Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Nigeria Police Force is in the news again, for the enforcement of the ban against tinted or shaded glasses in motor cars. On April 25, 2025, the police announced its intention to compel the procurement of a written permit on all cars with tinted glasses. Although no cogent reason has been proffered for the implementation of this policy inherited as part of the military invasion of our political space, it would seem from all indications that the goal is that of revenue generation. The challenge with this is that Nigerians have been taxed and overtaxed and if the rationale behind the current tax reform laws is to harmonise all taxes, then there has to be a rethink of this policy by the police.

THE LAW AGAINST TINTED OR SHADED MOTOR GLASSES

On 8th February 1991, the federal military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida (Retd) enacted the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Decree 1991, in the following terms:

‘The Federal Military Government hereby decrees as follows:

1. (1) Except with the permission of the appropriate authority designated for the purposes of this Decree and for such good cause as may be determined from time to time by the appropriate authority, no person shall cause any glass fitted on a motor vehicle to be-

(a) tinted; or (b) shaded; or (c) coloured lightly or thickly (d) darkened; or (e) treated in any other way, so that the persons or objects in the motor vehicle are rendered obscure or invisible.

(2) In this section, ‘good cause’ means health or security reasons.

2. (l) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law, rule of law, enactment or the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1979, as amended, any person who without the permission of the appropriate authority-

(a) causes any glass fitted on a motor vehicle to be treated in any manner specified in section 1(1) of this Decree

(b) does or omits to do any act for the purpose of enabling or aiding another person to tint, shade, colour, darken, or treat in any other way any glass fitted on a motor vehicle in any manner specified in section 1(1) of this Decree

(c) aids another person in tinting, shading, colouring, darkening or treating in any other way any glass fitted on a motor vehicle in any manner specified in section 1(1) of this Decree ; or

(d) counsels or procures any other person to tint, shade, colour, darken or treat in any other way, any glass fitted on a motor vehicle, commits an offence under this Decree and shall be punished in the manner set out in this Decree.

(2) Any person who commits an offence under paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of this section may himself be charged with tinting, shading, colouring, darkening or treating in any other way the glass fitted on the motor vehicle or with counselling or procuring the tinting, shading, colouring, darkening or treating in any other way the glass fitted on the motor vehicle.

(3) In this Decree –

(a) reference to the ‘appropriate authority’ means reference to the Inspector-General of Police or any person or authority authorised by him to give such permission as is contemplated in subsection (1) of section 1 of this Decree

(b) reference to ‘permission’ includes registration.

3. It shall be the duty of the buyer, donee or importer of a motor vehicle with tinted, shaded, coloured, darkened or treated glass to change all the glass within a period of 14 days from the date of arrival in Nigeria or date of purchase (whichever is applicable in each circumstance).

4. (1) Any person who commits an offence under this Decree shall on conviction be liable to a fine of N2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(2) Where an offence under this Decree has been committed by a body corporate, every person who at the time of the commission of the offence was a proprietor, director, general manager, secretary or other similar officer servant or agent of the body corporate (or a person purporting to act in any such capacity) as well as the body Corporate shall be guilty of the offence and may be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

5. The Federal High Court shall have jurisdiction to try offenders under this Decree.’

WHY THE POLICY IS WRONG

Understandably so, Nigerians have kicked against the enforcement of this law on so many grounds. First, it is not reasonably justifiable. The cars in issue were not manufactured in Nigeria and the owners have no control over the specification or mode of the car. To enforce such a blanket ban, the government must have a ready alternative which it can offer to its citizens. Second, these cars are driven freely in other parts of the world without the need for a permit. Third, if the ban on tinted or shaded motor glasses is that of security, all that the police need to do is to ask the motorist to wind down his glasses for random security check.

THE COURT CASES

The Nigerian Bar Association has challenged the enforcement of this policy in court in Abuja and the police was duly served with the originating processes in the suit but it claimed that since there is no positive order from the Court, the enforcement will proceed notwithstanding the court case. Subsequently on October 2, 2025, the Federal High Court in Warri issued an order, directing the police to show cause why an order of injunction should not be made to stop the enforcement of the policy. There has been some controversy on the purport and effect of the order of court for the police to show cause. Let me dwell on this a little more.

Under and by virtue of Order 26 Rule 8 of Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019:

‘2. Where a motion is made ex-parte, the Court may make or refuse to make the order sought, or may direct the motion to be made on notice to the parties to be affected thereby or may grant an order to show cause why the order sought should not be made.

C- ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

13. An order to show cause shall specify a day when cause is to be shown, be called the return day to the order, which shall ordinarily be not less than three days after service.

14. A person served with an order to show cause may, before the return day, produce evidence to contradict the evidence used in obtaining the order, or setting forth other facts on which he relies to satisfy the Court to discharge or vary such order.

