Category: Nigerian Tribune

Controversy has trailed operations at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, amid growing public perception that Ibom Air, the home-based carrier in Akwa Ibom State, has become so dominant at the airport that other airlines are either unwilling or unable to compete effectively on the route.

The airport, formerly known as Akwa Ibom Airport, was commissioned in 2009, after being developed by the state government under the administration of then Governor Victor Attah.

It was conceived as a major transportation infrastructure project to improve connectivity to the state and position Uyo as an important aviation gateway in the South-South region.

Barely two decades after its commissioning, the airport is at the centre of a debate over competition, access and the role of a state-owned airline operating from a state-owned airport.

At present, Ibom Air is the only airline operating scheduled passenger services to and from Uyo. Its network includes Uyo-Lagos, Uyo-Abuja and regional Uyo-Accra services.

The situation has inevitably fuelled perceptions of a monopoly, particularly among passengers who now have limited choices when travelling by air between Uyo and other destinations.

Available operational information indicates that Air Peace previously operated the Uyo-Lagos route, with its last scheduled service listed as May 15, 2026. Dana Air also previously operated the route before its operations ceased, while Arik Air and Aero Contractors served Uyo at different periods.

The disappearance of these carriers from the route has therefore, raised questions about what has changed in the Uyo market and why Ibom Air has emerged as the dominant, and currently sole, scheduled operator.

Commenting on the controversy, Head, Research and Corporate Travel at Zenith Travels and Consult, Mr Olumide Ohunayo, said the allegation that Ibom Air was preventing other airlines from operating into Uyo was difficult to establish.

Ohunayo, who is also the General Secretary of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), said Nigerian airlines were generally free to operate to airports across the country once they met the necessary regulatory, safety and operational requirements.

‘I find that difficult to believe. These are local airlines and in Nigeria’s airspace, all airlines are free to go to any airport once you file your routine and do the appropriate safety and operational specifications in line with the regulator,’ he said.

He, however, distinguished between an airline deliberately blocking competition and a situation in which a dominant operator’s frequency, capacity or pricing makes it difficult for competitors to establish a commercially viable operation.

‘If they say that there is competition by virtue of the frequency of Ibom Air operating into Uyo and that it stifles their own flight, then that is another kettle of fish entirely,’ he said.

According to Ohunayo, competing airlines must also develop strategies capable of challenging an established home-based operator.

‘I think what they can do is to start with regional aircraft and, as they build their passengers, they begin to increase their aircraft size and frequency. Ibom Air is dominant and that is their base. You will not begrudge them,’ he said.

Ohunayo also distinguished the Uyo situation from the current experience of Enugu Air in Enugu.

He noted that before Enugu Air commenced operations, Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines were already dominant operators in the Enugu market, meaning that the new carrier entered an established competitive environment.

‘Uyo never had a dominant carrier right from day one that airline was established. Other airlines were operating into the airport, alternatively with Calabar. By the time Ibom came and took control, they became the dominant carrier there,’ he said.

However, he stressed that no airline has the legal authority to own an airport or determine which competing airlines can access it.

‘There is no law stating that an airline can own an airport and disallow other airlines from coming in,’ he said.

The aviation expert said the critical issue would be whether the airport management itself had ever denied another airline access to the facility.

‘If they say that the airport management is not giving them landing permit or asking them that they don’t have space for them, then we can understand, perhaps the airport is trying to protect the airline.

‘So, let us get this point. Is it the Uyo Airport Management? If that is the case, the airlines have the power to report formally to the regulator, who would definitely take it up and ensure that competition and fairness are maintained in the industry.

‘Because without multiple options, you will not have good services and better fares,’ he said.

Corroborating Ohunayo, a US-based Nigerian pilot, Capt. John Onwochei, also rejected the suggestion that an airline could prevent another carrier from operating into its hub.

‘I think there is a missing link in the narrative. No airline has the right to stop other airlines from operating. It is a function of competition and every airline has to step up to compete effectively,’ he said.

The dominance of Ibom Air on the Uyo-Lagos route was confirmed by an airline ticketing officer at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal One (MMA1), popularly known as the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Mr Peter Ubaka.

According to Ubaka, as of Monday, August 31, 2026, Ibom Air was the only carrier operating scheduled Lagos-Uyo-Lagos services, with two daily flights departing Lagos at approximately 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Ibom Air has, however, categorically rejected the perception that it exercises a monopoly over Victor Attah International Airport or possesses the authority to prevent other airlines from operating there.

