Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining monetary policies and economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu, assuring that the measures are already yielding positive results in stabilising the economy.

CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, who made the disclosure in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said recent indicators point to a gradual ease in inflation and noticeable stability in the foreign exchange market.

Speaking at the CBN Fair themed ‘Driving Alternative Payment Channels as Tools for Financial Inclusion, Growth and Accelerated Economic Development,’ Cardoso said the bank remains resolute in achieving price and monetary stability necessary to drive sustainable growth.

Represented by the Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali, the CBN Governor noted that the exchange rate unification policy has not only reduced volatility in the forex market but has also cleared over $7 billion of verified forex forwards backlog.

‘The B-Match system for forex trading has strengthened market integrity and facilitated better price discovery. This initiative is expected to improve uniformity in trading and ensure seamless operations among market participants,’ he explained.

Cardoso listed other key initiatives of the apex bank to include the ongoing bank recapitalisation drive, designed to bolster the resilience and global competitiveness of Nigerian banks, positioning them to support the administration’s target of a $1 trillion economy.

He also cited the introduction of the non-resident BVN scheme to connect Nigerians abroad with home banking services, and the Nigeria Payments System Vision 2028 (PSV 2028), which seeks to accelerate digital transformation, broaden financial inclusion and ensure faster, safer transactions.

According to him, the recent introduction of a 75 per cent Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) on non-TSA public sector deposits is aimed at enhancing liquidity management and mitigating inflationary pressures.

Explaining the rationale behind the CBN Fair, Cardoso said it was designed to sensitise Nigerians on the Bank’s policies, promote financial literacy, and deepen understanding of reforms that impact livelihoods.

He appealed to the public to respect the Naira, describing it as a vital national symbol.

‘I encourage you to respect and keep the Naira clean. Do not spray, hawk, mutilate or counterfeit the Naira,’ he said.

Earlier in her remarks, the CBN Branch Controller in Uyo, Mrs Njideka Nwabukwu, said the fair was also a feedback platform to gauge public perception and strengthen stakeholder engagement.

She reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting Akwa Ibom State’s economic aspirations through financial inclusion drives, literacy campaigns, and effective service delivery.

‘Through strategic policies and regulatory frameworks, the Bank continues to enhance payment systems, promote financial inclusion and support sustainable economic growth,’ Nwabukwu added.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has screened 176 exceptional underage candidates who scored high marks in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as part of the conditions for granting them admission into universities.

Following the adoption of the 16 years age limit at the last JAMB admission policy meeting, the Registrar of the Board, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, assembled a team of experts to further screen the underage candidates who scored 320 and above in the 2025 UTME.

The exercise, designed to ensure that only outstanding and well-prepared candidates below the age of 16 are considered for admission into tertiary institutions for the 2025/2026 academic session, was conducted by experts put together by the examination body.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, the Chairman of the Abuja Centre for the screening of under-16 candidates, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, expressed satisfaction with the smooth conduct of the exercise, which was also held simultaneously in Owerri and Lagos.

On the screening procedure, Adedoja explained that candidates first sat for a written examination before proceeding to face-to-face interviews.

‘They did the first paper which took like 20 minutes and after that the papers were marked and they proceeded to the second session and after that the third one and we will have a face-to-face interaction with them,’ he said.

The former Minister of Sports noted that 22 candidates participated in the Abuja Centre, while 176 candidates took part nationwide.

‘Twenty-two candidates are here in Abuja Centre, and nationwide it is 176,’ he said, adding that the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, would determine when the results of the screening would be released.

Also speaking after monitoring the exercise, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutse, commended JAMB for providing a platform for talented underage candidates to demonstrate their abilities.

‘Now they are giving leverage to the underage so that they can go to the universities based on their ability to pass these exams.

‘It is very important for them (underage) to be assessed because of the maturity of focus. because if you take an underage to go to the university and he doesn’t perform, it is a useless venture. So it is better that the exam is carried out so that the best talent can be selected and it will pave the way for the development of this country,’ the lawmaker, who represents Katsina South Senatorial District, said.

Dandutse also reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to supporting President Bola Tinubu’s education policies aimed at national development, while commending JAMB for its consistency and transparency.