15. On the return day, if the person served does not appear and it appears to the Court that the service on all proper parties has not been duly effected, the Court may enlarge the time and direct further service or make such further order as seems just.

(b) if any other relief is sought, the Judge may at any time grant in the proceedings such interim relief as could be granted in an action begun by writ;

(c) the Judge may impose such terms as to costs and as to giving security as he deems fit.’

WHY THE POLICY MUST BE HALTED FORTHWITH

In law, an order for a party to show cause why an injunction should not be made is a preliminary court order that puts the respondent on notice to demonstrate why they should not be restrained by an injunction. The effect is that it requires the respondent to argue against the grant of the injunction, and if they fail, the court may issue the injunction based on the applicant’s argument. The party to whom the order is directed has the duty to show cause, or present reasons, why the injunction should not be granted, and this may involve demonstrating that they have a sufficient legal remedy or that the balance of convenience does not favour the applicant. The legal effect of the order is that the respondent is obligated to appear before the court and argue their case against the injunction being granted. The burden of proof rests heavily on the applicant for the injunction to show that a serious issue to be tried exists and that damages will be inadequate compensation. However, if the respondent fails to show cause, this failure will strengthen the applicant’s case for the injunction. The court’s order serves as a formal notice to the respondent about the potential injunction and allows them to be heard on the matter. The order aims to maintain the current state of affairs (status quo) while the court considers the application for injunction. If the respondent fails to show cause or provides insufficient reasons against the injunction, the court can proceed to grant the injunction. And even when no positive order of injunction has been made, the respondent is required to keep matters in status quo because the court will not aid a party who is guilty of taking steps to jeopardize the subject matter of the application for injunction. In the case of John Aikpkokpo-Martins however, the court specifically directed the police to maintain the status quo, effectively halting the implementation or further implementation of the policy, pending the hearing and determination of the application for injunction. As the police are established to maintain law and order and to enforce decisions of the court, the policy on tinted motor glass permits should be suspended for now.

The latest edition of The Toyin Falola Interviews aired on Sunday, drawing an impressive lineup of global historians who examined the intersection of women, slavery, and power under the theme, ‘Global Africa, Women, and Slavery.’

The intellectually charged episode centred on historian Toby Green’s new book, The Heretic of Cacheu: Struggles over Life in a 17th-Century West African Port. The discussion-moderated by Professor Ana Lucia Araujo of Howard University-brought together an international panel of renowned scholars including Hassoum Ceesay, the Gambian historian and Director of the National Centre for Arts and Culture; Mariana Candido, Winship Distinguished Research Professor of History at Emory University and author of Wealth, Land and Property in Angola: A History of Dispossession, Inequality and Power; José Lingna Nafafé, Associate Professor at the University of Bristol; and Dr. Robin Chapdelaine, Associate Director of the Center for African Studies at Stanford University.

From the outset, the conversation situated gender, trade, and power as key elements in the making of the Atlantic world, offering sharp insights into the economic and cultural agency African women wielded during the transatlantic slave trade.

Speaking from The Gambia, historian Hassoum Ceesay traced the layered, often paradoxical roles of women in the slave economy. ‘I am speaking from The Gambia,’ he began. ‘This region is well noted for its role in the transatlantic slave trade and also in the ways that women were part and parcel of this trade.’ He cited the Signares-Euro-African women of wealth and influence-as cultural brokers. ‘These were women of substance, of economic might and social standing. They were rich enough to have slaves, they kept slaves, and they also traded in slaves. Their role in the trade remains deeply disputed.’

Ceesay drew on vivid historical portraits. He recalled Fanda Lawrence, a Gambian widow of a British trader who continued slave trading after moving to Georgia in the 18th century-‘a story that points to the conflicted role of women in the transatlantic slave trade.’ He also invoked Phillis Wheatley, the enslaved poet from the Senegambian region who became a literary voice of resistance: ‘Wheatley rose above persecution to become a poet of note who received attention even from Thomas Jefferson.’

Drawing on Alex Haley’s Roots, Ceesay emphasized the role of women in preserving identity through ritual and memory. ‘Women like Kunta Kinte’s mother, Binta, who conducted naming ceremonies, embody the endurance of culture amidst historical trauma.’

For Professor Mariana Candido, the focus shifted to West Central Africa-particularly Angola, the Republic of Congo, and Gabon-which, she explained, was ‘the region most affected by the transatlantic slave trade in terms of both duration and volume.’ According to her, ‘When talking about women in global slavery, it is inevitable to remind everyone that Central Africa lost the highest number of people to the trade. Roughly 36 percent of the 12.5 million Africans transported to the New World were women.’

Candido challenged popular assumptions that women were invisible in history. ‘I always heard that it was difficult to write about women, but in my research I found women everywhere-in travel reports, census data, church records, baptismal registers, and even in trading accounts. Women are not invisible in the archives; historians simply haven’t always looked for them.’