In a statement issued Monday and made available to Nigerian Tribune, the airline said it neither had the authority nor the regulatory mandate to prevent another carrier from operating from Uyo or any other airport in Nigeria.

According to the airline, responsibility for authorising, regulating, suspending or otherwise permitting airline operations rests with the appropriate aviation regulatory authorities.

Ibom Air specifically cited Section 8(3) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022, which it said places the regulation of civil aviation in Nigeria under the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The carrier argued that once an airline satisfies applicable regulatory and operational requirements and obtains the necessary approvals, Ibom Air has no authority to prevent it from operating into Uyo.

The airline also stressed the need to distinguish between its own commercial or operational decisions and any attempt to prevent another carrier from accessing an airport.

It explained that it had, at different times, temporarily suspended operations to destinations including Enugu and Calabar to undertake mandatory aircraft maintenance and address other operational requirements.

Such decisions, it maintained, were internal operational matters and should not be interpreted as attempts to create or sustain a monopoly.

Ibom Air further argued that the number and frequency of airlines operating through an airport could be influenced by several factors unrelated to monopoly.

These, it said, include aircraft availability, fuel logistics, airport infrastructure, scheduling considerations and regulatory requirements.

Insisting that it supports greater competition at Victor Attah International Airport, Ibom Air maintained that the presence or absence of competing airlines at Uyo should be examined within the broader commercial and regulatory environment governing Nigerian airline operations.

According to the airline, the entry of additional carriers would provide passengers with more travel options, greater choice of schedules and fares, improved connectivity for Akwa Ibom and the wider South-South region, increased passenger traffic and a stronger aviation ecosystem.

It added that increased competition could contribute to the development of Uyo as an aviation and economic destination.

‘As the home-based carrier, Ibom Air is proud to operate from Uyo,’ the airline stated, while stressing that its status as the home-based carrier does not confer ownership or control of Victor Attah International Airport on it.

Meanwhile, enquiries made to the NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr Michael Achimugu, to ascertain whether any qualified airlines had sought approval to operate into Uyo recently, and, if so, whether any had been denied access, were unanswered as of press time.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to embark on another vacation abroad, saying Nigeria requires more focused leadership amid worsening economic hardship and insecurity.

Obi, in a Facebook post on Tuesday, said Tinubu had again left the country for a three-week holiday in Europe at a time when Nigerians were struggling with the rising cost of food and transportation, while insecurity continues to affect communities across the country.

According to the former Anambra State governor, thousands of children are also unable to access education because of insecurity.

He particularly cited reports of the abduction of about 600 Nigerians, predominantly women, children and elderly persons, during Juma’at prayers in Niger State, describing the development as an indication of the challenges confronting the country.

Obi also questioned government spending on presidential travels, alleging that about N37.64 billion was spent on presidential trips and related travel expenses between June 2023 and April 2026.

He further claimed that President Tinubu spent approximately 261 days outside Nigeria within the period.

‘Yet, at this critical moment, the President has left the country for another holiday,’ Obi said. The NDC presidential candidate also raised concerns over funding for the health sector, claiming that only N36 million was released to the Federal Ministry of Health in 2025 despite a capital allocation of N218 billion.

Obi argued that the alleged disparity between spending on presidential travel and funding for critical sectors reflected what he described as misplaced priorities by the government.

‘This is the calamity befalling our country today. A government that can spend tens of billions on presidential travel while critical sectors remain starved of funds, and Nigerians are asked to endure worsening hardship, must not be allowed to continue.’

He maintained that leadership was fundamentally about setting the right priorities, arguing that the President should be more concerned with addressing insecurity, poverty, healthcare, education and other challenges confronting citizens.

‘When citizens cannot feed their families, move safely, access healthcare, send their children to school, or sleep peacefully in their homes, the President should be more concerned about fixing the country than repeatedly leaving it,’ he said.

Obi also used the occasion to advocate increased domestic tourism, saying the Nigerian president should serve as the country’s ‘chief marketer’ by visiting and promoting tourist destinations across the country.

He listed Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Cross River, Bauchi and Ebonyi among states he said could benefit from greater presidential and domestic tourism attention.

According to him, increased domestic travel by political leaders, celebrities, businesses and citizens could generate significant economic opportunities by supporting the hospitality, transportation, agriculture, entertainment, crafts and small-business sectors.