‘I want to sincerely commend the leadership of JAMB for their milestone to make sure that this exam is written across the country,’ he said.

On his part, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies, Hon. Oboku Oforji, who also monitored the exercise in Abuja, lauded the students for their outstanding performance, noting that it reflects Nigeria’s competitiveness in education across Africa.

‘Because for the underage to have performed exceptionally well, it tells how we are doing in education as of today. And we are very proud of the agency – JAMB – and we want to encourage them to do more. Even though we believe that with what we sighted, more is supposed to be encouraged,’ Oforji, who was joined by his committee members, said.

Meanwhile, a total of 38 out of 43 shortlisted underage candidates participated in the screening exercise at the Owerri Centre.

Chairman of the Owerri Centre and Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, expressed satisfaction with the smooth conduct of the exercise.

He commended the candidates for their orderly behaviour and assured that the screening process would strictly adhere to the guidelines provided by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The under-16 candidates at the Owerri Centre were drawn from the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones.

Recall that in Nigeria, the official age for university admission is 18, though the National Policy allows entry from age 16.

A total of 41,027 candidates applied under the category of exceptionally brilliant underage candidates for the 2025 UTME, but only 599 scored 80 per cent and above.

Some were later disqualified for not meeting the same benchmark in their O-Level or Post-UTME results, leaving only 176 confirmed for final assessment.

The screening panel comprised representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), vice-chancellors, the Gifted School, among others.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to mobilise students to occupy federal highways across the 36 states and the FCT should federal government agencies, trade unions, or foreign collaborators continue on the path of sabotage, as it vows to defend the survival of the Nigerian economy and the dignity of the nation.

The association made its position known when its members demonstrated in Asaba on Wednesday against what it called petroleum industry revitalisation sabotage as a result of the face-off between the Dangote Group and PENGASSAN.

The students carried different inscriptions such as ‘We need progress, we can’t be great by destroying greatness’; ‘Youths stand with Dangote – Future at stake’; and ‘Economic freedom starts with local refineries, support indigenous industries, not imported monopoly.’

According to Comrade Olushola Oladoja, President, National Association of Nigerian Students, the Nigerian students’ movement stands firmly on the side of industrial growth, job creation, and more independence, adding that ‘we will not fold our arms while internal saboteurs destroy the hope of a new Nigeria.’

The president, who was represented by the National Financial Secretary of the association, Comrade Jeremiah Friday Ohomah, said the destruction of the textile industry must never be repeated in the petroleum sector.

He said the Dangote Refinery and other private refineries represent a new dawn in Nigeria’s industrial revival, which he argued must be protected, supported, and sustained by all means.

‘The latest manifestation of this conspiracy is the unconstitutional attempt by PENGASSAN to impose union membership on workers of the Dangote Refinery.

‘This is an act of coercion and a direct violation of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which guarantees freedom of association – including the freedom not to join any association.

‘Private refinery workers have every right to choose their form of representation or to remain un-unionised.

‘After all, academic staff in private universities are not compelled to join ASUU, lecturers in private polytechnics are not under ASUP, and teachers in private colleges of education are not members of COEASU.

‘This imposition is, therefore, a calculated attempt to frustrate Dangote Refinery and other emerging private investments in the sector, and NANS will resist it with every legitimate means.

‘It is on record that the collapse of Nigeria’s national refineries was not merely due to poor maintenance but deliberate acts of sabotage by entrenched interests.’

The association therefore demanded, amongst others, priority crude supply to Nigerian refineries, an end to crude undervaluation to foreign refineries, less priority on petroleum product importation at the expense of locally refined petroleum products by indigenous refineries, protection of private investment, freedom of association, and the cessation of union harassment and industrial blackmail.

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Oyo State Field Office, has started filling potholes and carrying out other road maintenance works to ensure safer driving conditions on highways across the state.

The exercise began on Wednesday in Ibadan with the launch of Operation Safeguard the Road (OSGR) – an initiative aimed at preserving Nigeria’s federal roads and improving the safety of road users.

FERMA Maintenance Engineer, Engr. Tunde Adepoju, said the programme became necessary due to the rising number of accidents on highways.

