an essential element of restorative justice for the continent.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that the renewed reference to past allegations against him is a distraction from the economic challenges Nigerians are currently facing.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the return to issues from the Obasanjo era reflects a lack of answers to pressing concerns such as the rising cost of living, food prices, transportation, electricity, education, healthcare and insecurity.

‘When those defending the government can no longer explain the difficulties ordinary families face, they turn to old political arguments. This does not address the concerns of Nigerians today,’ the statement said.

Atiku noted that the matters being referenced were previously examined by relevant institutions during his time in office.

‘These issues went through the EFCC, an administrative panel, the National Assembly and the courts. No court convicted me on these allegations. That is the record,’ he said.

He added that anyone with credible evidence should present it through lawful channels.

‘Anyone with credible evidence should bring it forward and test it before the law. I have made this point before and I repeat it today,’ he stated.

On calls for openness, Atiku said public officials should be open to scrutiny and that institutions must be allowed to operate without interference.

‘The EFCC belongs to Nigeria. It should investigate genuine wrongdoing wherever it finds it. State institutions must not be used for political purposes,’ he said.

He urged that public discourse be centred on governance and the welfare of citizens.

‘You cannot address hunger with old allegations. You cannot restore purchasing power or make life more affordable by revisiting past political disputes. Nigerians deserve answers on the economy and on policies that affect their daily lives,’ he said.

Atiku said the 2027 elections would provide an opportunity for Nigerians to assess leaders based on their records and plans for the future.

‘In 2027, Nigerians will judge us by our records, the lives they are living and the future we offer them. We remain focused on engaging with the Nigerian people,’ the statement added.

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have neutralised a suspected bandit and arrested five others during separate operations in Benue and Taraba.

The operations were conducted along the Gbise-Igyudu road in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State and at Peva in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba.

The Acting Commander of JTF Operation Whirl Stroke, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, disclosed this in separate statements made available to journalists on Thursday in Makurdi.

According to Zubairu, troops of Sector 1 were conducting a routine fighting patrol on Wednesday when they encountered two suspected bandits riding a motorcycle along the Gbise-Igyudu axis.

‘After a positive identification of the armed suspects, troops immediately engaged the suspects resulting in a fierce exchange of fire.’

[Continue with the remaining portion of the statement here to complete the report.

Preparations for the maiden induction into the Nigeria Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) reached a milestone on Monday with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between NAHF and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2).

The signing ceremony took place at the headquarters of BASL in Lagos recently.

Representing BASL was Ms. Gbubemi Vera Aibangbee, Head of Marketing and Creative Services. The representing of NAHF were co-founders: Mr. Wole Shadare and Mr Gboyega Adeoye.

The agreement seals a strategic partnership for the joint hosting and management of the NAHF Montage – a permanent wall of honour at MMA2, featuring pictures, profiles and citations of distinguished aviators who have shaped the aviation sector.

Both organisations described the collaboration as a win-win aimed at preserving aviation heritage and inspiring the next generation of aviators.

The Montage will be officially unveiled, on Friday, at MMA2 by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, to be followed by the main induction and the launch of NAHF’s maiden publication, Aviation Achievers, in Lagos.

A total of 18 aviators will be inducted in this second edition, selected based on decades of service, integrity, leadership and contributions to the growth of the aviation industry.

Speaking at the signing, Wole Shadare, co-founder of NAHF and ace aviation journalist, said: ‘For over 25 years I have reported on this sector and seen many heroes retire without recognition. The Nigeria Aviation Hall of Fame is our way of saying thank you while we are still here to clap for them.’

Gboyega Adeoye, Co-Founder of NAHF, added, ‘This is about history, values, and inspiring young Nigerians coming into aviation. We are proud that Bi-Courtney shares this vision with us.’

Also speaking, Ms Gbubemi Vera Aibangbee noted, ‘MMA2 welcomes millions of passengers yearly and now they will also be welcomed by the faces of excellence who laid the foundation for Nigerian aviation. It is truly a win-win.’

Under the MoU, BASL will provide space, security and maintenance for the Montage at MMA2, while NAHF will manage content curation, periodic updates and the induction process.

The Nigeria Aviation Hall of Fame is a non-political, non-profit initiative aimed at recognising excellence, documenting aviation history, and promoting mentorship in the sector.

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has assured the people of the Northern Senatorial District of sustained government intervention in infrastructure, education, electricity and economic development, pledging to address critical challenges affecting the region.

Otu gave the assurance on Monday during a high-level stakeholder engagement with political leaders and other key stakeholders from Cross River North at the Conference Hall of the Ogoja Local Government Council headquarters.

The meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders to present their concerns directly to the Governor, with roads, bridges, the proposed university, the revival of the Okuku International Market, electricity supply, political inclusion and economic development dominating discussions.

Responding, Otu said the requests would be carefully reviewed, with urgent and high-impact projects receiving priority.

‘We have listened to you, and we understand the concerns that have been expressed here,’ the Governor said.

‘Government must listen to the people, understand their challenges and work towards solutions that will improve their lives.’