‘Tourism creates jobs. It supports hospitality, transportation, agriculture, entertainment, crafts, and small businesses. It brings investment and foreign exchange and allows communities to benefit directly from their natural and cultural assets,’ Obi said.

He argued that Nigeria should reduce its dependence on spending abroad and instead develop its domestic economic and tourism potential.

‘We cannot continue to export our wealth and import our pleasures while our own enormous potential remains neglected,’ he said.

Obi called for leadership that prioritises Nigeria and its citizens, saying the partnership between himself and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, would provide what he described as a new direction for the country.

‘We deserve leadership that puts Nigeria first; leadership that cares and plans for a better Nigeria. That is the kind of leadership that the partnership between H.E. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and I will bring,’ he added.

Nigeria has recorded 1,035 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 252 deaths across 23 states and 117 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the first 33 epidemiological weeks of 2026, with the fatality rate rising to 24.4 per cent.

The latest Lassa Fever Situation Report of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), covering August 10 to 16, showed that the country recorded 14 new confirmed cases and two deaths during epidemiological week 33.

The 2026 cumulative figures represent an increase from the 854 confirmed cases and 159 deaths recorded during the same period in 2025, when the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) stood at 18.6 per cent.

According to the report, the 14 new confirmed cases recorded in week 33 were reported in Ondo, Edo, Bauchi and Benue States, representing a sharp rise from the four cases recorded in epidemiological week 32.

The NCDC said five states accounted for the overwhelming majority of confirmed infections in the country, with 87 per cent of all confirmed cases reported from Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue states.

Ondo State accounted for 33 per cent of the cases, followed by Bauchi with 25 per cent, Taraba 13 per cent, Edo 10 per cent and Benue six per cent. The remaining 13 per cent of cases were reported across 18 other states.

The report further indicated that people aged 21 to 30 years constituted the predominant age group affected, although confirmed cases ranged from one to 93 years, with a median age of 30 years. The male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases was 1:0.9.

The NCDC also disclosed that 54 healthcare workers have been affected by Lassa fever in 2026, although no new healthcare worker infection was recorded during week 33.

It said 12 patients were being managed at treatment centres during the reporting week, bringing the cumulative number of cases managed at treatment centres in 2026 to 783.

On contact tracing, the report said 2,007 contacts had been listed cumulatively, with 168 still under follow-up. A total of 1,836 contacts had completed follow-up, while 110 symptomatic contacts had been identified and 49 tested positive.

The NCDC said it had intensified interventions to contain the outbreak, including training healthcare workers, strengthening infection prevention and control measures, supporting active case search and contact tracing, and pre-positioning personal protective equipment and other supplies in health facilities.

It also said a 30-day Healthcare Worker Protection Plan had been developed to reduce infections among frontline health workers in endemic states, with support from the World Health Organisation and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency said National Rapid Response Teams had also been deployed across seven high-burden states, while Incident Management Systems for Lassa fever had been activated in Benue, Plateau, Kebbi, Kano and Gombe states.

However, the NCDC identified late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour linked to the high cost of treatment, poor environmental sanitation, low awareness in high-burden communities and healthcare worker infections as major challenges to controlling the disease.

The agency urged states to sustain community engagement on Lassa fever prevention throughout the year, while advising healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, make timely referrals and commence treatment promptly, alongside strict adherence to infection prevention and control procedures.

The NCDC further called for stronger state capacity to prevent, detect and respond promptly to Lassa fever outbreaks.

During the rainy season, a perimeter fence can look perfectly solid on a dry afternoon and become a serious structural problem after several hours of heavy rainfall.

In many Nigerian properties, the warning signs are subtle with water collecting around the base, soil washing away, cracks developing around pillars or a section of wall beginning to lean. By the time a major crack becomes obvious, the damage can already be advanced.

Meanwhile, preventing fence collapse during the rainy season in Nigeria requires more than adding extra blocks or covering visible cracks with plaster.

A durable boundary wall depends on the relationship between its foundation, masonry, reinforcement, surrounding soil and drainage.

Because, when rainwater accumulates against a poorly designed or poorly maintained wall, pressure and soil erosion can turn a minor weakness into a collapse.

Rainwater can become a hidden structural load

The first mistake property owners make is treating a perimeter fence as nothing more than a vertical stack of blocks.

A free-standing masonry wall must remain stable under forces such as wind, while a wall holding back higher ground faces a different challenge because it also has to resist lateral soil pressure.