While noting that human error accounts for over 80% of crashes, Adepoju said the Federal Government is taking steps to reduce the trend. He added that the agency has recruited 50 ad-hoc workers to help kick-start the operation in the state.

‘This initiative, conceived under the leadership of our Managing Director, Engr. Dr. Emeka Agbasi, through the Public Works Department, marks another milestone in the drive to protect the public facilities of our great nation.

‘We are committed to making our roads safer and more motorable by ensuring clear visibility for motorists, free flow of drainage systems, and proper maintenance of road furniture,’ he said.

Adepoju explained that the operation would include clearing roadside vegetation, desilting blocked drains, managing traffic, and patching potholes along major roads in the state.

‘Our roads remain one of the most critical infrastructures in Nigeria,’ he added. ‘They connect communities, power business activities, and serve as lifelines for economic and social development. Protecting them is a collective duty we owe to ourselves and the next generation.’

He noted that beyond improving road conditions, the project will also provide short-term jobs for local youths who will work along the 43-kilometre stretch currently under maintenance.

‘We have 50 labourers registered for this operation,’ Adepoju said. ‘Their engagement has been properly documented to ensure transparency and accountability.’

Adepoju thanked FERMA’s Managing Director, represented by the Zonal Director for South West I, Engr. B.O. Aina, as well as other agencies present, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

‘Together, we can make our nation great and our roads safer,’ he added.

‘Development is gradual,’ Adepoju tells Nigerians

Speaking on the sidelines, Adepoju admitted that maintaining Nigeria’s vast network of federal roads is a major challenge due to limited resources and high material costs.

‘If you look at the total number of federal roads in the country, you’ll understand the enormity of the task,’ he said. ‘In Oyo State alone, I have over 1,118 kilometres under my supervision. The government is doing everything possible to make our roads better, but development takes time. We can’t fix everything overnight.’

He appealed for patience and public support, stressing that FERMA is doing its best within available means. ‘It’s not that the government doesn’t know what to do,’ he explained. ‘Economic realities and the high cost of construction materials have made road maintenance more challenging. But FERMA remains committed to doing its best.’

Adepoju also condemned vandalism and sabotage by individuals who damage newly repaired roads, including traders who deliberately create potholes to slow down traffic.

‘People need to understand that these roads are built with taxpayers’ money,’ he said. ‘When they destroy them, they’re wasting public funds. Protecting our infrastructure must be seen as a shared responsibility.’

In separate remarks, stakeholders such as the Police Commissioner (represented by CSP Rotimi of the Toll Gate Division), officials of the FRSC, NSCDC, and members of the Oyo State Park Management System (PMS) commended FERMA for the effort, describing it as ‘timely and proactive.’

They noted that many road crashes stem from reckless driving and poor road culture, especially among truck and trailer drivers along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The stakeholders called for stronger collaboration with FERMA and more public awareness to promote safer driving and prevent avoidable road accidents.

His first wife was married for him by the whole community. Everybody contributed one thing or the other, from encouragement to tubers of yam and cowries for the bride price. He was ripe and ready but the number of people working against Toosa were many. The beautiful girl he wanted was wanted by a dozen and one other men. Well, that wa normal, even. It was the wicked elders and envious youths running him down that was the big problem

Toosa too wants a wife, in which world?

Don’t mind him, his butterfly wants to fly like a bird.

Does he have what it takes?

Can he feed a woman and take care of her needs.

He must think being able to sleep with a woman is all it takes to be a husband.

I heard his small hut is even leaking.

Ah, does he want the poor girl to be swept away by flood during rainy season?

He is too young.

No, he is too old.

It is not his turn.

Because the evil voices were loud and cacophonous, it felt like the naysayers were many. But no, they were a few, really, just loud and strident. Those who wanted Toosa married were more and they eventually won. They mustered courage and resources and the wedding took place, followed by 16 years of marriage. In the very presence of Toosa’s enemies, Toosa became a father of six and his slim bride became robust and rounded in all the right places. The enemies’ eyes bulged in envy and disbelief. Yes. Then one day, the marriage ended. Toosa’s wife left him.

Fight for her.

Threaten her parents.

Take thugs and waylay her before she reaches her father’s compound.

Let your labourers go and destroy her father’s compound.

