Category: Nigerian Tribune

Gloria and Bolanle Michael are the owners of foremost event planning outfit, RegalBlissEvents, a company that has become the toast of Abuja, Kaduna and other states. In this interview with ROTIMI IGE, the creative director, Gloria Michael spoke on what makes them tick and the critical elements that makes a successful event and satisfied client. Excerpts.

How do you seamlessly blend the creative demands of custom event styling and decoration with rigorous structural management to consistently deliver on your promise of ‘We Style, You Smile’?

At RegalBlissEvents, we believe beautiful events don’t happen by accident; they are the result of creativity supported by strong structure. Every event begins with a clear planning framework, from concept development and budgeting to vendor coordination, timelines, logistics and execution.

Our creative team focuses on the visual story and guest experience, while our planning and coordination team ensures that every creative decision is practical, properly scheduled and executed to specification. We use detailed checklists, timelines, vendor deliverables and event-day coordination systems to ensure nothing is left to chance.

That balance is what allows us to genuinely say, ‘We Style, You Smile.’ Our clients should be able to enjoy their celebration knowing that the details are being professionally managed behind the scenes.

Operating across major hubs like Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, and Zaria introduces unique cultural and logistical dynamics. How does RegalBlissEvents adapt its signature elegance to suit different regional sensibilities?

We don’t believe elegance has to look the same everywhere. Our signature is not a particular colour palette, décor style or trend; it is the quality, intentionality and attention to detail that go into every event.

Before planning an event in any location, we take time to understand the culture, traditions, venue, guest demographics and expectations of the community. We then incorporate those elements into the design while maintaining the client’s desired level of sophistication.

Whether we’re working in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna or Zaria, the goal is to create an experience that feels appropriate to its environment while still being unmistakably RegalBlissEvents.

In a vibrant Nigerian event industry, what core philosophy or operational edge separates your outfit when clients choose between boutique planners and large-scale agencies?

Our greatest advantage is the combination of personal attention and professional structure. As a boutique event company, we are able to get close to our clients, understand their personalities and remain involved in the details. At the same time, we operate with the systems, vendor networks and execution discipline expected of a much larger agency.

We don’t want our clients to feel like a number in a portfolio. We want them to feel heard, understood and confident that someone is genuinely taking ownership of their event.

Nigerian weddings and traditional ceremonies often involve balancing complex family dynamics and diverse expectations. How do you keep the couple’s vision central while managing these external pressures?

This is one of the most important parts of our role as planners. We understand that Nigerian celebrations often involve not just the couple, but parents, siblings, extended family, friends and sometimes community or cultural expectations.

Our approach is to establish the couple’s priorities from the beginning and use those priorities as our guiding framework. We listen respectfully to family input, identify what is culturally important and find practical ways to accommodate those expectations without losing the couple’s identity.

Our role is not to create conflict; it is to create structure around different expectations so the couple can remain focused on celebrating their union.

When handling end-to-end planning for clients hosting events outside their home cities, what is your framework for ensuring zero compromise on quality and vendor delivery?

We treat destination events with the same level of detail as events within our immediate operating environment. Our process involves advance venue assessments, vendor verification, detailed deliverables, clear timelines and continuous communication.

Where possible, we conduct site visits and establish trusted local vendor relationships. We also build contingency plans for transportation, accommodation, weather, power, equipment and other logistical variables.

Most importantly, we don’t wait until event day to discover whether something will work. We test, confirm and track critical deliverables before execution.

How do your design and styling teams extract a client’s personal journey or love story and translate it into a cohesive physical aesthetic for their big day?

We start with conversation. Before talking about flowers, colours or centre pieces, we want to understand the people behind the event.

We ask about how they met, their personalities, their favourite things, their family backgrounds, memorable moments and what they want their guests to feel when they walk into the room.

From there, we translate those elements into a design language through colour, textures, lighting, florals, stationery, installations, table styling and sometimes subtle personalised details. The objective is not simply to create a beautiful venue. It is to create a space that feels like the couple.

For product launches and brand activations, how do you translate a corporate brand’s digital or commercial identity into an immersive, physical environment that captivates target audiences?