She further noted that ‘while men were taken in larger numbers, the women who remained behind filled crucial social and economic roles. Gender influenced the demand and supply of the trade and shaped the kinds of labour enslaved men and women performed.’ Her forthcoming book, A History of Women in Angola (1500-1880), she revealed, builds on these findings and aligns with Green’s effort to ‘recognize the centrality of women in economic, social, and political life in Atlantic ports, which became women’s spaces of power.’

Anchoring the discussion, Professor Toyin Falola contextualized the historical conversation for global audiences. ‘If you go to the US, Brazil, or Cuba and find black populations there, it is tied to this history of slavery,’ he said. ‘Millions were taken from Central and West Africa-from Cameroon, Nigeria, Angola, and beyond.’

Falola praised Toby Green’s work for reclaiming African women’s agency. ‘We are discussing this to emphasise the role of women. In classrooms, we call it agency-how people express themselves and find empowerment. Green shows us that African women were not simply victims; they were traders, political leaders, and brokers.’

He added that the book ‘reveals that the Atlantic world was not shaped by a single religion. Alongside Catholicism, African spiritual systems-dreams, rituals, and ancestral beliefs-coexisted and shaped everyday life.’ For Falola, The Heretic of Cacheu stands as ‘a microhistory of one woman that illuminates the broader global history of Africa, slavery, and gender.’

Building on that, Professor José Lingna Nafafé expanded the lens to the broader Atlantic world, stressing that women ‘carried Africa’s philosophy, religion, and culture across the Atlantic.’ He observed that ‘the Atlantic was saturated by women and young people who were not part of wars but were captured and enslaved nonetheless.’ Women, he said, occupied domestic spaces that became ‘sites of knowledge transmission and resistance.’

‘They worked in the homes of slave owners, cooked, cared for children, and overheard conversations about the systems that oppressed them,’ he explained. ‘These women held the secret knowledge of the operation of enslavement and sometimes resisted from within that space.’ Nafafé also discussed the Black Brotherhoods-Christian fraternities where ‘women were given spaces to trade, and the money they raised was often used to liberate others. They became liberators within an oppressive system.’

He concluded: ‘Women bore the double pain of being mothers-uprooted from their families while also giving birth to children who were enslaved. They were the primary bearers of trauma and, at the same time, of resistance.’

Framing the discussion within a global context, Dr. Robin Chapdelaine of Stanford University asserted that ‘the history of African women in slavery is foundational to understanding the making of the modern world.’ ‘The term ‘Global Africa’ signals both geography and process-the ways Africa and Africans, especially women, shaped economic, spiritual, and intellectual worlds stretching from Senegambia to Bahia,’ she said.

Chapdelaine noted that ‘women’s participation in trade networks tied African interior economies to Atlantic markets. Their labour-domestic, reproductive, agricultural, and commercial-sustained the circulation of goods, people, and ideas that defined the Atlantic and Indian Ocean worlds.’ Yet, she added, ‘their autonomy was often recast as deviance, their knowledge as sorcery, their mobility as a moral threat.’

‘To study women in slavery in a global frame,’ she said, ‘is to reimagine freedom not as a European invention but as a contested African practice.’

For author Toby Green, the story that inspired The Heretic of Cacheu lies in the life of Krispina Perez, ‘the most powerful trader in the settlement of Cacheu in today’s Guinea-Bissau.’ He explained: ‘This was a rare Inquisition trial from 1665 involving a West African woman. Perez was part of the elite trading class, and her influence was so significant that it drew the attention of the Inquisition-something that almost never happened in Africa.’

Green emphasized that the trial documents revealed ‘the emotional world underlying commerce-envy, bitterness, love, fear, anxiety, and debt-all shaping historical experience.’ He added: ‘The book is unusual because it captures the 17th century-a transformative period that set the stage for the industrialisation of global slavery.’

Sunday’s discussion reinforced the intellectual mission of The Toyin Falola Interviews-to connect Africa’s past with its global future through deep scholarly dialogue. By spotlighting women’s overlooked roles in shaping Atlantic history, the episode underscored Falola’s vision of an Africa that continues to speak powerfully to the world, reclaiming its stories, scholars, and the silenced. The event was broadcast across various television, radio, and digital platforms.

THE creator of 40andFabulousNaija, a Nigerian reality TV show, Ambassador Jolly Nnenna Abani, has called for greater support from sponsors, partners, and broadcasters to expand a project aimed at empowering women and creating jobs across communities.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Abani, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Mother of Models International, said the initiative was designed to tackle stereotypes against women aged 40 and above while equipping them with practical skills to achieve economic independence. She said the programme also creates opportunities for girls and other vulnerable groups through training and empowerment schemes.