BRE guidance on free-standing brick and blockwork walls notes that such structures must be stable under wind loading and durable under normal service conditions.

Heavy rain introduces another concern: water. When soil behind or beside a wall becomes saturated, its behavior changes and additional pressure can develop. Engineering guidance on retaining walls notes that saturated soil can substantially increase pressure and raise the risk of sliding or overturning.

That is why drainage should be treated as part of a fence’s structural protection rather than an optional landscaping feature.

Start with the ground beneath the fence

A strong wall begins below ground. If the foundation sits on weak, loose or poorly compacted soil, the masonry above can crack or move even when the blocks and mortar initially appear sound.

Nigeria’s National Building Code provides requirements relating to foundation construction and masonry-supported structures, while the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development describes the Code as establishing minimum standards for safe and professional design and construction.

For a new fence, the foundation should therefore be designed for the actual site rather than copied from a neighboring property. Soil type, wall height, ground slope, drainage conditions and expected loads all matter. Where a wall is unusually high, exposed to difficult ground conditions or expected to retain soil, a qualified civil or structural engineer should determine the appropriate foundation and reinforcement.

Property owners should be particularly cautious about fences built on filled ground, soft soil or areas where stormwater regularly flows. Those conditions can require considerably more attention than a conventional boundary wall.

Give rainwater somewhere to go

Poor drainage is one of the most preventable causes of wall distress. Water that has nowhere to escape can saturate soil around the foundation, wash fine particles away and increase pressure against the wall.

Masonry engineering guidance recommends directing water away from retaining walls and providing suitable drainage where water reaches them. Free-draining materials and properly designed drains can help relieve hydrostatic pressure and seepage.

Around a residential fence, that principle starts with the ground surface. Finished levels should not direct large volumes of roof or yard runoff toward the wall. Gutters and downspouts should discharge into an appropriate drainage route instead of emptying directly beside the fence foundation.

Where a property slopes toward its boundary, a properly designed surface drain may be necessary to intercept runoff before it reaches the wall. The arrangement depends on the site’s levels and drainage conditions, so it is better to have the system assessed than to improvise a channel after flooding begins.

Do not mistake a boundary wall for a retaining wall

This distinction is critical. A normal boundary wall encloses a property or separates spaces. A retaining wall holds back soil where there is a difference in ground level.

If soil has been piled substantially higher on one side of a fence, the structure may effectively be acting as a retaining wall even if it was originally constructed as an ordinary boundary wall. That creates a different engineering problem because the structure must resist lateral earth pressure in addition to its own weight and environmental loads.

Retaining-wall guidance identifies bending, sliding and overturning as important failure modes, while saturated soil can significantly increase pressure on the structure. FEMA guidance similarly emphasises soil conditions, seepage and drainage when assessing flood-related wall structures.

For that reason, simply adding more blocks to a failing wall may not solve the problem. A retaining wall may require proper drainage, reinforcement, foundation work or even a redesigned structure.

Build for weather, not just appearance

Masonry exposed to repeated wetting and drying needs protection. The top of a wall is particularly vulnerable because rain can enter directly through inadequately protected masonry.

Nigeria’s National Building Code contains provisions concerning weather exposure and coping, while masonry engineering guidance recommends protecting the top of walls to prevent water entry.

A properly formed coping helps shed rain away from the wall rather than allowing water to sit on the top surface. Good workmanship also matters. Weak mortar joints, poor bonding, inadequate reinforcement and badly constructed pillars can create points where cracking and movement begin.

Paint and decorative finishes should not be mistaken for structural reinforcement. They may improve appearance or provide some weather protection, but they cannot compensate for an inadequate foundation or unstable masonry.

Inspect the fence before the rains become severe

A fence should be inspected before the wettest period of the year, not after a section has already collapsed. Walk along both sides of the boundary and look for changes that suggest movement, including new cracks, gaps around pillars, leaning sections, displaced blocks, exposed foundation soil and places where water repeatedly pools.

Pay particular attention after intense rainfall. If water is flowing directly against the wall, soil is being washed from its base or a section has begun leaning, do not wait for another storm to see what happens.

A visibly unstable wall should be kept clear of people and vehicles until it has been assessed. Structural defects should be properly investigated rather than simply concealed with fresh plaster.

Keep the drainage system working

Even a well-designed drainage arrangement can fail when it becomes blocked. Leaves, sediment, weeds, plastic waste and construction debris can prevent water from moving away from the property.

