Category: Nigerian Tribune

The constant moisture trapped on the body brings unbearable itching, redness, darkening of the skin, and painful open sores that refuse to heal quickly.

When your skin itches uncontrollably while you are out in the sun or caught in traffic, scratching becomes almost impossible to resist.

Unfortunately, this friction tears the already fragile surface of the body, allowing germs to enter freely. Managing this condition requires a clear routine tailored to high-moisture air rather than standard advice meant for cold regions.

In this article, Tribune Online examines the primary reasons why severe eczema flares up so violently during warm, humid conditions, along with dermatologist-backed medical steps to calm the irritation, repair the skin barrier, and prevent recurring infections.

Why high humidity and sweat trigger severe itching

Living in a humid coastal or rainforest belt means the air is constantly saturated with moisture, making it hard for sweat to evaporate off your forehead, neck, inner elbows, and behind the knees. When sweat sits on the skin for hours, the natural salts, urea, and trace minerals inside it dry down into a stinging crust. For an individual with atopic dermatitis, this salty deposit immediately irritates exposed nerve endings beneath the weakened outer skin layer.

According to clinical reports published by the National Eczema Association, sweat is one of the most widespread environmental triggers for atopic dermatitis flare-ups.

The organisation notes that high humidity encourages the rapid growth of bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and common fungal organisms on the skin surface. When heat opens up the pores and sweat pools in skin folds, these microbes multiply rapidly, transforming an ordinary itch into an agonizing, inflamed rash.

Step 1: Cleanse the skin gently without harsh soaps

The first step in treating severe flare-ups in humid weather involves washing away trapped sweat and bacteria immediately after exposure to heat. You should take a brief bath with cool or lukewarm water twice a day, especially after returning from work or engaging in physical tasks.

Hot water strips away the protective natural oils that keep your skin intact, so it must be avoided completely.

Do not use medicated black soaps, scouring sponges, or heavily scented antiseptic bath liquids that claim to wash away germs.

Dermatologists warn that strong antibacterial cleansers destroy the natural lipid barrier of the body, leaving it cracked and defenseless. Instead, opt for a mild, fragrance-free cleanser, apply it softly using only your bare hands, and rinse thoroughly without rubbing your skin roughly.

Step 2: Cool down and pat dry thoroughly

After bathing, the way you dry your body determines whether the next flare-up happens within hours. Rubbing your body vigorously with a rough towel creates microscopic tears on inflamed patches and reignites intense itching spells. The friction also increases skin surface temperature, which signals your brain to scratch even more.

Use a clean, soft cotton towel to gently pat your skin dry until it remains slightly damp to the touch. Pay special attention to hidden skin folds such as the armpits, the groin, under the breasts, and behind the knees where trapped moisture triggers fungal complications. Staying in a well-ventilated room with an electric fan or air conditioning during this stage allows body heat to dissipate naturally before you apply any topical creams.

Step 3: Apply doctor-prescribed medicating creams first

When managing severe eczema, ordinary moisturisers alone cannot extinguish active, burning inflammation. You must apply your prescribed medicated treatments, such as topical corticosteroids or non-steroidal calcineurin inhibitors, straight onto the affected areas while the skin is still slightly damp. These medications work by turning off the immune system’s overactive inflammatory response directly inside the skin tissue.

Stress that medicated ointments and creams should be applied strictly as directed by a qualified physician. Use only a thin film over the active red or dark patches, smoothing it in gently in the direction of hair growth. Never mix random over-the-counter triple-action tubes with unknown steroid strengths, as doing so permanently thins the skin and causes stubborn bacterial resistance.

Step 4: Lock in protection with lightweight barrier creams

Once your medicated cream has absorbed for about five minutes, you must seal your skin barrier with a dedicated moisturizer. Many people mistakenly think they should skip moisturizing altogether because the weather is humid and sticky.

However, severe eczema means your skin loses internal water rapidly, leaving the surface exposed to environmental toxins regardless of the humidity outside.

Avoid extremely heavy, suffocating petrolatum jellies during the peak daytime heat, as they trap body warmth and sweat inside the sweat ducts, causing prickly heat on top of eczema.

Instead, reach for fragrance-free barrier creams containing ceramides, glycerin, or colloidal oatmeal that absorb cleanly into the skin. If your skin becomes excessively parched overnight in an air-conditioned bedroom, that is the safest time to use a thicker ointment over problem areas.