We begin by understanding the brand beyond its logo. We study its positioning, target audience, personality, campaign objectives and desired consumer response.

We then translate those elements into physical touch points: entrance experiences, stage design, branding, lighting, product displays, interactive installations, photo opportunities, guest flow and content-creation points.

The event should feel like the brand has come to life physically. Every element should have a purpose, whether that is communicating the brand message, encouraging engagement, generating content or driving product interaction.

What distinct operational challenges do you encounter when managing high-stakes corporate functions compared to private social gatherings, and how do you safeguard against last-minute disruptions?

Corporate events typically have a much tighter relationship between the event and the organisation’s reputation, brand image and business objectives. There are also often multiple decision-makers, strict timelines and more complex technical requirements.

We therefore place significant emphasis on documentation, approvals, production schedules, technical rehearsals, vendor confirmations and contingency planning.

For high-stakes events, we work with the mindset that every critical element needs a Plan B. We identify potential failure points before the event and establish alternative solutions so that a disruption can be handled internally rather than becoming the client’s problem.

When corporate brands invest in an event, what metrics or experiential outcomes do you focus on to ensure the event drives real value for their business objectives?

We believe an event should deliver more than beautiful photographs. Depending on the objective, we look at metrics such as attendance and guest quality, engagement, product interaction, social media reach, content generated, media exposure, lead generation, stakeholder satisfaction and overall audience response.

For us, success means that guests remember the experience and understand the message the brand wanted to communicate.

With input and material costs constantly fluctuating in the current economy, how do you protect your clients’ budgets while maintaining your high standards for decor and styling?

Budget management is an important part of our planning process. We don’t simply present a list of expenses; we help clients understand where their money creates the greatest visual and experiential impact.

We prioritise essential elements, negotiate with vendors, source strategically and provide alternatives when certain materials or concepts become disproportionately expensive.

Where costs change, we communicate early rather than allowing surprises to appear at the end. Our philosophy is value optimisation, not simply cost cutting. We want the client to receive the best possible experience within the budget available.

Looking at emerging trends in experiential design, guest technology, and sustainable event practices, how is RegalBlissEvents evolving its service offerings for the future?

The future of events is becoming increasingly experiential and personalised, and RegalBlissEvents intends to evolve with it.

We are exploring greater use of technology in guest management, digital invitations and RSVPs, interactive guest experiences, event content creation and data-driven planning.

We are also paying more attention to sustainable event practices, including smarter sourcing, reusable décor elements and reducing unnecessary waste.

At the same time, we don’t want to adopt trends simply because they are fashionable. Technology and innovation must serve the guest experience.

Our long-term vision is for RegalBlissEvents to be recognised not only for beautiful events, but for thoughtful experiences, strong execution and memorable moments that genuinely connect people with the occasion or brand.

NIGERIANS have endured harrowing experiences on the tortuous road of political violence, voter intimidation and electoral manipulation. It is unacceptable for anyone holding public office to be adding fuel to an already combustible political atmosphere. As the country gradually approaches the 2027 general election, politicians ought to be reducing the heat of adverse political discourse. The recent inflammatory statement attributed to the chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Danjuma Shekwolo, is deeply disturbing and deserves unequivocal condemnation.

Speaking while hosting the leadership and candidates of the FCT Youth Network, Mr. Shekwolo reportedly told residents of his council that they must support the All Progressives Congress (APC) or leave the area. ‘I have said in my area council, it is either you’re doing APC or leave the area council,’ he declared. He was apparently justifying his position by pointing to the developmental efforts of the President Bola Tinubu and those of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. That is an alarming utterance to make, for in Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, citizenship is not a tenancy agreement issued at the pleasure of a political party. Neither is residency in any part of the country conditional upon voting for the party in power. The Nigerian constitution guarantees citizens’ fundamental rights, including freedom of association and freedom of movement. A local government chairman simply cannot transform his political preference into a compulsory creed for the people he is meant to serve.

