Category: Nigerian Tribune

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, on Tuesday converged in Sokoto with a common message: Nigeria must urgently invest in education, skills, and unity to avert future instability.

The key to this, they suggest, lies in significant investment in education.

They spoke at the commissioning of the Bakhita ICT Centre, a facility equipped with 250 laptops and 50 digital tablets to provide training in ICT and vocational skills for young people, including children. Such facilities represent a tangible investment in education and vocational training.

Obasanjo warned that Nigeria’s 24 million out-of-school children constitute ‘a ticking time bomb’ that could worsen insecurity if not urgently addressed. Prioritising investment in education is essential to mitigate these risks.

‘You don’t need an oracle to know they will become the recruiting ground for Boko Haram of tomorrow,’ he said, cautioning that with the population projected to hit 400 million by 2050, failure to plan would make current security challenges appear mild.

He also highlighted the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence on jobs and lamented Nigeria’s dependence on food imports despite vast agricultural potential. ‘If farmers cannot make profit, they will stop planting,’ he said.

The Sultan of Sokoto, in his remarks, urged Nigerians to reject divisive narratives, describing the country’s diversity as its greatest asset. He dismissed foreign reports alleging religious genocide in Nigeria as ‘false and exaggerated,’ citing the interfaith harmony reflected at the event itself.

‘If we can sit here in Sokoto, just five minutes from the Sultan’s palace, with Christians and Muslims praying side by side, why does nobody talk about that?’ he queried.

He stressed that insecurity has lingered for over 15 years because it has become ‘a business,’ urging leaders to confront the root causes with sincerity.

Bishop Kukah, who initiated the project with the support of legal luminary Aare Afe Babalola, said the centre was his contribution to tackling poverty and unemployment in Northern Nigeria. This further exemplifies how targeted investment in education can change lives.

‘Among the almajiri on our streets, there could be an Albert Einstein. Geography must not define destiny,’ he said, adding that the facility would provide free Wi-Fi and affordable digital resources to ensure access for all.

Kukah, who described Obasanjo as ‘a man whose energy and service remain unmatched,’ also thanked the Sultan for his consistent support in promoting harmony.

The event, attended by traditional rulers, clerics, political leaders, and youths, featured cultural displays and underscored the call for interfaith collaboration as a pathway to peace and development.

President Bola Tinubu has expressed grief over the murder of Ms Somtochukwu ‘Sommie’ Maduagwu, a rising television anchor with Arise News during a robbery incident at her Katampe residence in Abuja.

He has accordingly ordered security agencies to track down the killers of the promising journalist, while describing the crime as ‘shocking, wicked, and unacceptable’.

The President said Maduagwu’s death had robbed Nigeria of a bright young talent and a promising journalist cut down in her prime.

‘Ms Maduagwu was a promising professional journalist whose life was cut short in a cruel and condemnable manner,’ Tinubu, recognising the loss of the Arise TV anchor, said in a Tuesday statement.

He directed security and law enforcement agencies to launch an immediate manhunt, stressing that the perpetrators must be apprehended and brought to justice without delay.

The President also conveyed his condolences to Maduagwu’s family, the management and staff of Arise News, highlighting the untimely demise of the Arise TV anchor, and the wider media community, noting that her passing was a painful blow to journalism and to the nation.

He further assured Nigerians that his administration will continue to strengthen security measures to safeguard lives and property.

Similarly, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu expressed deep grief over the young journalist’s death, calling it ‘painful and most unfortunate.’

‘I woke up to the sad news of the untimely death of one of our young and brilliant minds in the journalism profession, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, an Arise TV anchor. Her death is painful and quite unfortunate. She has been cut down in her prime,’ she said.

The First Lady extended condolences to the Chairman of Arise Media Group, Chief Nduka Obaigbena, as well as to the bereaved family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones.

She prayed that God grants them the strength to bear the irreplaceable loss and expressed hope that justice will be swift.

‘May her soul rest in peace, and may God comfort her family and all who mourn her,’ she added.

The Executive Chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA, Hon. Moyosore Adebanjo, has reaffirmed the council’s commitment to positioning Onigbongbo as the gateway of tourism and hospitality in Lagos.

Speaking at the Tourism and Hospitality Symposium, the Chairman highlighted Onigbongbo’s unique role as the first point of contact for many visitors arriving in Lagos, with its thriving hospitality sector along Allen, Opebi, Toyin, Kudirat Abiola, and Ikeja GRA.