‘Strong women build strong nations,’ Abani said. ‘When women are empowered, entire families and communities are lifted out of poverty. This project is about healing, empowerment, and giving women – especially those over 40 – a second chance to thrive,’ he added.

Abani explained that 40andFabulousNaija goes beyond entertainment by providing women with hands-on skills that can create sustainable livelihoods. The show, which doubles as a non-governmental organization, also offers support to single mothers, widows, divorcees, and survivors of abuse who often face barriers to social and economic inclusion.

She appealed to major television networks to provide access to airtime, lamenting that value-driven content such as hers is often sidelined while shows that ‘erode family values’ dominate viewing schedules.

‘We are not asking for free airtime,’ Abani stated. ‘What we are asking for is a fair commercial arrangement – a purchase of airtime so our content can reach the audience it deserves. When you invest in this project, you are investing in women, families, and the future of our society,’ she stated.

Preparations are underway for Season 3 of the show, which will, for the first time, include men who will join the house on weekends to network and showcase their businesses, while women will live in the house full-time. According to Abani, this format aims to encourage entrepreneurship and collaboration among participants.

Abani said she remains optimistic about the upcoming season, describing it as a turning point for the programme and its impact.

‘Anticipate a season filled with hope, progress, and greatness,’ she told journalists.

The 40andFabulousNaija platform has so far provided empowerment and training for women and girls in different communities, with Abani emphasizing that sustained support from stakeholders would allow it to expand its reach, create more jobs, and promote decency and family-oriented values in society.

Hon Dayo Ogungbenro was last week Monday at the Oyo State congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reelected the state chairman of the party, in this interview with YINKA OLADOYINBO, he speaks about his agenda for the party in the next four years, the challenges facing the major opposition party and its chances come 2027. Excerpts:

What is your agenda as you assume office for the second term as the chairman of the PDP in Oyo State?

First and foremost, I have to give glory to God for making it possible for me to return to office for another term, this is another koseleri in Oyo State politics for the chairman of PDP to serve two terms, I also have to thank the governor of the state, Engineer Seyi Makinde for the opportunity to serve and like he charged which I also associate myself with the greatest challenging this party is to deliver governorship in 2027 and there is no compromise about that, and that is to serve as a note of warning to other opposition parties in the state that there is no vacancy in Agodi Government House

Now that you have said the PDP will rule Oyo state beyond 2027, how do you think that is achievable with the situation the party found itself in the country?

Yes, it is noted that we don’t have any issue in the party in the state, there might be challenges at the federal level and there is no political party without its own issue and politics is essentially about continuous engagements and compromise, so soonest the party will still find her foot. Just like I said, ni issue in Oyo state PDP, if anybody has any issue in party politics in Oyo state it will be in APC, the major opposition party, so I don’t see anything coming our way in 2027 by the special grace of God.

At the state Congress of the party, there were some notable leaders that were not at the venue, doesn’t that portend internal wranglings in the party?

I don’t see it in that perspective.

To many people, Seyi Makinde is the only factor making PDP strong in Oyo State, how are you going to sustain the relevance of the party after the expiration of his tenure in 2027?

Yes, I have heard people saying it that Seyi Makinde is PDP and PDP is Seyi Makinde, I also said it when the former vice president Atiku Abubakar was here to campaign in 2023 at Mapo, I told the dignitaries that were present that that is the situation in Oyo State. Having said that and having known that the governor will soon finish his constitutional two terms, this kind of question is very germane, but remember when Seyi Makinde was coming, many people didn’t give him chance as far as performance in party politics is concerned. Many people argued that he is from the corporate world, he is a corporate man, he doesn’t know anything about politics. Our late leader, Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of blessed memory even said he has not been a councilor, he hasn’t been this and that, but to the glory of God Seyi Makinde performed beyond expectations of an average doubting Thomas. Since we have agreed that politics is dynamic, that dynamism will be brought into play to ensure that the PDP maintain its lead, in Oyo State come 2027. If you say the governor has a superlative performance, voters in the state are aware of this. In fact, the question people are asking me now is that whenever Seyi leaves how do you think you will sustain the performance of your party? All they are asking for is we should tell the governor that whoever is coming as a successor should be someone that can perform up to that level or even beyond. Once upon a time in this state we have instances where salaries were not paid for more than eight months, Seyi Makinde came and promised that salary will be paid as and when due and up till today it has not changed. Ask the civil servants, the teachers, pensioners, even artisans, students, market women, they are all yearning for Seyi Makinde. However, he won’t be on the governorship ballot come 2027 and that is not my major headache now. I will now have to go and tell these people that the governor won’t be on the ballot, so we have to buckle up so as to maintain the level of the performance of Seyi Makinde come 2027 or more than that, we won almost all the local government during the last election and we are going to repeat that. All we are praying for is that God will be magnanimous to our leader to make the right choice and I can assure you that the right choice will be made.