How can you let her go after 16 years? Will you now be sweeping your compound and cooking for yourself?

But Toosa just sat there and said: Let her go. If she is truly mine, she would not leave me. I don’t want anybody to be injured or killed just to keep my wife. No, let her go.

It was a really dark and lonely moment for him. And for years he lived his wife-less life without groaning. Until his friends started showing up and telling him about a particular woman who had everything a woman should have: beauty, brain, good manners and she came from a rich and influential family. Of course, Toosa resisted. He had grown accustomed to living his life on his terms, no pressure, no nagging, no in-law troubles. But eventually, he agreed to go and look at the woman and what he saw was a mouth-watering total package. It was a sneak peek but the backside of that woman when she walked past had Toosa rubbing his palms together and smacking his lips. Indeed, the image of the backside of Aponbepore (fair like palm oil) kept Toosa tossing and turning all night . By morning he was ready to do anything to get this beautiful woman. That was when his friends cleared their throats and told him the Balogun (the leader of all the warriors )of their town was also interested in Aponbepore. Toosa gasped and this song came to his mind. Don’t ask me how.

E ma na omo Balogun

Bi e ba na omo Balogun

Idagiri a w’olu

Ese giri a w’ode

Translation

Do not beat Balogun’s child

If you beat Balogun’s child

It will lead to confusion

It will precipitate running helter skelter

Skip several years to today’s Nigeria.

There is a Nigerian Toosa who does not just want to beat Balogun’s son, he wants to ‘snatch’ Balogun’s woman instead of looking further afield for his new wife. Here is a shy personable gentleman that the whole community had to rally round to get his first and former wife. Why does he think he can swing this hard task of ‘snatching’ a reigning Balogun’s woman?

Okay, Balogun has not paid the fine lady’s bride price but the bebe (waist beads), according to the grapevine, was bought by Balogun. That is a deep investment, seriously. Toosa’s friends are many and so are his foes posing as friends. They know Balogun will fight whoever contends with him for anything, woman or war, and he is a warrior. This good man with good reputation could lose to Balogun and people will forget Toosa’s reputation as a meek and mild man and start talking about the ‘man who took on a fight he knew he could not win, a man who Balogun battered like a snake not fit for the soup pot (ejo aije), a man whose beloved is now in Balogun’s bed, making babies every year.’

Abomination. It should not be, must not be and by the grace of the ancestors, will not be.

Backing up a little, what exactly is my point here?

That song from Ebenezer Obey’s album has been playing on my mind too for about three days now. So, I asked my mind, why are you dancing to this particular song, please. My mind replied, ‘I am not dancing to the song, I am thinking of the song.’ My forehead furrowed. There must be a message in there that my mind is trying to impress on me. I shook my head, smiled as it cleared. My mind must have discovered my wrapped thought about former President Goodluck Jonathan and all the talk about him throwing his hat in the presidential race ring come 2027.

Don’t misunderstand me. I like Jonathan’s hat. I just don’t like it in any ring. For me, the man has won all the belts there is to be won. He has proved that when God is on your side, it does not matter how long you go shoeless, you will eventually sit on a horse. The Jonathan story has shown that when you are standing on the shoulder of the God of all gods and godfathers, you will arrive your divine destination, no matter how many stumbling blocks are mounted on your path. The cabals won’t matter. Indeed, they will bow or fall or do both when you arrive.

We have not forgotten how Dr Jonathan became President, have we? He was Vice President to President Yar’ Adua, remember, the good President who came into office ill? The road was rough for all of us until the storm was calmed by death and something called ‘Doctrine of Necessity’. The nation’s already uneven lines went further jagged. The Federal Executive Council was polarized. There was high drama. After all the muffled noise and whispers of conspiracy, the mantle of leadership fell on Goodluck Jonathan. And it wasn’t the first time too. Way back in faraway Yenagoa, the shoeless boy had become a university don and later a Deputy Governor in Bayelsa State. Then fate showed up for him and his boss, DSP Alamieyeseigha did something bad and had to leave town in the dead of the night (dramatic details are available in different versions). That was how a man went to bed as Deputy Governor and was woken up to be sworn in as a Governor.