Inspect open drains, channels and outlets regularly, particularly before and during the rainy season. Where a drainage system contains pipes or other concealed components, make sure they can be maintained. Professional retaining-wall guidance stresses that drainage must remain functional and that discharged water should not create another problem downstream.

The same principle applies to roof drainage. A blocked gutter can concentrate a large volume of water beside one section of fence, gradually eroding soil around its foundation.

Know when repair is not enough

Some fence problems can be repaired, while others indicate that the structure needs partial or complete reconstruction.

A superficial plaster crack is different from a wall that is leaning, separating from its pillars, suffering foundation settlement or retaining saturated soil. Replastering a structurally compromised wall can hide the evidence without correcting the underlying cause.

Where collapse could injure people or damage neighboring property, professional assessment should come first. An engineer may need to examine the soil, foundation, drainage, wall geometry and reinforcement before recommending a solution.

Protect the fence before the storm tests it

A perimeter fence is more than a boundary marker. It is a masonry structure exposed to wind, soil movement and, during Nigeria’s wet season, substantial amounts of water.

Preventing fence collapse during the rainy season Nigeria starts with designing the foundation for the site, controlling runoff, keeping water away from the wall, protecting exposed masonry and identifying early signs of movement. Some of the most important protections are invisible once construction is complete: a sound foundation, appropriate reinforcement, effective drainage and competent workmanship.

When a wall is already leaning or showing significant structural movement, however, the safest response is not to guess at a quick fix. Have it assessed before the next heavy storm turns a warning sign into a collapsed fence.

Kogi State Government has commended the joint security forces for the successful rescue of 21 kidnap victims in Dekina Local Government Area of the state, describing the operation as a demonstration of tactical excellence and effective inter-agency collaboration.

In a press statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the State Government said the successful operation further demonstrated the determination of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government to make criminality a regrettable trade for criminals.

The victims, comprising eight males and 13 females, were rescued on Monday, August 31, 2026, by troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, working with the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, local hunters and vigilante groups.

The operation followed reports of the abduction of road users along the Alloma-Ejule-Itobe road axis. Acting on credible intelligence, the security teams conducted a coordinated search of the Egume and Ochaja forest areas, leading to the successful rescue of all 21 victims.

One of the rescued male victims sustained a gunshot wound and was promptly evacuated to a medical facility for treatment.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for equipping the nation’s security forces to effectively combat violent crimes across the country. He also commended the heads of the various security agencies as well as the officers and men who participated in the operation.

‘Criminals will always regret stepping their feet on Kogi State. We will never wag our tails before cowards who take arms against the state. Kogi is always ready to obliterate any threat to lives and property in the state,’ the Governor said.

Governor Ododo also commended the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and all local security operatives for their organisational acumen, courage and effective response to the incident.

The Governor assured the people of Kogi State that his administration would continue to strengthen collaboration with security agencies and local security structures to protect lives and property across the state.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to provide credible and timely information to security agencies, stressing that the collective support of citizens remains vital to the fight against kidnapping and other forms of criminality.

The Lagos State House of Assembly, through its House Committee on Public Accounts (Local), has commenced consideration of the 2024 Statutory Audit Inspection Report of the Auditor-General for Local Governments on the accounts of the state’s 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

The two-week exercise, which commenced with the appearance of officials from Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Badagry, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Ikeja, Oriade and Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Councils, is aimed at scrutinising the financial activities of the councils for the year ended 31 December 2024, with a view to promoting accountability, transparency and prudent management of public funds.

Speaking at the commencement of the exercise, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon Prince Nureni Akinsanya, said the exercise was part of the Committee’s statutory responsibilities to scrutinise the Auditor-General’s report and ensure that public funds entrusted to the councils were properly accounted for.

Akinsanya stated that the chairmen of the LGAs and LCDAs, alongside relevant officials, would be required to respond to outstanding issues raised in the audit report and provide the Committee with the necessary documentary evidence to support their submissions.

He stressed that the exercise was not intended to witch-hunt anyone, but rather to enable the Committee to discharge its statutory responsibilities objectively, transparently and without bias.

The Chairman explained that the Committee would particularly ascertain whether revenues accruing to the councils during the period under review were judiciously utilised and properly accounted for, while expenditures would also be subjected to thorough scrutiny.

He added that the findings and recommendations of the Committee would subsequently be presented before the House for consideration and appropriate action.