He said particular attention would be given to critical bridges linking communities, warning that the absence or collapse of such infrastructure could isolate entire areas and disrupt economic activities.

‘When communities are cut off, farmers cannot move their produce, traders cannot access markets and people may struggle to reach schools and healthcare facilities,’ he said.

‘A road is more than asphalt and a bridge is more than concrete. They connect people to opportunities and communities to economic activities.’

On the proposed university for the Northern Senatorial District, Otu reaffirmed his commitment to the project, describing it as a key component of his administration’s campaign promises.

‘The university is still very much alive. It is part of the commitment we made to our people, and we remain committed to it,’ he said.

The Governor, however, explained that establishing a university required strict compliance with regulatory requirements, particularly for specialised programmes such as medicine.

‘Setting up a university is not something that can be done overnight. There are processes and standards that must be met, but significant progress has been made,’ he said.

He said the proposed institution was intended to strengthen human capital development and produce more indigenous professionals, particularly in critical areas such as healthcare.

‘We need more doctors and other skilled professionals. We want an institution that will make a genuine contribution to education, healthcare and the development of our state,’ Otu said.

The Governor also gave assurances on the revival of the Okuku International Market, describing the facility as a strategic economic asset to the Northern Senatorial District.

‘The Okuku International Market is too important to be allowed to remain dormant,’ he said. ‘We are looking at what needs to be done to restore its commercial vibrancy.’

Otu explained that road projects around the market were designed to reconnect producers, traders and buyers, while efforts were also underway to reopen the Ijegwu axis.

‘You cannot have a thriving market without access roads,’ he said.

‘Farmers must be able to bring their produce, traders must be able to move their goods and buyers must be able to access the market.’

On electricity, the Governor said his administration was engaging relevant authorities to address the power challenges confronting the region, stressing that reliable electricity was fundamental to economic growth and industrial development.

‘We cannot talk about serious industrialisation without talking about power,’ he said. ‘Our businesses, industries and young entrepreneurs need reliable electricity to grow.’

Otu disclosed that his role as Chairman of the Power Committee of the National Economic Council had given him a mandate to contribute to national efforts aimed at improving electricity supply.

He appealed to stakeholders to remain patient with the economic reforms being implemented by the Federal Government, acknowledging the hardship facing Nigerians but describing the reforms as part of a broader effort to rebuild the economy.

‘I know that the times are difficult and that our people are feeling the pressure,’ he said. ‘But rebuilding an economy with deep structural challenges requires difficult decisions.’

The Governor expressed optimism that Cross River would benefit from efforts to restore its oil-producing status, which he said could open new economic opportunities and strengthen the state’s development prospects.

‘Cross River has enormous potential, and we are determined to unlock that potential,’ he said.

‘The restoration of our oil-producing status is important because of what it can mean for the future of our state.’

Otu also used the occasion to call for political reconciliation and unity among stakeholders, urging them to set aside old grievances and work collectively for the progress of the state.

‘We must learn to forgive one another and put the past behind us,’ he said. ‘Cross River is bigger than any personal interest, and we must work together for the future of our people.’

He promised a more inclusive approach to party organisation, saying grassroots popularity, performance and commitment would receive greater consideration in the selection of party and campaign structures.

‘We want a system that recognises commitment and performance,’ he said. ‘Those who have genuinely worked and demonstrated the capacity to deliver should have a sense of belonging.’

The Governor said the engagement reflected his administration’s commitment to participatory governance and direct interaction with the people.

‘The people must have a voice, and government must have the humility to listen,’ Otu said.

‘We may not solve every problem in one day, but we must understand the problems and continue to work towards solutions.’

He assured the people of the Northern Senatorial District that their development remained central to his administration’s agenda.

‘Your concerns are our concerns, and your development is part of the future we are building for Cross River,’ the Governor said.

The engagement ended with renewed calls for unity and cooperation, as Otu reaffirmed his administration’s determination to pursue development initiatives that can improve infrastructure, expand economic opportunities, and strengthen the fortunes of Cross River North.

‘Together, we will overcome our challenges and build a more prosperous future for our people and our state,’ he said.

The Oyo State House of Assembly on Thursday passed the Supplementary Finance Bill, 2026, approving an additional N210 billion to finance the state’s supplementary appropriation for the 2026 fiscal year.

The passage followed the presentation and adoption of the report of the House Committee on Finance, Appropriation and State Economic Planning during plenary on Thursday.

The Chairman, Committee on Finance, Appropriation and State Economic Planning, Hon. Sunkanmi Babalola, while reading the report, considered the Bill clause by clause, taking into account inputs from the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and projections contained in the Oyo State Government Medium Term Expenditure Framework adopted by the House.

With the approval of the supplementary finance, the total amount approved under the 2026 Finance Law rose from Eight Hundred and Ninety-Two Billion, Eighty-Five Million, Seventy-Four Thousand, Four Hundred and Eighty Naira, Seventy-Nine Kobo (N892,085,074,480.79) to One Trillion, One Hundred and Two Billion, Eighty-Five Million, Seventy-Four Thousand, Four Hundred and Eighty Naira, Seventy-Nine Kobo (N1,102,085,074,480.79) Only.