I like former President Jonathan. Most Nigerians will forever applaud his courage in the face of defeat, defeat as sitting President at a presidential polls his government fully funded too. Who was not shocked? It was so un-Nigerian thing to do. Come on, Jonathan could have had himself declared winner. What would have happened? Maybe three days or so of blood, gore and innocent lives cut short. There would have been noise, plenty of noise but it would all have eventually died down and the President would have done his second term whether we liked it or not. Not Jonathan. He walked the path of honour home. He wanted peace. He wanted no part in human sacrifice and bloody electoral victory. To the chagrin of his party and followers, Jonathan gave everything up. The world clapped, called him a good man, unusual politician and he became star speaker at international political events.

It was also the beginning of the end of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its 16-year reign. I am not sure that party can ever forgive Jonathan. The number of politicians who are still seething with rage, reeling in pain of aborted ambitions is huge.

In 2027, the Presidential boxing ring can do with four serious hats. That would make the sitting government sit straighter up. But Jonathan’s hat should not be there. Why? One, those who betrayed him that other time are still very much around, greedier, meaner and more ferocious. They are within his party PDP and in other parties pretending to be born-again now. They are not. Two, the merchants of candidates and election retailers are waiting for that hat to land in the ring. He should remember those who collected millions of naira for all kinds of things including prayers on mountains and in holy lands so Jonathan could win. They will convince him, assure him and then trade him. Three, when PDP had 22 governors, he lost the election, how does he want to reach the states and grassroots now that almost all the governors have done deals, made pacts to secure their second terms? Four, this is Nigeria where politicking, campaigning and elections are heavily monetized. This girl has been directly close to two election day spending and trust me, it is eye-popping. Where will all that funds come from? Five, is Jonathan even sure that those courting him are not working for APC, somehow? With politicians, nothing is as it seems. Six, an Abuja Federal High Court has been approached to issue a perpetual injunction restraining Dr Jonathan from participating in the 2027 presidential election and also barring INEC from listing him as a candidate. Ah, court matters in this season is both time-wasting and money-guzzling.

And finally to my own personal point, I want to forever remember Jonathan as the one clean President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who chose decency over office, refused to do human sacrifice to get a second term. I do not want to remember him as the Nigerian President who was defeated twice, first as incumbent President and then former president by the same political party. It will pain me too much.

THE Chartered Institute of Educational Practitioners, United Kingdom (CIEPUK), has said it will launch a Global Southern Studies/Research Centre (GSSRC) at Paul University, Awka, in partnership with Soochow University, China.

The unveiling of the centre is scheduled for October 17 at the Nwawka Auditorium, Paul University.

According to CIEPUK, the centre aims to enhance academic collaboration, innovation, and sustainable development across the Global South.

It will also serve as a hub for research, knowledge exchange, and international partnerships.

CIEPUK’s African regional office is located at Paul University, where the centre will be based.

Key research areas include technology, climate change, agriculture, health sciences, social development, and cultural exchange.

Officials from the three partner institutions described the initiative as a milestone in academic diplomacy and a model for South-South cooperation and sustainable progress.

The Consular Representative of China in Nigeria is expected to attend the launch.

Professor Marcel Ezenwoye, CIEPUK Global President, who also serves as Director of the Pre-degree Programme at Paul University, signed the formal announcement.

Ezenwoye said the centre would support cross-border collaboration and foster innovative solutions to development challenges.

He added that it would also promote cultural understanding through academic exchange.

Organisers said the centre would facilitate joint publications, patents, policy research, and scholarships, in addition to offering training and exchange opportunities for Nigerian students and researchers.

Stakeholders said the initiative would strengthen Nigeria’s role in global research partnerships and aligns with both national and regional development goals.

The event is expected to attract dignitaries, academics, students, and international guests.

In compliance with the Lagos State Government’s regulatory directives, Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc (Eko DisCo) has registered Excel Electricity Distribution Company Limited as a 100 per cent subsidiary to manage its electricity distribution business in Lagos State.

The company said the restructuring aligns with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023, which devolved regulatory authority in the power sector to state governments.

According to a statement issued by the management of Eko DisCo on Tuesday, the move became necessary following the directive of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC), which required distribution companies operating across multiple states to register distinct entities for each state.