He emphasised that tourism is not just leisure but a catalyst for sustainable economic growth, aligning with his administration’s F.I.N.E Agenda – Foster economic growth, Invest in people, Nurture enterprise, and Ensure wellbeing.

Adebanjo announced the upcoming Onigbongbo Spark Fest 2025, a landmark yuletide festival designed to light up our cityscape, attract visitors, and transform Onigbongbo into a yuletide destination to rival Victoria Island and Lekki. He also unveiled plans for a digital hospitality directory powered by QR codes, which will be placed at airports and strategic locations across Lagos, offering visitors access to local hotels, restaurants, and nightlife operators with a 10% discount incentive.

The Chairman assured tourism and hospitality stakeholders of the government’s readiness to collaborate with the private sector in driving visibility, investment, and growth, stating: ‘Together, we will make tourism the heartbeat of development in Onigbongbo LCDA.’

In a bid to prevent diseases among the children in Lagos State, the State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has emphasised the importance of immunisation, urging parents to vaccinate their children and wards for a healthier future and a disease-free society.

Hamzat made the call on Tuesday, while speaking at an ‘Inaugural meeting of the Lagos State Taskforce on Immunisation and Primary Health Care Services’, held at the Conference Room, Office of the Deputy Governor, Roundhouse, Alausa, Ikeja, emphasising that vaccination remained one of the most effective means of protecting the children in the community ‘from life-threatening illnesses and ensuring their growth and development in good health.

This was just as he affirmed that immunisation was a collective responsibility that would not only secure the well-being of individual families but also contribute to building a healthier future and a disease-free society for Lagos State and Nigeria in general.

He also charged religious leaders and traditional rulers to collaborate with the state government in sensitising the people on the importance of vaccination and nutrition for their own children, noting that religious houses were always welcome to visit the government for clarification and enlightenment on the different policies put in place.

‘Our royal fathers must also help us in the community to spread the good news that we have been able to sustain our health conditions because of vaccination,’ Hamzat said.

The deputy governor, while using the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, said that contagious diseases had been eradicated in society because of the immunisation process carried out, pointing out that such efforts can be extended to other illnesses.

He emphasised the importance of the inaugural meeting, pointing out that it was crucial to include all stakeholders, such as the State Executives, members of the Primary Health Care Board, Traditional Rulers, Local Government Chairmen, Religious leaders, and others, due to the need for everybody to have an understanding of the severity of the challenge.

The Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Lawal Aina, in his address, charged the Local Government Chairmen in the state to encourage the people in their constituencies to ensure their children and wards embrace the immunisation programme to ensure a disease-free environment.

‘I want to admonish us to intensify our efforts to do our best in encouraging our people to bring their children out for vaccination, as health education is a key responsibility of the chairmen in ensuring the good and well-being of the people,’ said Lawal.

In his opening remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, stated that the primary objective of primary healthcare was to increase the coverage for immunisation within the state.

Abayomi noted that human beings were living longer now because the world had advanced technologically to produce effective vaccines that eliminate both infections that cause immediate sickness and diseases that could lead to complications such as liver cirrhosis with hepatitis, cervical cancer with HPV, and malaria, which could cause significant depletion.

The commissioner further noted that to improve the immunisation uptake in Lagos, the state government needed to work on the aspects that make access to the primary healthcare more attractive to citizens, urging traditional rulers, Local Government chairmen, and stakeholders to collaborate with the government to further boost the capacity of the primary healthcare.

‘So, we are working diligently on renovating our primary healthcare platform. We know that many of you want to provide infrastructure to the state, and at the moment, we are doing 47 PHCs. So, I will be appealing to you to tag into this medical infrastructure transformation,’ he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary HealthCare Board, Dr Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustapha, in his welcome address, explained that the establishment of the taskforce reflects the second ‘H’ in the THEMES + agenda of the state government.

Mustapha said that the move was a strong commitment to strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC) governance, driving accountability, and ensuring that no one was left behind in accessing life-saving vaccines and essential health services, adding that the Taskforce had been constituted to provide a high-level platform for coordination, oversight, and problem-solving in the delivery of immunisation and other PHC services.

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday sentenced Femi Ayoade, a 22-year-old graduate, to life imprisonment for defiling a four-year-old girl inside a tricycle.