Step 5: Wear loose, breathable fabrics and stay hydrated

Your daily clothing choices directly influence how well your skin tolerates high humidity throughout the day. Synthetic fabrics such as polyester, nylon, and tight spandex trap body heat and rub raw against active eczema patches, creating continuous friction. When these fibers trap sweat against the skin, an intense stinging episode quickly follows.

Choose loose-fitting garments made from 100 percent natural cotton or linen that allow fresh air to circulate around your body.

Wash these clothes using mild, fragrance-free laundry detergents, and skip harsh fabric softeners that leave chemical residues on clothing fibers.

Drink plenty of fresh water throughout the day to support overall hydration, and keep a clean cotton handkerchief on hand to dab sweat away gently whenever the heat rises.

Seplat Energy Plc has called for increased investment across Nigeria’s gas value chain to unlock the country’s vast natural gas resources, strengthen energy security, drive industrialisation, and position Nigeria as Africa’s leading gas powerhouse.

Speaking at the Gas Investment Forum (GIF) 2026 in Lagos, Seplat Energy’s Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Effiong Okon, represented by Mr Okechukwu Mba, Director of Gas and New Energy at Seplat Energy, said while Nigeria possesses more than 215 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, the true value of those resources can only be realised through sustained investments in production, processing, transportation and utilisation infrastructure.

Addressing the conference themed: ‘Positioning Nigeria as Africa’s Global Gas Powerhouse’, Okon noted that energy poverty remains a major challenge across Africa, with an estimated 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still lacking access to electricity.

‘Gas reserves in the ground do not power homes or factories. Gas creates value only when it is produced and reliably delivered to consumers. The task before us is to convert Nigeria’s vast gas endowment into tangible economic growth, industrial development and energy access for millions of people,’ he said.

The Seplat Energy CEO commended the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to improve investment conditions in the gas sector, particularly initiatives aimed at addressing legacy debts in the gas-to-power value chain, which are helping to improve the bankability of gas projects.

He also welcomed recent final investment decisions on major energy projects and described the commencement of operations on the OB3 gas pipeline as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s gas industry.

Okon highlighted the role of policy reforms, especially the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), in creating a more transparent and investor-friendly environment for gas investments. He noted that institutions such as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) are helping to strengthen regulatory certainty and close infrastructure gaps across the sector.

Speaking on Nigeria’s global competitiveness, he said the country’s strategic location in the Gulf of Guinea gives it a unique advantage in serving both regional and international gas markets, including Europe, while also supporting growing energy demand across Africa.

Okon also outlined the company’s significant investments in gas infrastructure over the past decade, including the 375 MMscfd Oben Gas Plant, the 90 MMscfd Sapele Gas Plant, and the flagship 300 MMscfd ANOH Gas Plant, which together reinforce the company’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading domestic gas suppliers.

According to him, Seplat currently supplies gas directly to six power stations and supports numerous industrial customers through gas distribution networks. Through the ANOH Gas Plant, the company also supplies gas to fertilizer manufacturers, contributing to Nigeria’s food security objectives.

He further noted that Seplat’s acquisition of ExxonMobil’s onshore and offshore assets has significantly increased domestic supplies of butane and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), while ongoing investments in compressed natural gas (CNG) infrastructure are expanding access to cleaner, more affordable energy for consumers not connected to pipeline networks.

‘Together, these investments demonstrate Seplat Energy’s commitment to supporting government efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s energy security and accelerate gas-led economic growth,’ he said.

Okon also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability, noting that Seplat successfully ended routine flaring across its onshore operations at the end of 2025, resulting in a significant reduction in operational emissions intensity.

Concluding his address, he called on stakeholders across government, industry and the financial sector to work together to unlock projects capable of converting ‘gas molecules into electrons’ that will power Nigeria’s industrial future.

‘Nigerians cannot wait any longer. We must move from discussions to implementation and create the partnerships and investments necessary to fully realise the promise of our gas resources,’ he said.

The Gas Investment Forum provides a platform for policymakers, regulators, investors and industry leaders to explore opportunities for accelerating gas development and strengthening Nigeria’s position in regional and global energy markets.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board a military aircraft that crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State.

Keyamo disclosed this in a statement on his personal X account on Monday following information from Air Traffic Controllers about the disappearance of the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, which was en route to Lagos from Benin.