‘Eko DisCo, which operates in Lagos and Ogun States, therefore established Excel Electricity Distribution Limited to operate under the joint regulatory oversight of LASERC and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC),’ the company explained.

The management clarified that Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc has not been sold, taken over, or dissolved, stressing that there has been no transfer of ownership or change in control.

It stated that Eko DisCo remains a duly incorporated and fully operational entity, with West Power and Gas Limited (WPG) retaining its 60 per cent shareholding and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) holding the remaining 40 per cent on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Eko DisCo added that Excel Electricity Distribution Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary that will continue all distribution activities previously managed by Eko DisCo. Customers, it assured, will retain the same service channels, personnel, and payment systems.

‘As we transition, customers may notice the name change from Eko DisCo to Excel DisCo, but all service operations remain uninterrupted,’ the statement read.

The company further revealed that Eko DisCo has now transmuted into a holding company, in compliance with regulatory requirements.

It reiterated its commitment to delivering reliable, efficient, and sustainable electricity to all customers in Lagos, describing the development as a regulatory and structural transition, not a takeover or divestment.

‘Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc remains a key player and investor in the Lagos electricity ecosystem, fully committed to improving service delivery through Excel DisCo,’ the statement added.

The worsening security situation in Kwara State, particularly in the Kwara South Senatorial District, dominated discussions in the Senate on Wednesday as lawmakers called on the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in the area.

The Senate’s resolution followed a motion of urgent national importance moved by the Senator representing Kwara South, Oyelola Ashiru.

In his motion titled ‘Urgent Need to Address Insecurity in Kwara South Senatorial District, Particularly Ifelodun Local Government Area: Call for Immediate and Comprehensive Federal Intervention,’ the Senator recalled ‘that within the last month, no fewer than twelve (12) forest guards and local vigilante members were killed in an ambush by armed bandits in Oke-Ode, including Baale of Ogba-Ayo community, and several other traditional and community leaders were among those slain in separate incidents in Babanla, Sagbe, Oro Ago, Ganmu-Alheri, etc., in Ifelodun, Isin, Ekiti and Oke Ero Local Government Areas.’

He also informed his colleagues that ‘at least 142 persons have been kidnapped and over 70 killed in the last twelve months across Kwara South, with no fewer than 25 communities deserted due to recurring attacks-leading to severe humanitarian displacement and disruption of social and economic life. Farms have been abandoned, roads have become unsafe, local economies are paralyzed, and schools have closed, thereby worsening poverty and increasing youth vulnerability to crime.’

The lawmaker raised the alarm that farms have been abandoned, roads rendered unsafe, schools shut down, and local economies paralysed.

He cautioned that the sustained insecurity in Kwara South, if not urgently addressed, poses a potential threat to national stability, as it could spread to other states in the North Central and South West geopolitical zones.

He noted that most local security volunteers have been overwhelmed as they ‘lack adequate equipment, mobility, protection, or insurance, yet continue to sacrifice their lives in defence of their communities.’

While adopting the motion, the Senate urged the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in Kwara South, particularly near the forest belts of Ifelodun Local Government Area, to serve as a rapid response hub.

The lawmakers also mandated the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to deploy additional troops and special units to comb the forests for bandits.

They further directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately provide humanitarian relief to displaced persons in the affected areas and urged the government to compensate the families of forest guards and vigilantes who lost their lives.

The Senate also instructed security agencies to identify and prosecute local collaborators aiding the bandits’ operations and mandated its Committees on Defence, Police Affairs, and National Security and Intelligence to carry out an on-the-spot assessment of the affected communities within two weeks.

The Minister of Defence, Chief of Army Staff, and Inspector-General of Police were also invited to brief lawmakers on coordinated federal responses.

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed concern over the persistent wave of violence and insecurity across the country, especially the targeted attacks on Christian communities in parts of Northern Nigeria.

In a statement signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN said the ongoing violence and destruction of lives and worship centres have become painful reminders of the urgent need for government and security agencies to act decisively to protect every citizen, regardless of region or religion.

CAN affirmed that Christian communities have continued to bear the brunt of religiously motivated attacks, leading to widespread displacement, trauma, and destruction of places of worship.