The strong reaction from Amnesty International is understandable. The organisation warned that tying residency in Kuje to membership of or support for a political party amounts to an attack on fundamental freedoms and a potential call to violence. Local authorities must also take such warnings seriously. There is an old African proverb that says, ‘When an elder threatens a child with violence, the child does not know whether the threat is a joke.’ Political leaders must understand that words spoken from positions of authority have consequences. A chairman may imagine that he is merely making a political statement, but there are always political thugs, desperate loyalists, and other impressionable persons who may interpret such declarations as permission to act according to the force or violence presupposed in the unguarded statement. This is precisely why the language of political leadership matters. As George Orwell warned in his celebrated essay Politics and the English Language, political language has the potency to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable. The danger begins when words are stripped of their consequences and when intimidation is dressed up as ordinary politicking. The chairman of a local government is, in a way of speaking, the father of all within his jurisdiction. He may canvass, persuade, plead, and campaign for his political party. He may point to roads constructed, schools renovated, healthcare facilities improved, or other achievements realised in his administration and ask the electorate to reward the party at the ballot box. That is healthy politics. That is fair democracy. But threatening citizens with eviction because they refuse to vote for one’s party is arrogant cruelty and misuse of power.

How did the country get to this point where Nigerians could be made to feel that their right to live and work in a particular place depends on how they vote? Why have Nigerian politicians become so intolerant of political disagreement that cordial persuasion is increasingly being replaced by brutal intimidation? These questions must trouble every patriotic Nigerian. Democracy is fundamentally about choice. John Stuart Mill, in On Liberty, argued that ‘He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that.’ A politician who cannot tolerate a dissenting voice is not demonstrating strength; he is exposing the poverty of his political argument and political clout. Public office should make Nigerian politicians more conscious of restraint, not less. Consequently, the ballot box must remain a sanctuary of free choice. A voter should be able to support any lawful political platform without fearing the loss of his home, employment, business, or physical safety. Anything that seeks to compel a voter through threats, intimidation or coercion is an assault on the spirit of free elections. The great Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe, captured the essence of political responsibility when he observed that ‘one of the truest tests of integrity is the blunt refusal to be compromised.’ Nigerian political actors must demonstrate that integrity by refusing to compromise the democratic rights of citizens for temporary electoral advantage.

Threats of this nature belong to the same disturbing fold as voter intimidation and, in a broader sense, pre-election vote buying. While vote buying attempts to purchase consent with money or material inducements, intimidation seeks to obtain it through fear. Both undermine the authenticity of electoral choice and the freeness of the electoral process. And fear is a particularly dangerous political instrument. As Edmund Burke clearly put it, ‘The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.’ When the person making the threat occupies public office, the ordinary citizen cannot simply dismiss the words as empty rhetoric. The imbalance of power gives the statement an altogether heavy weight.

Nigerian politicians across parties must therefore resist the temptation to weaponise their offices. This is not in respect of the ruling party alone. Similar tendencies have manifested across the nation’s political spectrum, with politicians at different levels deploying threats, inducements, ethnic rhetoric, and other coercive methods to secure electoral advantage. What is wrong remains wrong regardless of the political party involved. There is a lesson in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar: ‘The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power.’ Those entrusted with public authority must remember that power is a responsibility, not a licence to intimidate. Security agencies must also address these negative tendencies before they metastasize into violence. The police should invite the Kuje council chairman to explain his statement and establish whether any offence has been committed already. Public office does not confer immunity from accountability. If threats were made, the appropriate authorities must investigate them according to law.

Also, citizens who feel threatened should seek redress through the courts and other lawful institutions. The constitution and the courts exist precisely because no public official should be allowed to become judge, jury, and enforcer of his own political will. Nigerian politicians must understand that the preservation of peace is not merely the responsibility of security agencies. Political leaders themselves have a duty to ensure that their words do not become sparks in a country already carrying the dry tinder of political, ethnic, and economic grievances. Nigeria does not need political fatwas ahead of the 2027 general elections. It needs competition without coercion, persuasion without intimidation, and campaigns based on ideas, performance, and credible programmes. Politicians should tell Nigerians what they have done, what they intend to do, and why they deserve another mandate.