According to the minister, the aircraft disappeared from radar at about 9:13 a.m. on Monday, with efforts to establish radio contact proving unsuccessful.

He said subsequent information confirmed that the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, adding that the wreckage had been located while search and rescue operations were ongoing.

‘Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board,’ Keyamo said.

The minister noted that the control and regulation of military aircraft were outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

He, however, said he had spoken with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s cooperation and assistance in the ongoing search and rescue efforts.

‘I regret to inform the general public that Air Traffic Controllers have informed me of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, enroute Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive,’ he said.

Keyamo added that further information on the incident would be made available as it became available.

Meanwhile, Tribune Online reports that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has activated an immediate search and rescue operation following an aircraft accident in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The NAF, in a statement issued by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the accident involving an ATR-42 aircraft occurred on Monday, October 5, 2026.

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has paid tribute to teachers across Nigeria on the occasion of World Teachers’ Day.

Reacting on Monday through Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said he appreciated Nigerian teachers and acknowledged the role they played in his education.

He said he still remembered the names and faces of his early teachers in Jada who taught him and helped shape his future.

Atiku said teachers continue to face challenges arising from the high cost of living, including food, transport, rent and electricity.

‘When I hear of a teacher forced to walk miles because transport fares consume so much of their salary, or borrowing food on credit to feed their family before going to teach our children, my heart breaks. No nation can rise above the level of its teachers,’ he said.

He said the government should match its praise for teachers with policies that improve their welfare and make life more affordable.

‘Government cannot praise teachers on this day and leave them to face hardship for the rest of year. A commemorative message cannot pay teacher’s bills. Respect must be reflected in fair conditions, reliable support and policies that make life affordable,’ he said.

Atiku, who is an educationist and founder of American University of Nigeria, described teachers as builders of confidence, knowledge and opportunity.

He said Nigeria cannot secure its future while neglecting those who educate its children.

‘My promise is clear: I will work to make life affordable again. Teachers and families should not have to watch their incomes disappear on food, transport, rent and electricity,’ he said.

He thanked teachers across Nigeria for their service and urged the country to support them with meaningful policies.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has expressed shock and profound sadness over the crash of a military jet in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Monday, which reportedly claimed the lives of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel and crew members on board.

In a condolence message, Hon. Kalu commiserated with President Bola Tinubu, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, the officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force, and the families of the victims.

He described the incident as a national tragedy and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

While calling for a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the crash, the Deputy Speaker pledged the support of the Parliament in strengthening measures to prevent future air disasters.

Hon. Kalu prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed.

PAUL Ibe, Media Adviser to former Vice-President and presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Independence Day broadcast for failing to adequately address insecurity.

Ibe, in a post on X on Saturday, said President Tinubu’s address was remarkable not only for what he said, but for what he avoided saying.

‘Yes, he made fleeting references to ‘insecurity’ and thanked the security forces. But on the pervasive insecurity confronting Nigerians today – the killings, kidnappings, mass abductions and communities living in fear – there was no serious accounting, no assessment of the crisis and no clear explanation of what his government intends to do differently,’ he said.

He said while the President painted a picture of a country supposedly marching towards prosperity, hundreds of Nigerians remain in captivity, farmers cannot safely access some of their farms, travellers continue to confront the threat of kidnapping on highways, and communities are attacked while families pay ransoms.

‘You cannot talk seriously about prosperity while avoiding security. A farmer who cannot safely reach his farm cannot contribute to food security. A businessman afraid to travel cannot grow his business. Children who fear abduction cannot learn in peace,’ Ibe said.

He said the President as Commander-in-Chief owes Nigerians a plain explanation on why insecurity persists, what has gone wrong, what measurable progress has been made and what will change.

‘Playing the ostrich cannot make the crisis disappear. The first responsibility of government is the protection of life and property. On an occasion as significant as Independence Day, Nigerians deserved more than a passing reference to one of the greatest threats to their daily lives,’ he said.

He added that insecurity cannot be wished away, but must be confronted, accounted for and defeated.

Ahead of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) World Press Conference on preparations for the 2027 general election, six civil society organisations have challenged the Commission to provide verifiable evidence that its election technology, result management systems and operational preparations are ready for the polls.

The demand was contained in an open memorandum read by Cynthia Mbamalu, Director of Programmes, Yiaga Africa, endorsed by the Centre for Media and Society, International Press Centre, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre and Yiaga Africa.