The Chairman therefore urged the council officials to cooperate fully with the Committee and ensure the prompt provision of requested documents, records and explanations throughout the exercise.

Members of the Committee present at the commencement of the exercise included Hon Suraju Tijani, Hon Bonu Solomon, Hon Ganiyu Sanni, Hon Ogundipe Stephen and Hon Femi Saheed.

Other Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas are scheduled to appear before the Committee for consideration of their respective audit reports as the exercise continues.

Africa is facing a deepening youth employment crisis, as rapid demographic growth collides with weak job creation and a shortage of decent work, leaving millions of young people either unemployed or trapped in informal and insecure jobs, the International Labour Organization (ILO), has warned.

The warning is contained in ILO’s Global Employment Trends for Youth 2026: Back to the Future report, which said the global youth unemployment rate rose to 12.4 per cent in 2025, representing 67 million unemployed young people aged 15 to 24.

The report also found that the share of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) increased slightly to 20 per cent, affecting more than 257 million young people worldwide.

According to the ILO, sub-Saharan Africa faces particularly strong demographic pressures alongside an insufficient supply of decent jobs, increasing the risk that more young people will fall into NEET status.

The report noted that the challenge in developing economies was not simply unemployment, but the inability of labour markets to provide enough stable and decent jobs to absorb growing young populations.

It said low unemployment rates in many developing economies could conceal widespread labour market insecurity because young people often cannot afford to remain unemployed and are therefore pushed into informal or unstable employment.

‘Nearly nine in 10 young workers aged 15 to 29 in low- and lower-middle-income countries are employed informally,’ the ILO said, noting that such employment limits young workers’ access to stable incomes and social protection.

Globally, youth unemployment increased in eight of the world’s 11 subregions between 2023 and 2025, with slowing economic growth, weak job creation, geopolitical tensions and rapid technological change creating additional barriers for young people entering the labour market.

ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo, said the consequences of excluding young people from decent employment extended beyond individual livelihoods to national productivity and social stability.

‘A generation that cannot find decent work cannot build its future with confidence,’ Houngbo said.

He added: ‘When young people are locked out of quality employment, countries lose talent, productivity and social cohesion.’

According to him, creating decent jobs for young people was not only a social responsibility but also ‘one of the smartest investments a country can make.’

The report warned that technological change, including artificial intelligence (AI), was reshaping the employment prospects of young workers.

It estimated that 6.1 per cent of jobs held by young people aged 15 to 29 were in occupations highly exposed to AI-related changes. Many of the affected occupations overlap with middle-skilled jobs that have declined among young workers since 2023, including clerical and administrative roles.

However, the ILO noted that demand was growing in some knowledge-based technical occupations, particularly in science, health and engineering, highlighting the need to equip young people with skills that match changing labour market requirements.

The Director of the ILO’s Employment, Skills and Sustainable Enterprises Department, Sukti Dasgupta, said governments should not underestimate the risks associated with technological change.

‘While the direct impact on jobs is still unclear, we must not be complacent and underestimate the risks,’ Dasgupta said.

She called for increased investment in skills, lifelong learning and social protection to enable young people to adapt to changes in the world of work.

‘Technological progress, including AI, must work for young people, not against them,’ she added.

The ILO report called for renewed policy action to create pathways from education and training into decent work, particularly for young women and young people in vulnerable situations.

It recommended greater investment in quality education, lifelong learning and apprenticeships; stronger employment services and labour market institutions; expanded social protection and rights at work; and macroeconomic and sectoral policies capable of generating more decent employment.

The ILO also urged governments to adopt a human-centred approach to AI governance to ensure that technological innovation creates employment opportunities rather than deepening existing inequalities.

The report stressed that the challenge facing countries was not merely to create more jobs for young people, but to ensure that those jobs offered security, dignity and meaningful opportunities for young people to make successful transitions into adulthood.

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has explained that its role as a regulatory body in the nation’s integrated marketing communication sector is to ensure an enabling ecosystem through effective regulation, and not to stifle businesses, as being claimed in some quarters.

The Director-General of the agency, Dr. Lekan Fadolapo, gave this explanation in Lagos on Monday while giving reasons for the agency’s decision to launch its new recognition awards, the ARCON Special Recognition Awards (ASRA).

He explained that ASRA was designed to correct the erroneous impression that the agency is all about enforcement and punishment of violators of the rules and regulations guiding the practice.