The road to 2027 must not become a passage of fear. It should be a democratic contest in which parties contest for the confidence of citizens rather than demand their submission. The political class should remember the words of Abraham Lincoln: ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.’ Nigeria is already too bruised and too burdened to tolerate political actors who deliberately deepen the atmosphere of fear. Nigerian politicians should woo the voters, persuade them, convince them, and earn their votes through performance and impeccable character. The electorate should not be threatened. Nigeria has had more than enough of fear. What it desperately needs now is freedom for eligible voters to choose freely. That is the essence of constitutional democracy.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Niger/Kogi Area Command, has handed over 189,000 rounds of live ammunition seized from suspected illicit arms dealers to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) for necessary action.

The ammunition was intercepted by Customs personnel during a routine patrol at Wawa village in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Comptroller of the Niger/Kogi Area Command, Sani Mohammed Umar, said the seized ammunition had remained in the custody of the service since 2018 due to litigation arising from the seizure.

Umar warned that the circulation of such a large quantity of illegal ammunition could have devastating consequences, particularly at a time when the country is facing serious security challenges.

He said, ‘the consignment comprised 7,560 packages, with each package containing 25 rounds, bringing the total to 189,000 rounds of live ammunition.’

According to him, the interception underscored the importance of sustained surveillance and effective border control in preventing the movement of illicit arms and ammunition into the country.

In his response, the North-Central Zonal Director of the NCCSALW, Abdul Adamu Eneche, commended the Customs Service for handing over the seized ammunition and described the development as a demonstration of effective synergy among security agencies.

Eneche, who represented the Director-General of the Centre, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (rtd), said the illegal ammunition would undergo the required procedures before being destroyed.

He explained that the destruction was necessary to prevent the seized ammunition from finding its way back into the hands of criminals.

‘I am optimistic that stronger cooperation, information sharing, effective border control and public awareness would reduce the availability of illegal arms in the hands of criminal groups,’ he said.

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has disclosed that national tax revenue has so far risen to N21.6 trillion since President Bola Tinubu introduced tax reforms in 2026.

The Governor made this known at the 160th edition of the Joint Revenue Board meeting, which was held in Kaduna on Wednesday, with the theme, ”One Year of Tax Reform: Assessing Progress and Addressing Challenges.”

According to him, the nation’s revenue was approximately N10.1 trillion in 2023, N21.6 trillion in 2024 and about N36.8 trillion in 2025.

”In the first half of 2026 alone, revenue reached approximately N21.6 trillion, representing a 49 percent increase over the corresponding period of the previous year,” he pointed out.

The Governor commended President Tinubu for taking what he described as ”the bold and politically demanding decision to fundamentally reform Nigeria’s tax architecture through landmark legislation, including the Act that transformed the former Joint Tax Board into the Joint Revenue Board.”

”That decision reflected a profound understanding: that a modern economy cannot be sustained by an outdated, fragmented or overly complex revenue system.

”Nigeria requires a tax architecture that is coherent, predictable, efficient and capable of supporting national development without unnecessarily constraining enterprise and investment,” he argued.

The Governor paid tribute to the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Mr Zach Adedeji, for his exceptional leadership and statesmanship in advancing Nigeria’s tax reform agenda.

”His contribution has been distinguished not merely by technical competence, but by a clear appreciation of the larger purpose of tax reform: to strengthen revenue mobilisation while making the system simpler, fairer, more predictable and more responsive to taxpayers.

”Reforms of this magnitude inevitably require courage. They demand the patience to build consensus, the discipline to stay the course and the institutional imagination to turn legislation into effective administrative practice. Mr Adedeji has demonstrated these qualities with distinction,” he said.

Governor Uba Sani also commended the immediate past Executive Chairman of the Kaduna Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), Mr Jerry Adams, and his team for increasing the state’s internally generated revenue from barely N4 billion to N10 billion monthly.

He argued that the revenue figures are more than fiscal statistics, as they point to ”an emerging capacity to finance national development increasingly from domestic resources.”

According to him, the tax reforms aim at ”simplifying a complex tax environment, reducing multiple and overlapping taxation, deploying technology and e-invoicing to minimise leakages.”

He further noted that the new tax reforms seek to consolidate revenue administration ”and, perhaps most importantly, rebuilding the relationship between government and the taxpayer.”

The Governor also argued that sustainable taxation cannot rest on coercion alone but must be founded on fairness, transparency, predictability and trust.