The organisations specifically want INEC to demonstrate that the result-upload problem experienced during the 2023 general election has been rectified and subject its key election technologies to testing that can be independently verified.

With the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, the groups said the period ahead of the polls should be used to provide Nigerians with measurable evidence of preparedness rather than general assurances.

‘INEC must move beyond general assurances and provide regular, verifiable evidence of operational readiness,’ the organisations said.

They called on the Commission to publish a dated readiness dashboard covering election funding, procurement milestones, delivery and storage of sensitive and non-sensitive materials, their secure distribution and contingency arrangements for areas affected by insecurity or infrastructure challenges.

The CSOs also want INEC to disclose recruitment requirements and numbers for election personnel, training schedules, deployment plans and welfare arrangements for ad hoc staff.

They said vacancies in key leadership and technical positions should be filled early enough to protect institutional capacity and operational continuity.

The organisations asked INEC to explain in clear terms how the Electoral Act 2026 and the Commission’s regulations and guidelines will apply to voter accreditation, polling-unit result management, collation and publication of results, including the use of electronic Form EC8A.

They also called for stress tests of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing portal (IReV) and want the results of those tests made public.

‘INEC should also disclose fallback procedures for technology failures and provide clear audit trails for corrections or delayed uploads of election results,’ they said.

Referring specifically to the result-upload problems during the 2023 general election, the organisations asked the Commission to ‘publish verifiable evidence’ that the problem has been rectified.

They said the improvements should be further verified by observers during INEC’s planned mock accreditation exercise.

The groups also want INEC to publish guidelines for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), detailing the logistical arrangements and personnel that will be deployed to prevent delays and possible disenfranchisement.

They further asked the Commission to clarify arrangements for downloadable voter cards and issue clear guidance on how they would apply during the general election.

The memorandum also places responsibilities on political parties and candidates, security agencies, the media, judiciary, community leaders and civil society.

Political parties and candidates were urged to reject hate speech, ethnic and religious incitement, threats, coercion, vote buying and obstruction of lawful political activity.

The organisations also warned against using the advantages of incumbency to restrict opposition parties’ access to campaign venues, outdoor advertising and other shared resources.

They said access should be governed by transparent and non-discriminatory rules applicable to all parties and candidates.

The groups asked the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to publish a coordinated election-security framework detailing threat assessments, risk mitigation measures, command responsibilities, rules of engagement, protection for vulnerable communities and rapid-response and complaints procedures.

Security personnel, they said, must operate impartially and should never be used as instruments of partisan coercion.

The media was urged to provide equitable, issue-based coverage, distinguish journalism from sponsored content, verify viral claims before amplification and correct errors prominently.

Religious and community leaders were asked to reject violence, exclusion and collective blame, while the judiciary was urged to resolve election disputes within stipulated timelines and publish reasoned decisions promptly.

The organisations also turned the spotlight on themselves, saying civil society must improve coordination of election observation and civic education, verify claims before advocacy and maintain independence and consistency in reporting.

‘We must demand from ourselves the same transparency, fairness and accountability we demand from public institutions,’ the memorandum said.

The groups said the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend substantially on decisions and preparations made before polling day.

They called on institutions involved in the electoral process to state what they will do, when they will do it and how Nigerians can assess their progress.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Katsina State for a one-day official visit.

During the visit, the Vice-President commissioned three major road projects executed by the Radda administration – the dualised 4.80km Kofar Sauri – Central Mosque Roundabout Road, the dualised 2.40km Central Police Station Junction – Kofar Kaura Underpass Road, and the newly constructed 4.00km Filin Polo – Ring Road.

He also launched 30 CNG hybrid buses and 200 Phase I electric tricycles at the Old Ministry of Works to boost mass transportation in the state.

The Vice-President also received new decampees into the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a political gathering at Peoples Square, Government House,

Earlier, after arrival, the Vice President flagged off the Community Investment Fund under the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, in a major push for women empowerment and financial inclusion in Katsina State.

Shettima said the programme responds to the need to expand economic opportunities for women who shoulder significant household responsibilities but often face limited access to capital and productive resources.

‘Over 40,000 women in Katsina State stand to receive business capital, having fulfilled the prescribed eligibility conditions and demonstrated satisfactory performance in their savings and group activities,’ he said.

The Vice-President commended Governor Dikko Umaru Radda for prioritising women and vulnerable households, saying the administration’s attention to citizens with limited access to economic opportunities reflects responsible and inclusive leadership.