‘Nowadays, when we send letters to individuals and corporates, the first thing that crosses their minds is: ‘What have we done again?’, once they see that the letter is coming from us. But the aim of ASRA is to change this narrative, and let the public know that we are not all about punishment, but also ready to recognize and celebrate individuals and brands that have also practised within the confines of the advertising law, and contribute their own quotas to the development of the ecosystem,’ the ARCON boss stated.

Echoing the DG’s claim, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, ASRA, Mr. Yinka Adebayo, stated that the essence of ASRA was to demonstrate that the agency is not all about sanctions.

‘It is about extending the hand of fellowship to those who do well, to get recognised, get celebrated and get rewarded. It is to inspire those who are sitting on the fence. It is to say we are not just about fining you, but when you do it well, you get rewarded. It is about developing the industry, because we can’t develop an industry that is growing in the wrong direction,’ he stated.

He added that the recognition awards, slated for October 23 this year in Lagos, will be held in four categories: Advertising Compliance Awards, Public Sector Recognition Awards, Private Sector Recognition Awards and Individual Recognition Awards.

Lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Sunday Karimi, has expanded his water intervention in Lokoja Local Government Area with the construction of seven industrial boreholes across the state capital.

The latest initiative followed a commitment made by the senator during his visit to the palace of the Maigari of Lokoja on August 24, ahead of the town hall meeting organised for the Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency.

Karimi had initially pledged to facilitate the construction of five industrial boreholes to address the persistent water shortage confronting residents of Lokoja. However, the number of projects has now increased to seven.

Speaking on the initiative, the senator expressed concern over the acute water shortage in the state capital, noting that he had earlier taken steps to provide water tankers to residents during the Ramadan period.

He explained that the decision to provide the industrial boreholes was part of his efforts to complement existing interventions and improve access to potable water in communities across Lokoja.

According to him, the projects are being funded by a federal government agency under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.

The senator also explained that the industrial boreholes are designed to provide a more substantial water supply compared with the solar-powered boreholes previously provided under his intervention programme.

Construction work on the projects reportedly commenced within five days of the senator’s announcement, with the number eventually increased from the initially proposed five to seven boreholes.

The development adds to the 22 solar-powered motorised boreholes already completed in Lokoja Local Government Area through the senator’s intervention.

The new projects are expected to provide relief to communities affected by inadequate access to water and reduce the difficulties residents face in sourcing the essential commodity.

Karimi, while reaffirming his commitment to attracting more federal projects to Kogi West, said his priority remained the improvement of living conditions and the provision of infrastructure capable of positively impacting the people.

He also urged residents of Kogi West to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections, saying continuity would help sustain ongoing development efforts.

The Oyo State governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Bimbo Adekanmbi, has pledged to tackle recurring fire outbreaks in markets across the state through proactive prevention and improved safety measures.

Adekanmbi made the pledge against the backdrop of the recent fire outbreak at the popular Oranyan Market in Ibadan, which occurred only weeks after a major inferno at Bode Market destroyed several shops and businesses.

He said the frequency of market fires had become a serious concern requiring a comprehensive and sustainable approach to protecting traders, their businesses and livelihoods.

According to him, the government must move beyond responding to market disasters after they occur and focus more on preventing them through effective safety measures, proper planning and regular monitoring of markets.

Adekanmbi spoke while supporting traders affected by the Oranyan Market fire with building materials to facilitate the immediate reconstruction of shops destroyed by the inferno.

He said the intervention was borne out of empathy for the victims and his desire to help them return to business as quickly as possible.

‘I feel the pain of the traders because I understand what it means to lose one’s means of livelihood to fire. As a son of a market woman, I know the sacrifices traders make to build their businesses,’ he said.

The APM candidate said his background had given him a firsthand understanding of the importance of markets to families and the wider economy, noting that many traders depend entirely on their businesses for their livelihoods.

He assured the affected traders of his continued support, saying the immediate priority was to help them rebuild and restore their sources of income.

Adekanmbi further pledged that, if elected governor, his administration would prioritise preventive measures to reduce the occurrence and impact of market fires while strengthening the protection of traders’ investments and commercial activities across the state.

He said traders should not be left to repeatedly bear the consequences of disasters that could be prevented, stressing that the government had a responsibility to provide a safer and more resilient environment for businesses to thrive.

‘We must ensure that prevention becomes a priority. Traders work hard to build their businesses, and government has a responsibility to protect the environment in which they operate,’ Adekanmbi said.