Category: Nigerian Tribune

In most work environments, saying ‘no’ to a supervisor feels like an invitation for career trouble. Most employees believe that being a ‘yes-person’ is the quickest route to promotion, but taking on every single demand often leads to burnout and poor work output. When you decline unreasonable demands strategically, you show maturity, strategic thinking, and strong leadership ability.

In this article, Tribune Online examines five specific situations where turning down a boss helps position you for higher leadership roles.

When your current high-priority project is at risk

Taking on extra tasks when your desk is already full can ruin crucial company assignments.

According to workplace research by the Harvard Business Review, taking on excessive low-value requests dilutes focus on major strategic goals.

You should decline by politely reminding your manager of your active priority and asking which task takes precedence.

When the request lacks realistic deadlines

Agreeing to an impossible deadline sets your entire team up for visible failure.

Leadership experts at Forbes indicate that high performers protect company credibility by negotiating feasible delivery dates upfront rather than delivering substandard work.

Step back, present a factual breakdown of the required time, and offer an alternative completion date.

When the task falls outside proper ethics and compliance

A manager may occasionally ask for shortcuts that bypass regulatory processes or organisational standards.

Saying ‘no’ in this situation protects the organisation from legal problems and establishes you as an employee of high integrity.

Executive boards consistently look for professionals who demonstrate sound moral judgment before entrusting them with executive authority.

When low-impact tasks keep you away from core strategy

Constant involvement in repetitive office chores prevents you from delivering measurable value to the organization. According to career analysts at Gallup, employees who focus primarily on their core strengths advance faster than those bogged down by routine administrative distractions. Decline low-level diversions respectfully and propose delegating them so you can focus on core revenue drivers.

When chronic overload endangers your overall health

Accepting work at the expense of your mental and physical health ultimately diminishes your daily productivity.

Top managers value consistency and clear boundary-setting over sudden burnout that disrupts team operations.

Communicating your bandwidth limits professionally shows that you manage organidational resources including yourself with long-term foresight.

Saying ‘no’should never sound confrontational or dismissive. By pairing every refusal with data, clear business reasons, and helpful alternatives, you show senior management that you are ready to operate as a strategic leader.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the schedule for the physical screening and documentation exercise for successful candidates shortlisted for recruitment into the Service.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the NCS National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada.

The exercise is scheduled to take place at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, Abuja.

Shortlisted candidates are required to report only on the date allocated to their respective states and cadres, with attendance at the screening and documentation exercise made compulsory by the Service.

The NCS warned that failure to appear on the assigned date may lead to disqualification from the recruitment process.

Candidates are expected to present the original and photocopies of their National Identification Number (NIN), Birth Certificate or Declaration of Age, and relevant educational certificates.

The required educational documents include O’Level, ND, HND, Degree or other applicable qualifications.

They must also bring a Certificate of State of Origin, two recent passport photographs, a completed Guarantor’s Form and an NYSC Certificate, where applicable.

Candidates have also been directed to wear a white T-shirt, shorts and canvas shoes for the exercise.

According to the Service, candidates who successfully complete the physical screening and documentation will receive further instructions on the subsequent stages of the recruitment process.

The Nigeria Customs Service, under the leadership of Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, said it remained committed to conducting a transparent, fair and merit-based recruitment exercise.

The Service urged candidates and members of the public to rely solely on official NCS communication channels for authentic information about the screening and recruitment process.

The Nigeria Police Force has commenced discreet investigations into alleged inciting comments made by some political actors, including Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District; Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sainna Buba; and Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Danjuma Shekwolo.

The Force also disclosed that 154 individuals arrested during the August 15 Osun State governorship election were still being investigated.

The disclosures were made on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, at a joint security spokespersons’ briefing in Abuja, where he addressed issues surrounding the conduct of the Osun election and controversial statements by political actors ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Iniedu said inciting comments, particularly those relating to the electoral process, constituted a criminal offence.