‘Katsina’s concern for enterprise acquires deeper meaning when it reaches the woman whose ambitions have remained smaller than her abilities because her resources could carry her no further,’ Shettima said.

He stressed that the success of the programme should be measured beyond the number of beneficiaries, particularly by whether businesses become stronger, household earnings improve, employment opportunities increase and women gain greater control over their economic decisions.

Shettima also urged beneficiaries to preserve the savings discipline, proper record-keeping and collective responsibility that qualified them for the intervention.

He called on those administering the fund to ensure transparency, fairness, proper documentation and accountability throughout the disbursement process.

Earlier in his address, Governor Radda said women’s economic empowerment remained a central component of his administration’s Building Your Future Agenda, stressing that investing in women strengthens families, communities and the wider state economy.

Radda said Katsina had demonstrated strong ownership of the NFWP-SU by committing matching resources to complement the World Bank’s investment, a decision that helped expand the programme from its initial coverage of six Local Government Areas to all 34 LGAs of the state.

He said the Community Investment Fund would complement women’s savings and provide resources to establish new businesses, expand existing enterprises and strengthen productive economic activities through Women Affinity Groups.

The Governor stressed that Sunday’s ceremony marked the commencement, rather than the conclusion, of the disbursement process, assuring eligible groups that had not received funds at the launch that the programme would continue in phases.

‘Today’s flag-off marks the commencement of the disbursement process; it is not the conclusion of the process. Women Affinity Groups that are not receiving their grants today should remain confident that the process will continue,’ he said.

Radda appealed to the World Bank and other development partners to provide additional financing and technical support to enable Katsina to expand the programme’s coverage, deepen its impact and reach more women, particularly those in underserved communities.

He also highlighted the participation of women with hearing impairment who have established their own Women Affinity Groups, describing their inclusion as evidence of the administration’s commitment to ensuring that disability does not become a barrier to economic opportunity.

The Governor urged beneficiaries to invest the funds in viable economic activities, maintain proper records and sustain the culture of savings, cooperation and collective responsibility underpinning the programme.

He further disclosed that the state would explore sustainable approaches to extend complementary economic empowerment opportunities to men, stressing that strengthening both women and men would contribute to stronger families, poverty reduction and community resilience.

Also speaking, the World Bank representative, Matthew Verghis, said investing in women was an investment in Nigeria’s economic growth, noting their contributions as farmers, traders, processors, entrepreneurs, professionals, employees and community leaders.

He said a recent World Bank Gender Innovation Lab diagnostic estimated that closing gender gaps in agriculture, self-employment and wage employment could generate $22.9 billion, equivalent to 5.8 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP.

‘This gives us a clear message: investing in women is investing in Nigeria’s economic growth,’ Verghis said.

He explained that the $540 million Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up is being implemented across 32 states, building on an earlier programme that supported more than 460,000 rural women.

Kebbi governorship candidate of Accord Party in 2027 General Election, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Bunza, has promised to apply Islamic injunction to end banditry and kidnapping in Kebbi State if elected.

Alhaji Bunza who invoked some passages from the Holy Qur’an stated that these verses from the Holy book if invoked with honesty is enough to put an end to all sorts of banditry and kidnapping across the State

The Accord governorship candidate disclosed this on Saturday at the Candidate Engagement Forum organized by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kebbi State Council.

He also promised to pay N500,000 minimum wage to the State workers at the end of every month if voted into power, noting that Civil servants in the State are subjected to trauma and untold hardship due to unpopular government policies, adding that such policies were gradually driving workers into hopelessness.

‘Let me categorically make my point clear: if I am elected Governor of Kebbi, I will ensure that the least paid worker goes home with N500,000, monthly payment.’

‘This is with a view to improving workers’ welfare because they are the engine room of every nation’s development; therefore, they must be treated with dignity.’

‘Nigeria has the money to pay workers a living wage, not a minimum wage. In Nigeria today, a worker is just a slave to those in positions of authority. I want to change the narrative if elected.’ He assured.

He assured further that he was not contesting for personal gains but, ‘I am contesting to liberate Kebbi and the people of Kebbi.’

On agriculture, he said, ‘If I am elected, I will ensure that agriculture is truly transformed because I am a farmer; I know the in-and-out of farming.

‘My mission is to make Kebbi an agricultural hub of this nation. In Nigeria, our government doesn’t think out of the box; however, my approach will be different from what is obtainable.