With many aspirants that want to succeed the governor, how are you going to ensure that an acceptable candidate emerge in a rancour free situation?

All is politics and we have witnessed this type of thing for years, we know how to do our things, look at the last congresses from wards to the local governments and to the state level, no quarell, no skirmishes, no cutlass, the PDP in Oyo State has come of age irrespective of our different political ambitions, we will disagree to agree because the greatest disservice we can do to Seyi Makinde is not to win in 2027 and we are winning by the grace of God. In due course I will be all over the state spreading the gospel according to Seyi Makinde, so that an average person in the state will not rely on him alone, but will rely on him and PDP together.

As a state chairman of the PDP, are you not worried about the crisis rocking the party at the national level?

I am not, politics is about choices and about I want this, I want that and when your choices are not being met definitely you move to other platforms to ventilate it. Former president Muhammadu Buhari contested three times and at the third attempt he wept openly before they formed another alliance and they succeeded in pushing the PDP out of power. Be that as it may, people are free to make choices as far as politics or any association is concerned , as they go other people are coming , that is politics for you, as a matter of fact, a lot of them that have gone are already coming back, so let us wait and see, this is just 2025 and we are going to 2027, a lot water will still pass under the bridge before that time.

Are you saying despite the present situation, the party is still in a good position to win election at the national level come 2027?

Definitely, if we are talking of opposition parties in Nigeria today can we rate anyone over PDP? Even if ADC is coming up. Honestly, we flop our chances in 2023 and we have to blame ourselves because some people believe they can move on without this and that. During our campaign at Mapo with all the dignitaries sitting, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide was there, Halleluyah (Senator Hosea Agboola) was also there, I told them frankly, on no ambiguous term that don’t be deceived that Seyi Makinde is a factor in PDP. The greatest error PDP made in 2023 was that Atiku could not muster enough will to unite the party and that was what caused him the presidency. I told them publicly as a political scientist , how can you jettison five sitting governors, they were not former governors, they were sitting governors and I told them the truth, I even arranged a meeting between Alhaji Atiku and my principal, but eventually some people were pushing Baba Atiku and we saw how it all ended, that would have been the greatest opportunity for this party to come back to power.

As someone that has been involved in elections over the years, what are the areas of our electoral system that you think need to be reformed or amended for us to have near perfect elections?

First and foremost, the way we appoint the INEC chairman should be changed for the good of the generality of the country. They said there is no historian without his or her biases, once you know you are the appointing authority you can do anything and pretend to be otherwise. It is wrong for the president to continue to be the sole appointing authority of INEC chairman and the commissioners, we should evolve a system through which they would be appointed that would be devoid of the biases of the president. If we want to be nationalistic in our approach we should change certain things and that is why some people said even after 65 years of independence Nigeria still remains an ordinary geographical expression because of the primordial interest, we should chart course for nationalism so that we can move forward. Some people will argue that it took America over 200 years before they got to where they are today, does that means we have to also spend 200 years.

Looking at the Federal Government being run by the APC, what is your stake on its performance, particularly in the last two years?

My assessment is that the good people of Nigeria should excuse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu come 2027 because his performance is abysmal, and I want to say that the PDP, which is the major opposition party in the country is representing a better alternative and knows how to run the country better. We knew how much a bag of rice was when President Goodluck Jonathan was in power, we also knew how much it was during Buhari regime, we know the price now, not to talk of price of fuel and other things. During the president’s independence speech, he said there will be light at the end of the tunnel, what else do you expect him to say? He would not say there wouldn’t be light at the end of the tunnel, you can only expect such things from a better clime, not the one like ours where you just believe that whether you are performing or not performing you must be in office by all means. But the beauty of democracy is that you challenge the performance of the person you put on board every four years in case of federal and state levels and every three years in case of local government level, you are free either to vote somebody in after a tenure if you are satisfied with his or her performances or you vote him or her out, that is the beauty of the game, when they said Jonathan did not perform up to expectations he was voted out, why were they not liberal like Jonathan, he congratulated Buhari even before the results of the elections were announced. But what are they doing after Jonathan? But I know that one day we will get to where we are supposed to be.

The Ifesowapo Consultative Forum, a consortium of 32 communities surrounding Lisa Town and its environs in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, has announced plans to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Bellview Airlines plane crash, which claimed 117 lives at Lisa village on 22 October 2005.

The announcement was made during a strategic meeting of community representatives, where Dr Fola Abati, chairman of the Forum, outlined preparations for what he described as a truly memorable and meaningful event.

According to Abati, the commemoration will include inter-religious prayer sessions, an aviation safety lecture, and outreach to families of the victims. Government officials, aviation stakeholders and members of the international community are expected to participate in the remembrance. To ensure wider participation, the memorial event will be live-streamed, enabling those outside Lisa, across Nigeria, and in the diaspora to join in the tribute.