”Citizens and businesses are more likely to comply when they understand their obligations, encounter a system that is straightforward to navigate, and have confidence that the resources they contribute are being responsibly applied to the public good.

”The objective, therefore, should not simply be to collect more revenue. It should be to build a tax system in which compliance becomes easier, enforcement becomes more intelligent and voluntary participation becomes the norm rather than the exception,” he said.

According to him, Kaduna State has embraced this philosophy and, through KADIRS, ”we have continued to invest in technology-driven revenue collection, professionalise our revenue workforce and strengthen taxpayer education and engagement.

”Our objective is not simply to increase collections, but to build a revenue system that is broader, fairer, more efficient and more sustainable,” the Governor argued.

”We seek to expand the tax base rather than continually place a heavier burden on the same compliant taxpayers. We seek to make compliance easier and enforcement more intelligent, targeted and transparent.

”Above all, we seek to establish a relationship with taxpayers based not on fear, but on clarity, fairness and mutual responsibility. This is also why the institutional architecture created by the new reform matters so greatly,” he added.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr Nyesom Wike, has accused some governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of working against him ahead of the 2027 general elections, even as he reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu.

Wike made the allegations on Wednesday during his routine monthly media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, monitored in Abuja.

He specifically named the governors of Kwara and Imo states, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Hope Uzodimma, respectively.

Speaking on his relationship with APC governors, Wike said some of them were more interested in being seen as the President’s key supporters than in actual political work.

‘You see, the problem with people is that they want to be seen as the ones working for the President. I don’t do that,’ he said.

When asked if he was referring to the Kwara governor, Wike replied: ‘Yes.’

He accused AbdulRazaq of leading a campaign against him over allegations that he was sponsoring political candidates in Kwara State.

Wike said the removal of three senators and a member of the House of Representatives from the APC had created a political dilemma for the governor, adding that the affected lawmakers could defect to other parties ahead of 2027.

‘Now, these senators you removed, you have no place for them. Therefore, do you prefer them to go to ADC or to go to PDP?’ he asked.

He argued that politicians who defect to opposition parties like the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or National Democratic Congress (NDC) could work against President Tinubu, while those who align with him would support the President.

‘If they come to me, obviously, they will vote for Mr President,’ Wike said.

Wike also spoke on his reported disagreement with Uzodimma, insisting that the Imo governor was aware of the support he received from him in the past.

‘The governor of Imo State knows the support I gave to him very well,’ he said.

The FCT Minister also dismissed claims that he was planting PDP candidates across states.

He said some APC governors had approached him to prevent the PDP from fielding candidates in their states ahead of 2027.

‘I said, ‘Ah, in any case, did I reach any agreement that, look, now that we are supporting Mr President, PDP will not have any candidate anywhere?” he asked.

Despite the disagreements, Wike said his priority remained the re-election of President Tinubu in 2027. He warned that failing to support the President could make him a target of political retaliation.

‘But you see, in politics, I’m not a threat. My concern is, I will support Mr President. If you watch what’s happening today, peradventure anything happens and Mr President fails, I will be the first politician that Atiku, Obi will hunt for his head.

‘I will be the first politician. I challenge anybody. So, I won’t make that mistake, to be sleeping to see the President lose his election. No,’ he said.

A board member representing students on the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Comrade Umar Farouk Lawal, has faulted former vice president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, over his comments on the student loan scheme and alleged increases in tuition fees.

Lawal, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said there was no evidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered an increase in tuition fees in federal or state-owned tertiary institutions.

He challenged Atiku and heads of tertiary institutions across the country to produce any presidential directive, circular, memo, or official document showing that President Tinubu ordered an increase in tuition fees.

His reaction followed reports quoting Atiku as saying that he would review NELFUND if elected, while alleging that the Tinubu administration ordered an increase in tuition fees in tertiary institutions.

Lawal described the allegation as misleading, saying political discussions about the education and future of Nigerian students should be based on facts and verifiable evidence.

He said it would be wrong to discredit an initiative that had provided assistance to millions of Nigerian students without credible evidence to support such allegations.

According to him, NELFUND was established to ensure that financial difficulties do not prevent Nigerian students from accessing higher education.