‘I will ensure I give free fertilisers, chemicals and other farming inputs to individual smallholder farmers and large-scale farmers to encourage them to produce more food.

‘I will focus on mechanised farming; I will procure tractors and other machines to support my ambition.’

He also said the health sector would be given adequate consideration to completely prevent people from going abroad for medical tourism.

‘All our hospitals will be transformed and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to provide effective and efficient services to every citizen irrespective of status.

‘Apart from that, I will ensure that enough medicine is supplied to every hospital in both urban and rural areas and it will be given to patients free. I want a situation where no patient will complain.’

The candidate, therefore, appealed to the electorate across Kebbi to vote wisely by casting their votes for the Accord Party.

LAST Monday, the pioneer Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Chief (Mrs) Oluremilekun Debbie Olowu was 80 and fittingly, the President of the Republic led the tribute choral.

I have known the one fondly called ‘Mama’ by her own for close to 25 years, though the circumstances of our first meeting are a bit vague now.

But in no time, a mother-son relationship developed between us and has subsisted, though I have not seen her in a while.

This is not a biography. It’s a personal testament to grit, determination and dedication, all rolled into a woman of steel.

In her NEMA days and later foray into Osun politics, Mama came as tough as they get.

In writing this, I had to consult a Nigerian global expert in disaster management who worked closely with Mama for years, before becoming a United Nations consultant; Dr Olusegun Ojo, who should ordinarily hold a professorial chair in leading Nigerian varsities if we were a nation that values erudition, considering his depth in environmental matters in general.

But he’s likely going to be too spiritual for the systemic rot and rut, ruling everywhere including the academia.

Dr Ojo is as ‘straight’ as ramrod. In NEMA’s history, he stood as arguably the only director who made a habit of returning unspent allocation, including dollars in tens of thousands, to the agency’s treasury. Of course, to the irritation of his colleagues and consternation of his subordinates, but to the high praise of his bosses; first, Mama Olowu and later, her successor, Oga Salihu Makarfi.

At 70 now, Dr Ojo should enjoy his retirement and keep loving Jesus, his Saviour. Nothing should stain his salvation.

If disaster management is widely adjudged as working in Nigeria today, the flowers surely belong to Mama, who will rightfully and fittingly wear the Mama NEMA’s emblem just like Mama Bakassi (Mrs Florence Ita-Giwa) and now late Mama Taraba (Hajia Aisha Alhassan).

Mama is to NEMA what now late Dora Akunyili was to NAFDAC.

Unknown to many, what later became a wave-making agency, particularly under her, was just a department in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, headed by her then, after coming on transfer from the Federal Ministry of Aviation as a senior legal officer.

It would seem that in life, there must come a time when name change is a must for a new beginning and levitation.

Abram had to become Abraham for the covenant with God to begin manifestation. Same for Sarah. She used to be Sarai.

Same for NEMA. It used to be NERA (National Emergency Relief Agency), just providing relief materials to victims of disasters.

But some people aren’t born to condone mediocrity or condition themselves to it. Mama is one of them.

This is how Dr Ojo put the transformation story that changed NERA to NEMA in 2000 and the birth of an agency that became a national pride, like today’s NDLEA.

‘Having participated in ICAO meetings with robust multi-agency emergency management she (Mrs Olowu) could not stand a mere medicine-after-death, relief-doling NERA. She then embarked on a multi-agency disaster risk management workshop with a communique outcome that led to the establishment of NEMA.

‘She got approval for this under the SGF of the time, Idris Gidado, but the take-off grant did not come until the coming of President Olusegun Obasanjo under a democracy after 1999.

‘NEMA recruited her staff and began a multi-agency operation, ranging from Planning, Research and Forecasting, Relief and Rehabilitation and Search and Rescue with appropriate GIS and Satellite capability for her operations nationwide,’ he recalled.

How do you not celebrate such a feat!

From the time I got close to her, to her exit from office, there was no part of Nigeria too far for her to go and no forest too deep for her to enter, just to bring relief to Nigerians in distress.

How did I know this?

Cos I followed her on a couple of such ‘relief’ visits.

One unforgettable journey was to the displaced people of Bakassi somewhere farther than Obudu Cattle Ranch. From Calabar, the journey was almost half of the day, tiring with terrible connecting roads. But Mama wasn’t one to back down or off. She has always been that compassionate.