‘The 20th Memorial Anniversary is not merely about looking back with sorrow. It is about using history to inspire progress. We owe it to the victims, their families and to ourselves to ensure that Lisa is not remembered only for tragedy, but for resilience and renewal,’ Abati remarked.

He recalled that the crash, which drew global attention to Lisa and its environs, led to the construction of the Lisa Memorial Arcade by then President Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Gbenga Daniel, with promises of sustained development. Two decades on, the once symbolic arcade has been left to deteriorate, while the 10.5-kilometre Ijoko-Oyero-Lisa access road remains in a state of disrepair.

Abati emphasised that the anniversary will serve as a renewed call for urgent government’s intervention. Restoring the Lisa Memorial Arcade, he said, would honour the departed with dignity, while rehabilitating the access road will ease the daily burden of thousands of residents who commute between Ogun and Lagos.

He further stressed the need for the site to be recognised as a national heritage landmark, and for the long-envisioned aviation tourism centre to be established-preserving memory and inspiring future generations.

The forum also acknowledged the efforts of the Deputy Chief Whip of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka, whose intervention at the Awela River axis facilitated the construction of a flyover bridge. This singular project, Dr Abati noted, has significantly reduced the annual loss of lives caused by flooding in the area.

In addition, the forum commended His Royal Majesty, Oba Oladele Odugbemi for his enduring commitment to the welfare of Lisa and its neighbouring communities. His leadership in matters of security, infrastructure and government engagement has, they affirmed, kept the voice of the region alive in the corridors of power.

The 20th anniversary observance is scheduled for October 22.

Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention’s advisory panel has issued new COVID-19 vaccine guidelines following a panel that voted to remove all universal recommendations for annual COVID-19 vaccine shots for anyone 6 months and older.

The panel also recommended that children younger than 4 years old not receive the four-component measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine and instead receive separate immunizations for MMR and for varicella, or chickenpox.

The committee unanimously voted to suggest that individuals decide for themselves whether to get the COVID-19 vaccine, meaning individuals won’t need a doctor’s note to get vaccinated.

The votes follow the Food and Drug Administration’s recent narrowing of COVID-19 vaccine approvals to a smaller group of Americans – those over 65 or with underlying medical conditions.

Many members of the panel – selected by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – questioned the vaccine’s benefit but ultimately voted that most Americans can still have access, ideally following a discussion with their healthcare provider, although that is not a requirement.

The panel said people should know COVID-19 vaccines are most beneficial for people at risk for severe illness based on CDC definitions and least beneficial for otherwise healthy individuals.

CDC’s endorsement makes ACIP’s guidance official federal policy, triggering no-cost insurance coverage for most private and public insurance plans as well as access via the Vaccines for Children programme.

CDC Acting Director Jim O’Neill said in a statement, ‘Informed consent is back. CDC’s 2022 blanket recommendation for perpetual COVID-19 boosters deterred healthcare providers from talking about the risks and benefits of vaccination for the individual patient or parent. That changes today.’

ACIP focused on contentious COVID-19 vaccine topics, including alleged DNA alterations by mRNA vaccines, assertions that mRNA vaccines don’t work as intended and potential connections between the vaccines and conditions such as birth defects and cancer.

The group also focused on the long-established risk of febrile seizures after combined vaccination with the MMRV vaccine in younger children.

In a separate vote, members decided not to suggest that states require a prescription for the COVID-19 vaccine, with many members saying this would create unnecessary barriers.

And in another separate action, members voted that CDC communicate clear risks about COVID-19 vaccines – materials that states can choose to give to patients when they get vaccinated that list at least six of those risks.

In a presentation that countered the majority views of the workgroup, workgroup member Henry Bernstein said the need for a prescription will ‘create unnecessary steps to receiving a vaccine and will not effectively target’ high-risk groups.

A member of ACIP, which is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine recommendations committee, and epidemiologist Catherine M. Stein, who has previously been openly critical of the U.S. response to COVID-19, stated, ‘I believe the segment of the population that is underinsured has a lack of access to health care; they’re going to be unable to get a prescription, and those are the people that are at highest risk for a lot of these comorbid conditions.

Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) has disclosed a dramatic 97% reduction in routine gas flaring from its operations over the past decade, positioning itself as a key player in Nigeria’s domestic gas supply and emissions-reduction efforts.

The announcement came in a press statement delivered on behalf of Mr Olusoga Oduselu, CNL’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs, by Saheed Praise Akinbola during a training workshop held in partnership with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Warri Correspondents’ Chapel on Tuesday.

The energy major, one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies, attributed the achievement to significant investments in gas-gathering and processing infrastructure. The company said it is now one of the largest contributors of high-quality domestic gas among international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria.