He said the Fund provides tuition support and upkeep allowances to students across the country, adding that as of April 2026, more than 1.38 million students had benefited from the scheme, with over N242 billion disbursed for tuition and upkeep support.

He rejected the description of NELFUND as merely a response to alleged increases in school fees, saying such a characterisation misrepresented the purpose and impact of the Fund.

‘Therefore, describing NELFUND merely as a response to alleged increases in school fees is, respectfully, a misrepresentation of the purpose and impact of the Fund,’ he said.

Lawal explained that NELFUND was designed as an intervention to expand access to tertiary education and provide financial relief to students from families that might otherwise struggle to meet the cost of education.

He also challenged Atiku to explain what aspects of NELFUND he intended to review and how his proposed alternative would improve on the existing system.

‘If Alhaji Atiku Abubakar believes that NELFUND requires a review, Nigerians deserve to know what exactly he intends to review, what aspect of the existing framework he considers inadequate, and how his proposed alternative will improve upon the support currently being provided to students,’ he said.

On reports that Atiku’s proposal could include debt forgiveness for qualifying beneficiaries, the NELFUND board member said Nigerians should be told how such a policy would be funded and implemented without undermining the sustainability of the student loan system.

Lawal further clarified that decisions by individual tertiary institutions to review or adjust their charges should not automatically be attributed to the President.

He noted that federal and state tertiary institutions have governing structures and authorities responsible for determining institutional charges within the applicable regulatory framework.

He added that NELFUND itself had expressed concern over reports of arbitrary increases in tuition and other institutional charges and had committed to protecting the interests of students.

The board member urged Atiku to produce evidence to substantiate his allegation that President Tinubu ordered increases in tuition fees.

‘Rather than making a blanket allegation that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered increases in tuition fees, I respectfully call on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to provide the specific presidential directive, circular, memo, letter or official document upon which such an allegation is based,’ he said.

Lawal said, as the board member representing students on NELFUND, he would continue to defend the interests and welfare of Nigerian students irrespective of political affiliation.

He said students should not become victims of political narratives or misinformation, adding that the Tinubu administration had demonstrated commitment to expanding access to higher education through NELFUND.

He also cited figures from the Presidency indicating that NELFUND had enabled more than 1.64 million students to access tuition and upkeep support, with over N303 billion disbursed through 300 higher institutions.

Lawal urged political leaders, particularly those seeking the presidency, to make constructive, evidence-based, and student-centered contributions to discussions on the future of education in Nigeria.

Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc has confirmed the suspension of its staff members who are alleged to be involved in the vandalism of its infrastructure in Ikirun, Osun State.

Its Coordinating Head, Corporate Services, Angela Olanrewaju confirmed the suspension order in a statement made available to the newsmen in Ibadan on Wednesday.

She said the disciplinary measure is in line with the company’s zero-tolerance policy towards vandalism, theft of electricity infrastructure and all forms of unethical or criminal conduct.

The affected staff members, according to the statement, would remain suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

‘IBEDC will take appropriate internal disciplinary action in line with its policies and applicable.

‘We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards vandalism, theft of electricity infrastructure and all forms of unethical or criminal conduct.

‘Vandalism of electricity infrastructure has become a growing concern in recent times, with significant consequences for electricity supply, customers, communities and the Company.

‘IBEDC has consistently raised concerns about the increasing incidence of vandalism and the damage it causes to critical electricity assets, resulting in prolonged outages, service disruptions and avoidable inconvenience to customers.

On the arrest of the suspect, the IBEDC lauded the efforts of the Osun State Police Command, assuring its assistance in ensuring that culprits are brought to book.

‘The Company is fully cooperating with the Nigeria Police Force in the ongoing investigation and supports efforts to ensure a thorough, transparent and impartial process.

Staff members implicated in the matter have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. IBEDC will take appropriate internal disciplinary action in line with its policies and applicable regulations.

We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards vandalism, theft of electricity infrastructure and all forms of unethical or criminal conduct.

The Company will continue to support law enforcement agencies and relevant authorities to ensure that anyone found culpable faces the full weight of the law.