Justice Abiola Soladoye delivered the judgment, stating that the prosecution had proven the one-count charge of defilement beyond a reasonable doubt.

The judge described Ayoade as a criminally audacious man who shamelessly turned a child’s vagina into a playground.

‘The prosecution has successfully presented compelling evidence against the defendant.

‘Consequently, the defendant is hereby found guilty of the charge of defilement and is sentenced to life imprisonment,’ Justice Soladoye ruled.

The judge further ordered that the convict’s name be entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.

The State Counsel, Mrs Olufunke Alebiosu, presented the survivor and her father as key witnesses.

The convict committed the offence in September 2021 at No. 19, Milestone Close, Infinity Estate, Skido Bus Stop, Eti-Osa, Lagos.

Former President Dr Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians not to despair despite the current challenges in the land, but to continue to nurture hope in the possibilities of greatness within the country.

Dr Jonathan stated this in his goodwill message to Nigerians on the occasion of the 65th Independence Anniversary, which, he said, ‘offers us an opportunity to reflect on our collective journey of nation-building.’

The former President wrote:

‘Our nation marks another significant milestone in its journey to nationhood. As we celebrate 65 years of independence from colonial rule, this moment offers us an opportunity to reflect on our collective journey of nation-building; on the challenges we have faced, and on the vast possibilities that still lie ahead.

‘It is true that we face challenges that could test our sense of hope: insecurity, economic disparities, and institutions that often struggle to deliver on the promises of improved wellbeing, peace and security.

‘Yet, as citizens, we must not lose faith. We must continue to nurture hope and sustain belief in the nation’s enormous potential and the resilience of the people.

‘Nigeria is a blessed nation, endowed with vast land, abundant natural resources, and, above all, the ingenuity and creativity of the people.

‘Our cultural richness, our knowledge, and our wisdom have continued to distinguish Nigerians across every sphere of human endeavour, both at home and abroad.

‘As we look to the future, let patriotism guide our actions. Let us hold firmly to optimism and faith, knowing that the greatness of our country is within reach if we remain united and steadfast. May our nation continue to rise in strength and purpose.’

The Kogi State Government has expressed deep shock over the tragic death of Ms. Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, an anchor, reporter, and producer with ARISE News, who was killed during an alleged armed robbery in Abuja.

In a condolence message signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the government described the late journalist as a consummate professional who carried out her duties with passion, brilliance, and a deep sense of responsibility.

‘Her tragic passing is not only a loss to her family and colleagues at ARISE News but also to Nigeria, where her voice echoed professionalism in national discourse,’ the statement read in part. The government extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, her colleagues in the media industry, and the management of ARISE News, praying that God grants her eternal rest and gives her loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.

The statement also urged security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of the crime are swiftly brought to justice, noting that no society can thrive when its brightest lights are cut down by acts of criminality.

Fanwo added that her memory would continue to inspire courage, patriotism, and excellence in the noble profession of journalism.

The U.S. Mission’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has partnered with the Federal Government to adopt innovative solutions aimed at enhancing agricultural trade for economic growth and food security.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Matthew Obogbaimhe, Chairman of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC), Kaduna Chapter, said this at a roundtable on Thursday in Abuja.

Obogbaimhe said revitalising Nigeria’s agricultural sector required more than trade restrictions, stressing that the sector demands innovation, sustainable practices and investment in infrastructure.

The roundtable, tagged: ‘Innovative Approaches to Agricultural Trade for Economic Growth and Food Security,’ was organised by FAS in collaboration with NACC and the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG).

The discussion focused on the impacts of Nigeria’s agricultural trade restrictions on food prices, local production and investment.

It also provided the U.S. Mission’s FAS with an opportunity to connect with policy advisers and push for reconsideration of restrictions on U.S. agricultural exports.

Obogbaimhe said the partnership with FAS was driven by a vision to promote agricultural innovation and trade across Africa.

‘The roundtable provided a unique platform to exchange ideas and explore innovative agricultural trade policies that benefit consumers and farmers in Nigeria and the United States,’ he said.

Mr Christopher Bielecki, Agricultural Counselor for the FAS office in Lagos, said the forum enabled stakeholders to discuss innovative solutions to strengthen agricultural trade, reduce costs for agribusinesses and consumers, and create prosperity for American and Nigerian farmers.