He disclosed that Senator Fadahunsi had been questioned over an alleged threat against members of the Accord Party during the Osun governorship election.

According to him, ‘On the issue of the Senator in Osun State, the Council Chairman in FCT and the Borno Commissioner’s inciting comments. I was part of the team that questioned the distinguished Senator in Osun State. The law is very clear when it comes to inciting. It is criminal to incite members of the public, especially as you comment on the electoral process.

‘The Nigerian Police Force is responsible for maintaining law and order and we will not shy away from this responsibility, no matter whose ox is gored.’

The police spokesperson said all the alleged inciting statements attributed to the political actors were being investigated and that the outcome would be made public.

‘Every insightful statement listed here is under investigation presently and the outcome will be released. We want to also use this opportunity to advise and caution all political stakeholders to desist from such comments,’ he added.

The development followed controversial remarks attributed to Buba, who reportedly threatened to flog residents who refused to support the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 election.

Similarly, Shekwolo reportedly warned residents of Kuje Area Council to either vote for the APC in 2027 or leave the council.

Fadahunsi was also captured in a video allegedly threatening members of the Accord Party.

154 arrested during Osun election still under investigation

On the Osun governorship election, Iniedu confirmed that 154 suspects arrested on the morning of the poll remained under investigation.

‘However, I want to confirm that as of the morning of the elections, we had been arrested about 154 persons and they are presently being investigated,’ he said.

He appealed to members of the public to cooperate with investigators by providing statements and evidence required to prosecute suspected offenders.

The Force spokesperson identified the reluctance of witnesses to come forward as one of the major challenges confronting criminal prosecution in the country.

According to him, ‘one of the challenges I must tell you now that we have, the law states that a case is made when there are two or three witnesses. He who alleges must prove his allegations

‘The challenge we have in Nigeria right now is that most of our witnesses are those who have evidence to incident, do not come forward when it is time to go to court.’

He urged members of the public to provide information and evidence without fear, saying their cooperation would assist the police and prosecutors in securing convictions.

He said, ‘I would refer to you, enlightened members of the public, to come forward without fear and to give your representation so we could help our lawyers in prosecution of these cases.’

Police defend use of force against pensioners

Meanwhile, the Force defended the use of force against protesting pensioners in Lagos, saying retired personnel had the right to demand their entitlements but must do so within the bounds of the law.

Iniedu said every serving uniformed personnel looked forward to retirement and described life as a senior citizen after meritorious service as a peaceful and dignified stage.

According to him, ‘The unfortunate incident in Lagos where pensioners were being tear-gassed. Every uniformed personnel looks forward to the day when he retires.

‘It’s a peaceful thing to be called a senior citizen after serving your country meritoriously. There is no aspect, whether serving or retiring. Officers in uniform have challenges as well as officers who have retired.’

He, however, said the right of the pensioners to make demands did not permit them to engage in disorderly conduct or breach public order.

‘However, the Nigerian Constitution does not give the right to be disorderly in making your representation,’ he said.

The police spokesperson said the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, had twice invited the pensioners to his office and advised them on lawful channels through which they could present their grievances.

‘I’m very aware that the Inspector-General of Police on two occasions called the pensioners to his office and guided them on relevant ways to take up their representation. We have had several breaches from them’

He recalled that some of the protesters had previously breached the premises of the Presidential Villa in Abuja and blocked major highways in the Federal Capital Territory.

‘If you will remember, the protesters breached the premises of the Villa in Abuja. Another blocked several highways in the Federal Capital Territory,’ he said.

Iniedu said the law permitted police officers to apply proportionate force where necessary to disperse riotous gatherings.

‘The law permits the Nigeria Police Force to use proportionate force in the quelling of any riotous gathering,’ he stated.

He, however, appealed to the pensioners to continue their agitation peacefully, assuring them of the support of the police leadership.

‘I want to use this platform to call on the pensioners to run their representations in an orderly manner,’ he said.

‘I want to assure them that the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force is behind them in the carrying out of these complaints and representations.’

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.