Alongside its environmental claims, CNL set out its substantial economic footprint in the country. The company revealed it provides contract opportunities in its projects worth an estimated annual average of over $1 billion, in support of Nigerian content development.

On community development, the statement cited CNL’s legacy of investment, noting ‘billions of naira’ contributed over 16 years through its pioneering Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) model. The company confirmed it has now transitioned to Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs), as mandated by the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.

Further development efforts are channelled through the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), which is impacting hundreds of lives in the Niger Delta and supporting economic empowerment in the region.

CNL concluded by reaffirming its commitment to a dual mission: lowering the carbon intensity of its operations and growing lower-carbon businesses alongside its traditional business lines.

Meanwhile, in a significant push to bolster the Nigerian media, CNL has announced that its 2025 media capacity-building programme will upskill more than 400 journalists by the end of the year.

Mr Oduselu emphasised the company’s belief in the value of developing human capital and underscored the critical role of the press as ‘agenda-setters and opinion-moulders’ in society.

The 2025 programme, which kicked off in Abuja and Lagos in July, is part of a sustained initiative by the international oil and gas company; previous editions were held in 2023 and 2024 across multiple zones.

Beyond the current workshops, CNL also highlighted its flagship Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills (AWARES) programme, run in collaboration with Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos. The company reported that more than 120 journalists have benefited from AWARES since its inception in 2014.

‘Through programmes such as AWARES and this current journalism training, we help to improve professional capacity and build lasting partnerships with our media stakeholders,’ the statement read.

The energy firm positioned this investment in media development as part of its broader corporate philosophy, stating that ‘the success of the larger society invariably translates to success in our business.’

Chairman of the Delta State Council of the NUJ, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, in his remarks, urged colleagues to support capacity-building initiatives and disclosed that a bill to regulate journalism in Nigeria, titled the Journalism Council of Nigeria Bill, will soon be presented to the National Assembly.

On his part, the chairman of the NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel, Okies Okpomor, expressed appreciation to Chevron for sponsoring the capacity-building training.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed concern over the failing health of its national, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, currently facing trial in the Republic of Benin.

Egbaji, a businessman and cleric from Cross River State, has for about two years been detained in a hospital in Cotonou, the country’s capital under dehumanising conditions while his health deteriorated.

A statement by the Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Magnus Eze, disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on the Benin authorities to release the Nigerian national so that he could have better medical care and also serve out his sentence in Nigeria.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said discussions with the Nigerian Mission in Cotonou, indicated that Pastor Egbaji’s health is steadily worsening and he needs urgent and proper medical attention.

She stated that the Ministry had made spirited effort to rescue the troubled Egbaji in line with the citizen diplomacy thrust of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.

The minister who in early August, visited Egbaji in the Cotonou hospital alongside the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, disclosed that the Ministry had requested the transfer of the Nigerian national to receive the deserved medical care and serve out his custodial term in Nigeria.

She explained that Nigeria was worried over the pace of the Benin authorities in addressing the situation and acceding to its request.

Noting the longstanding cordial relations between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, founded on shared cultural heritage, bonds of trust, mutual respect, and a spirit of brotherhood, she urged the country to consent to Nigeria’s request and accelerate the release of the detained Nigerian pastor.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also disclosed that Nigeria’s position was further highlighted in a recent letter to the Republic of Benin Government.

‘It is against this backdrop of solidarity and mutual goodwill that I seek Your Excellency’s kind consideration regarding the plight of a Nigerian national, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who has been serving a custodial sentence in Cotonou since October 2023 for a jail term of 10 years.

‘As Your Excellency may be aware, Pastor Egbaji has been in Benin Republic for over three decades, contributing meaningfully as an entrepreneur, pastor, and community leader.

‘Regrettably, his health has deteriorated severely while in detention. Two independent medical experts appointed by the court recently recommended that he be transferred abroad for urgent medical care, as local interventions have proved ineffective.

‘In the spirit of our longstanding friendship and in recognition of the humanitarian imperative, not being unmindful of the grievous nature of the offence he is charged with, we kindly request that Pastor Egbaji be repatriated to Nigeria to serve out the remainder of his sentence in a Nigerian Correctional Centre,’ she stated.

She reiterated that this gesture would demonstrate in practical terms the enduring spirit of fraternity and cooperation that bind Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), in its quarterly reports released on Tuesday, has revealed that all the electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) operating in Nigeria remitted a total sum of N399.20 billion to the electricity market in the second quarter of this year.

NERC, established by the Electricity Act of 2023 to ensure a stable, adequate, and safe electricity supply for consumers and an efficient, investor-friendly market, is the independent body responsible for the technical and economic regulation of Nigeria’s electricity supply industry (NESI).