‘IBEDC also urges customers, community leaders and members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities around electricity infrastructure through appropriate channels.

The Company remains committed to transparency, accountability and the protection of critical electricity infrastructure across its franchise area’.

A Federal High Court in Abuja began hearing a case on Tuesday aimed at stopping local government elections in Oyo State.

During the hearing, the presiding judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, instructed the plaintiff to serve the originating summons to the defendants involved in the case.

The plaintiff, Akinloye Olusegun Oyeniyi, has named the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the first and second respondents, respectively, in the suit.

He is requesting the court to prevent the local government elections from taking place in the state.

Justice Egwuatu has scheduled the next appearance for September 10, 2026, to check on the status of service of the originating summons to the two defendants.

In the suit filed by the Plaintiff, through his Counsel, Ayo Omoleaupen, Esq., he is praying the court to determine whether by virtue of sections 1(1), 7(1), Paragraph 4 (a) of Part II of the third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) and section 153(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 the power of the 1st Defendant is not limited to the ‘Verification of the Documents of Nominated Candidates’ and does not extend to ‘Verification/Screening of Candidates’?

He is also praying the court to determine whether Items 6 and 9 of the 1st Defendant’s Revised Time Table and Schedule of Activities for 2026/2027 Local Government Election in Oyo State issued on the 4th day of March, 2026 are not inconsistent with the provisions of section 1(1), 7(1) and Paragraph 4(a) of Part II of Third Schedule and of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) and section 153(1) of the Electoral At, 2026 and thereby infringes the Plaintiff’s right to contest and or vote for candidates of his choice in the 2026/2027 Local Government Local Government Election in Oyo State.

The Plaintiff also wants the court to declare that the 1st Defendant’s constitutional duty is limited to the ‘Verification of documents of nominated candidates’ by political parties in compliance with the provision of 4(a), Part II of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended). And section 153(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

He is also praying the court for a declaration that the 1st Defendant lacks the power of ‘Verification/Screening of Councillorship and Chairmanship candidates’ or ‘Screening of Substituted Candidates’ by virtue of paragraph 4(a) Part II of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) and section 153(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

He prays the court for, ‘An order restraining the 2nd Defendant whether by itself, its servants, agents or privies from releasing to the 1st Register of Voters containing a register of voters in Oyo State, namely the official register of voters certified by the 2nd Defendant, for use by the 1st Defendant for the conduct of Local Government Councils Election in Oyo State until the 1st Defendant strike out, cancel and or annul Items 6 and 9 of the Revised Time Tale and Schedule of Activities for the 2026/2027 Local Government Councils Elections in conformity with Paragraph 4(a) Part II of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) and section 153(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

‘An order of the Honourable Court striking out, cancelling and or annually Items 6 and 9 of the Revised Time Table and Schedule of Activities for the 2026/2027 Local Government Councils Election which is in contravention to Paragraph 4(a), Part II of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) and section 153(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026’.

The Plaintiff, a businessman and politician from Ogbomoso in Oyo state said if the court allows the elections to be conducted, his interest will be gravely affected.

He said in the affidavit attached to the originating summons, which he deposed to, that the Defendant/Respondents will not suffer any injustice, if the relief(s) sought by the Plaintiff/Applicant in this application are granted, for it will assist in upholding the rule of law and strengthening of democracy.

He said, ‘That the Defendants/Respondents will not lose anything by the grant of this application.That I do know that the balance of convenience in this application is in favour of the Plaintiff/Applicant.

‘That I do also know that by the violation of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) and the Electoral Act, 2026 by the Defendants/Respondents, the Defendants/Respondents cannot adequately compensate the Plaintiff/Applicant by damages. That the grant of this application will not in anyway prejudice the interest of the Defendants/Respondent’, he stated.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has directed all its offices nationwide to fly the party’s flags at half-mast for three days in honour of its late National Vice-Chairman (South-South), Chief Dr Dan Orbih, who died in London after a brief illness.

The party, in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, described Orbih’s death as a ‘great loss’ to the PDP, his family and the wider democratic community.

The PDP said Orbih was a ‘loyal, committed and dependable’ member who devoted himself to the ideals of democracy and the advancement of the party, adding that his dedication, wisdom and contributions to its growth and stability would remain deeply appreciated and remembered.