The Committee recommended that the N210 billion supplementary finance be granted from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Oyo State for the year ending December 31, 2026, with the sources of the funds set out in the schedule to the Bill.

The passage brings the total approved 2026 financial provision for the state to over N1.1 trillion.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has declared support for the drive of UNIVASA in improving passengers’ travel experience with uninterrupted internet connectivity.

This was announced on Wednesday in Abuja at the NCAA and UNIVASA stakeholders’ engagement by the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of NCAA, Mr Achimugu Michael.

He made the travel experience better for Nigerian passengers, noting: For too long, we have had these internet connectivity problems for Nigerian passengers both at our airports here at home and abroad.

‘Nigerians spend a lot of money to connect to internet abroad. So the Honorable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in his wisdom, sat down and had a conversation with UNIVASA which is also a local company run and operated by Nigerians, on how to improve internet connectivity for passengers.

‘One of his (Minister’s) five-point agenda is support for the local industry. As long as the company is offering world-class service that actually solves a very relevant need for Nigerian passengers, the Minister gives as much support as he can.

‘So when the company made this approach, offering this solution, we looked at it and realised that yes, it is something that is necessary at this point in time for Nigerians,’ the Director stated.

‘We are giving all the support we can to UNIVASA to make Nigerians have a better travel experience.’

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the DGCA of NCAA, Mrs Ifueko Abdulmalik, explained that ‘we think that this would help passengers improve their travel experience. We know that there is a lot of issues with connectivity for passengers going out of Nigeria and coming into the country.

‘This is a way to encourage ease of communication at whatever point a passenger is. And NCAA feels that definitely it will improve passenger experience and then it will also help passengers find their way around and make travel a lot easier and more comfortable,’ she stated.

On his part, the Managing Director of UNIVASA, Dr Ben Adeniyi, said the company’s SIM arrangements are very important to travellers, ‘particularly for international travellers, or frequent international travellers because, the issue of connectivity is no more a small issue.

‘It is very important to have the UNIVASA eSIM or the P-SIM, as we call it. The P-SIM is the physical SIM card that helps those people who do not have an eSIM-enabled phone to still use the UNIVASA service.

‘So yes, it’s very important because it gives you connectivity in more than 150 countries, and about 200 plus destinations to remain on the internet.’

He noted that ‘compared with local operators, UNIVASA eSIM is very affordable because we purchase data in a very large volume, therefore, we are able to bring the price quite competitive.’

Giving her user experience, Engr Halimat Adediran stated that ‘with over 400 networks across the world, which means any country you find yourself, you can never be stranded. And then the beautiful thing is that the connectivity is seamless,’ she noted.

Delta State Government has commenced moves to establish the state’s first neuropsychiatric facility and a state-of-the-art public health laboratory amid rising cases of drug abuse and growing mental health challenges.

The two projects are expected to be completed by March 2027, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, has disclosed.

Speaking with newsmen in Asaba, Onojaeme said the projects were part of the government’s efforts to address identified gaps in the state’s healthcare system and improve access to specialised medical services.

He said the projects followed a comprehensive needs assessment conducted by the state government shortly after Governor Sheriff Oborevwori assumed office in 2023.

According to him, the assessment identified the absence of a dedicated neuropsychiatric facility and a specialised public health laboratory as critical gaps requiring urgent intervention.

Onojaeme explained that residents requiring psychiatric care had, over the years, been forced to travel outside the state, particularly to Port Harcourt and Benin, to access specialised treatment.

He said the situation had become increasingly worrisome amid rising cases of drug abuse and its associated consequences.

The commissioner said the government was therefore establishing the neuropsychiatric facility to provide specialised mental healthcare closer to residents and reduce the hardship and cost associated with seeking treatment outside the state.

On the public health laboratory, Onojaeme said work was ongoing on a facility designed to strengthen the state’s capacity to conduct specialised tests and respond more effectively to infectious disease outbreaks.

He recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic and other disease outbreaks, samples collected in Delta were often transported to specialised laboratories in Irrua, Abuja and Lagos for analysis, sometimes resulting in delays in obtaining test results.

The commissioner warned that such delays could have serious implications during disease outbreaks, stressing that the new laboratory would enable the state to conduct specialised investigations locally.

‘With a Lassa fever outbreak, we no longer need to send our samples to other states to analyse and bring back. That will be done in Delta State,’ he said.

According to him, the laboratory would be equipped with modern diagnostic technology, including Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines, to facilitate testing for infectious diseases.

He added that the facility was being developed in line with the standards of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), with the aim of ensuring that its test results and analyses meet acceptable standards.

Onojaeme said he recently inspected the laboratory to assess the progress of work, expressing confidence that the facility would be completed by March 2027.

The commissioner said the two projects represented significant investments in the state’s healthcare infrastructure and would enhance the government’s capacity to provide specialised medical services and respond promptly to public health emergencies.