‘The U.S. Mission’s FAS office looks forward to continued collaboration with the Nigerian government and agribusiness stakeholders to translate the roundtable’s recommendations into action.

‘By working together to advance innovative agricultural trade policies, the United States and Nigeria can foster greater food security, create opportunities for value-added processing, attract investment and strengthen the agricultural sector,’ Bielecki said.

NABG Director-General, Mr Jafar Umar, described the roundtable as timely and highly relevant to the national discourse on trade and food security.

He expressed the group’s readiness to partner with FAS, noting that NABG remains the leading voice of agribusiness in Nigeria.

Also speaking, Dr Betty Adegebo, a member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) research team, said Nigeria’s agricultural trade restrictions had resulted in higher food prices, increased informal trade, and inefficiencies in production, while failing to achieve self-sufficiency.

Presenting NIPSS findings, Adegebo said food inflation surged to 30.6 per cent in 2023, with staples such as rice and beef more than doubling in price over two years.

She noted that the price of one kilogramme of local rice rose by 137.32 per cent year-on-year in October 2024, while boneless beef increased by 98.73 per cent.

‘Production challenges persist, including an estimated maize production gap of 300,000 metric tonnes annually, and low yields of 2.0 tonnes per hectare, far below South Africa’s 5.2,’ Adegebo said.

She added that informal trade had expanded, especially in rice and poultry, as high tariffs and import bans continued to encourage cross-border smuggling despite government measures such as the 2019 border closure.

Adegebo said NIPSS recommended reducing import bans and tariffs, adopting long-term predictable trade policies, harmonising tariffs and sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, and leveraging frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

She also called for the establishment of a centralised body to oversee agricultural trade regulations, improve official trade, strengthen sanitary and phytosanitary oversight, and boost government revenue.

The event, was attended by Nigerian agricultural trade policy advisors, legislative representatives, agribusiness leaders, researchers, regulators, and U.S. agricultural associations.

An operation of combined security forces in Kwara on Monday night launched an onslaught on camps of bandits and kidnappers in the Ifelodun local government area of the state.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the state governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, the onslaught resulted in multiple casualties on the side of the criminals.

‘No specific is known yet about any casualties on the side of the government forces,’ the statement said.

It is recalled that suspected bandits had on Sunday morning killed 12 residents of Oke Ode community, including a community leader.

The statement reads: ‘Combined security forces took the battle to the criminals’ hideouts around Baba Sango on Monday night, resulting in multiple casualties on the side of the roughnecks.

‘The multiagency operation comes a day after the unfortunate incident at Oke Ode on Sunday.

‘The Monday night engagement is happening along the Kogi border with Kwara, according to military sources.

‘Earlier today, the Nigerian Air Force announced aerial hits on the criminals’ positions in the area, introducing a new layer of efforts to rout the criminals.

‘No specific information is known yet about any casualties on the side of the government forces’.

AS the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise enters its sixth week, a total of 6,232,673 Nigerians have so far pre-registered online.

According to the statistics released by the Independent National National Electoral Commission (INEC) the figure falls within the period of September 22 to 28, 2025 of the exercise.

The estimate also revealed that Borno State in the North East zone has displaced Osun State which has consistently taken the lead position in the exercise.

Borno State now has the highest number of 682,805 registrations, representing 10.96 percent of the total, pushing Osun State to the second position with 599,363 (9.62 percent).

Osun State is trailed by Lagos, another state in the South West zone with 555,442 (8.91 percent), while North West state of Kebbi has 472,662 (7.58 percent) as registrants, trailed by Ogun State with 450,897 (7.23 percent).

In the same data released by the INEC, young Nigerians retain their dominance.

Of the total pre-registrants, 4,230,715 are youths aged between 18 and 34, while 1,565,824 are students.

Women also constitute 52.15 percent with a total of

3,250,338 as against men folk with 2,982,335, which translated to 47.85 percent pre-registrants.

The data also revealed a positive growth in interest in the political process by

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) as they posted a figure of 137,865 in the pre-online registration.

The data also revealed that about 1,004,132 Nigerians have completed the process.

A breakdown showed that

537,743 were completed online, while 466,389 were done physically at INEC designated registration centres across the country.

The commission, however, noted that ‘this is a preliminary figure pending data clean-up during the period for claims and objections by citizens, followed by the deployment of the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).’