‘Dr Dan Orbih may have departed this world, but his service, loyalty and contributions to the PDP, as well as to our democratic journey, will not be forgotten,’ the statement said.

The party particularly commiserated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, describing the late Orbih as a very strong ally, close confidant, trusted associate and friend of the minister.

It said, ‘The party particularly commiserates with the Hon. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, over the loss of his close confidant, trusted associate and friend. We share in his grief at this difficult moment and pray that Almighty God grants him the strength to bear this painful loss.’

The PDP extended its condolences to Orbih’s immediate family, relatives, friends and associates, as well as members and supporters of the party.

‘As a mark of honour and respect for the late National Vice Chairman, the National Working Committee hereby directs all Peoples Democratic Party offices to fly the party flag at half-mast for a period of three days,’ it added.

The party said it stood firmly with Orbih’s family and all those who had the privilege of knowing and working with him, while praying that Almighty God would grant the bereaved family and his loved ones the strength and fortitude to bear the ‘painful and irreparable loss.’

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Thailand have deepened bilateral cooperation with the signing of new agreements focused on agriculture, cooperatives and innovation, in a move to drive implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, RH-CRRP 2030.

The agreements were signed in Lagos, during a high-level engagement on the theme: Building Sustainable Partnerships: Connecting Youth, Innovation and Business between Thailand and Nigeria.

Speaking during the event, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Senator. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the signing marked the transition of RH-CRRP 2030 from policy formulation to practical implementation.

The agreements included a Record of Discussions involving the Thailand International Cooperation Agency, TICA, Kasetsart University and the Federal Cooperative College, Oji-River, Enugu, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding between Kasetsart University and the Federal Cooperative College, Oji-River.

‘Today, we have not merely witnessed the signing of documents; we have witnessed the strengthening of a partnership founded on knowledge, capacity development, innovation, institutional cooperation and shared prosperity,’ the Minister said.

Senator. Abdullahi added that the partnership directly supports *Pillar 2 of RH-CRRP 2030 institutional Strengthening, Professionalization and Capacity Building.

‘At the heart of this pillar is a simple but fundamental principle: we cannot build strong and sustainable cooperatives without strong institutions and well-trained people,’ he said.

The minister noted that the reform places emphasis on developing the knowledge, professional competence and leadership capacity of cooperative leaders, managers, regulators and members.

He referenced an earlier milestone on August 12, in Abuja, where the ministry, the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, CFN, and Seamfix Limited, signed an MoU on the Cooperative Digitalisation pillar of the reform.

‘This demonstrates that RH-CRRP 2030 is moving beyond policy formulation towards implementation, institutional action and measurable impact,’ Abdullahi said.

Linking the partnership to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, the Minister affirmed that the administration is determined to reposition cooperatives as stronger instruments for agricultural transformation, enterprise development, job and wealth creation, financial inclusion and sustainable livelihoods.

‘As we work towards Mr. President’s aspiration of building a one-trillion-dollar Nigerian economy within this decade, strengthening the capacity, professionalism and productivity of our cooperative institutions and the millions of Nigerians they serve will be critical,’ he stated.

Abdullahi added that Thailand’s experience in agriculture, cooperative development, research and innovation presents important opportunities for mutual learning, while Nigeria brings enormous agricultural potential, a vibrant youthful population and significant opportunities for investment.

He charged all institutions involved to move ‘deliberately from agreement to implementation’ with practical programmes, clear timelines and measurable deliverables.

‘May today’s signing mark not the conclusion of a process, but the beginning of a stronger and more productive chapter in Nigeria-Thailand cooperation,’ the Minister added.

In attendance were the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand; Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca OdumegwuOjukwu, the Ambassador of Thailand to Nigeria; the Ambassador of Nigeria to the Kingdom of Thailand; the Director-General of TICA; the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN; the President of Kasetsart University; and the Provost of the Federal Cooperative College, Oji-River.

RH-CRRP 2030 is a seven-pillar reform framework designed to reposition the Nigerian cooperative sector as an instrument for inclusive economic growth and distributed prosperity.