It lamented that despite several appeals for justice and protection, the response from relevant authorities has often been met with delay or denial.

‘Our concern remains that these cries for justice and protection are too often met with delay or denial. We therefore renew our call on government and security agencies to take urgent, transparent, and equitable action to end the killings,’ Okoh said.

According to the statement, CAN has consistently worked to draw both national and international attention to the plight of persecuted Christians in Nigeria.

The Christian apex body noted that it has established mechanisms for documenting religiously motivated killings, engaged with international partners, petitioned the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, and collaborated with global Christian organisations such as the World Evangelical Alliance and the Lausanne Movement.

‘These sustained efforts, demonstrate our consistent advocacy for justice, peace, and the protection of Christian communities under threat’, CAN noted.

While acknowledging the ongoing efforts of government and security agencies in responding to security challenges, CAN urged authorities to redouble their efforts toward ensuring equitable protection for all citizens and bringing perpetrators of violence swiftly to justice.

‘The pain of Christian families torn apart by violence must never be treated as mere statistics,’ Okoh stressed, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency in the handling of security matters.

CAN also appealed to Christian leaders across the country to continue to speak and act with wisdom, unity, and faith, warning that peace remains too fragile to be taken for granted.

CAN, therefore, called for national courage and honesty in addressing Nigeria’s deep-rooted divisions, insisting that healing and peace will only emerge when Nigerians confront their collective failures and rebuild trust within their communities.

‘Nigeria’s healing will not come from denial or blame, but from courage, the courage to face our collective failures, to grieve together, and to rebuild trust. Only then can our nation rise from its wounds and embrace a future of genuine peace,’ the statement added.

Nigerians are groaning under yet another hike in the price of cooking gas, with a kilogram now selling for as high as ?2,000 – and in some locations up to ?3,000 – sparking widespread concern over the cost of living.

But gas marketers say the situation is not the result of any official price adjustment.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, the National President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), Oladapo Olatunbosun, attributed the price surge to temporary supply disruptions and market exploitation by opportunistic dealers.

‘I sympathise with Nigerians as the President of NALPGAM because we never intended to have a situation like this.

‘I must say categorically that the price of cooking gas has not gone up. No increment has been done officially.

‘What is happening is that some marketers are taking advantage of the shortage in supply and market forces that have increased demand. They are cashing in to make quick money, which is wrong,’ Olatunbosun said.

He assured that the situation is artificial and temporary, and that normalcy is expected to return within days.

Channels TV had earlier reported that LPG prices, which averaged between ?1,200 and ?1,300 per kilogram, have recently jumped to between ?1,700 and ?2,000, depending on location.

According to Olatunbosun, the problem began when Dangote Refinery – a key player in improving local supply – embarked on maintenance that slowed truck loading, creating a shortfall in distribution.

‘Before the strike, Dangote loaded about 50 trucks per day, which served the South-West and some parts of the North. But when renovation started, trucks began spending up to 14 days at the refinery yard before getting products.

‘Marketers then switched to Apapa for supply, and when the PENGASSAN strike hit, vessel discharges and inspections were disrupted, drying up stocks nationwide.’

He explained that although Dangote Refinery did not completely halt production, the strike prevented inspectors from clearing vessels for discharge, causing a backlog that severely affected supply across the country – especially in the South-West, which consumes the largest volume of LPG in Nigeria.

Olatunbosun disclosed that Nigeria’s LPG consumption had risen from 1.2 million metric tonnes three years ago to nearly two million metric tonnes, making the market more sensitive to disruptions.

To cushion the impact, he advised consumers to buy directly from registered gas plants, warning that those purchasing through middlemen were likely to pay inflated prices.

‘If you buy from a third or fourth party, the chain extends and the price rises – just like buying petrol from black market vendors.

‘At gas bottling plants operated by our members, the price is between ?1,000 and ?1,300, depending on the area and cost of transportation,’ he clarified.

He added that before the recent disruption, prices were as low as ?950 to ?1,050 in some areas, assuring that supply and pricing will stabilise soon.

‘We are working with relevant authorities to ensure steady supply and normal pricing in the coming days,’ Olatunbosun concluded.