I returned to Calabar feeling displaced too, at least, in my skeletal system.

When I learnt some uniformed security guys who were on the same trip still returned to make moves on the girls swarming the hotel where we were quartered, I was wowed.

Where the energy dey come from?

Abi, the gist about special injection for soldiers true?

When Mama left the civil service for Osun politics, I still saw the same passion, compassion and elevated energy that she brought to the NEMA job.

You ask how I know this.

Cos I was also by her side.

Even the men, led by then Minister of Internal Affairs, now late Sunday Afolabi, who conspired to deny her the Peoples Democratic Party’s gubernatorial ticket to confront then incumbent, Bisi Akande of AD, knew she wasn’t one to be scared off her convictions. They were also surprised by her political strength and depth of networks in the state.

The only area I would think they absolved themselves was coming to her Abuja home in a nocturnal visit, with then PDP’s candidate (after the contentious primaries that were held twice), and later governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, to plead with her to join the ticket as the deputy.

She flatly refused, paving the way for her Ijesa ‘sister’, Erelu Olusola Obada, as Oyinlola’s running mate and eventual deputy governor.

With the benefit of hindsight, I would say Mama didn’t play that particular politics well but how can I forget the hilarious way she described the team and the procession to her home, to me when I came visiting the next day.

I guess Mama wasn’t convinced Oyinlola as governor would deliver on her aspiration for the people of the state but I hope she would find time to document her life journey, public service and politics, before her 90th.

Mama is eclectic all round. How can I forget those three-quarter pants, fancy slippers and fedora hats during campaign meetings in Imo, Ilesa!

Mama is Ijesa in whom many are well pleased, though not returning to office as NEMA DG at Obasanjo’s request after the fractured Osun PDP primaries, was a decision I think could have been made differently.

But it is what it is.

Another birthday story today was the 69th anniversary of Otunba Iyiola Omisore’s birth on September 15th.

Incidentally, Mama and Otunba have always aligned politically, though I suspect age is diminishing Mama’s active participation. Her senatorial primary loss to Osun East incumbent, Francis Fadahunsi, will remain a sore point.

Imagine the shame Fada has brought to Ijesland, Osun and Nigeria as a whole with his primitive politicking. My prayer is for Ijesaland not to see his kind again though a brother of mine will readily point out the Accord Party challenger to Fada for the 2027 poll, as also of an abhorrent political record.

For Osun East, it now looks like a choice between risking drowning in the proverbial Red Sea and falling into devil’s deathly embrace. Which is which then?

Unlike Mama Olowu who I believe is not really close to Asiwaju’s politics (maybe briefly through Buoda Raufu Aregbesola when Mama forayed a bit), but still got a presidential greeting on her birthday, there was a deafening silence from Villa when Omisore, a supposed ally of the president, hit a step to 70.

Was it about the recent Osun election?

Was it about the last-minute telephone conversation between the Nigerian leader and the famed senator in which the former couldn’t dissuade the latter from taking a political course that allegedly cost their party, APC?

Whatever it is, the future, especially the coming NASS poll, holds a lot of significance for the duo who could have been classmate governors in 1999 but for time and chance, according to Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9:11.

Otunba on his birthday says his political future is in the hands of God; let no man play God then.

Another birthday with political story is that of member representing Apapa federal constituency, Hon. Adesola Adedayo.

If anyone genuinely loves the President more than him, it would have to be the First Lady and the children.

The medical doctor-cum-politician will be 72, 19th of this month, but the President’s men have robbed his base of the joy of celebration by crookedly ripping his return ticket from him.

APC, I salute.

But he is APC tokan-tokan (loyal party man). Maybe that is why they thought he could be cheated without implications and complications despite being the most popular aspirant.

Maybe that is why they cheated him.

Then the understanding that the leader would not redress injustice in his backyard. Even the cries, pleas and threats of his influential daughter for justice went unheeded.

It is what it is.

Then there is another Asiwaju tokan-tokan (core loyalist), whose birthday was September 3.

He was 62.

He heads a federal agency. He may not be too comfortable having his name here. (But I can point the President’s men his way if they think him valuable).

The way he worries to me anytime political course or national discourse tides against the President, I worry that the Nigerian leader hardly reciprocates genuine love.

I pray his heart will open to his real Afenifere. Amen.

Congratulations to birthday ‘girl’ and ‘boys’.