According to the report, the cumulative upstream invoice payable by DisCos was N417.35 billion, consisting of N348.66 billion for DRO-adjusted generation costs from NBET4 and N68.68 billion for transmission and administrative services by the Market Operator (MO).

The report stated that out of the amount, the DisCos collectively remitted a total sum of N399.20 billion, N333.90 billion for NBET and N65.30 billion for MO, with an outstanding balance of N18.15 billion, which is a remittance performance of 95.65% in 2025/Q2 compared to the 95.86% recorded in 2025/Q1.

The report also revealed that the six international bilateral customers purchasing power from the grid-connected GenCos made a cumulative payment of $9.015 million against the $17.54 million invoice issued to them by the MO for services rendered in 2025/Q2, with a remittance rate of 51.33%.

Additionally, the report showed that the domestic bilateral customers made a cumulative payment of N1,401.00 million against the N2,796.29 million invoice issued to them by the MO for services rendered in 2025/Q2, with a remittance rate of 50.10% while also stating that the naira value of the total energy offtake by all DisCos in 2025/Q2 was N909.59 billion and the total energy billed was N742.34 billion, which translates to a billing efficiency of 81.61%.

Thus, the report showed that at an aggregate level, DisCos were unable to account for N167.25 billion worth of energy received at their trading points in 2025/Q2 while also revealing that the total revenue collected by all DisCos in 2025/Q2 was N564.71 billion out of N742.34 billion billed to customers which translated to a collection efficiency of 76.07%, representing an increase of 1.68pp compared to 2025/Q1 (74.39%).

It said the weighted average Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATCandC) loss across all DisCo in 2025/Q2 was 37.92%, comprising technical and commercial loss (18.39%) and collection loss (23.93%).

Tribune Online reports that ATCandC loss is a summation of the billing losses incurred by a DisCo due to its inability to bill 100% of energy delivered to customers (technical and commercial losses); and collection losses arising from the DisCo’s inability to collect 100% of the bills issued to customers.

The report said the ATCandC loss of 37.92% is 17.38pp higher than the 2025 MYTO target (20.54%) and translates to a cumulative revenue loss of ?158.053 billion across all DisCos. The ATCandC loss decreased by 1.69pp (better performance) compared to 2025/Q1 (39.61%).

All the DisCos, according to the report, except Eko, did not meet their target ATCandC during the quarter as Kaduna DisCo recorded the worst underperformance relative to the target ATCandC (Actual -70.98% versus target -21.32%).

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), LT.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, on Tuesday, again sought deeper collaboration between the military and the media in combating the multi-faceted security challenges threatening the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria as a nation

Oluyede stated this in Abuja while declaring open a three-day seminar organised by the Directorate of Army Public Relations (DAPR) for DAPR officers, sister security agencies and defence correspondents.

The COAS pointed out that this became necessary as the synergy between the Nigerian Army and the media was not a matter of convenience but a strategic imperative to shaping public understanding, mobilising national support, and highlighting sacrifices made by troops in defending the nation.

The theme of the seminar was ‘Enhancing Responsible Media Reportage of Nigerian Army Operations in a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment for Enhanced National Security’.

According to him, the theme of the seminar underscores the vital role of accountability, balance, and responsibility in the reporting of military operations, particularly in a joint environment where collaboration among security agencies is indispensable.

The Army Chief, who was represented by the Commander, Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Maj-Gen. Mohammed Abdullahi pointed out that in an era where the battle for hearts and minds was as critical as the battle in the field, responsible media reportage has become a key enabler of operational success, pointing out that the perception of the Nigerian Army, and indeed of all security agencies, ‘is largely shaped by the narratives carried in the media space.’

He declared that with the rise of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, the speed and reach of information, both genuine and false, have multiplied.

Oluyede further added that fake news, manipulated images, and deepfakes now pose real threats to national cohesion and operational integrity, which demands serious caution by the media practitioners

He said, ‘Our collective task is not only to counter misinformation but to ensure that truth and verified facts dominate public discourse.

‘Through initiatives such as this seminar, we seek to build a shared framework for responsible, conflict-sensitive reporting, one that amplifies truth, promotes professionalism, and safeguards national interest. It is our collective duty to ensure that the stories of our men and women in uniform are told accurately, respectfully, and in a way that strengthens the bond between the Armed Forces and the people we serve.

‘To the participants, I urge you to make the best use of this platform. Learn, share experiences, and build the capacity to navigate today’s complex media environment. The lectures and discussions during this seminar have been carefully curated to address the evolving challenges of defence communication, crisis reporting, and information management.’

The COAS, therefore, urged the participants to learn, share experiences, and build the capacity to navigate the complex media environment, as papers to be presented have been carefully curated to address the evolving challenges of defence communication, crisis reporting, and information management.

In her remarks, the Acting Director Nigerian Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele noted that in today’s dynamic security environment, the role of the media goes beyond reporting events, extending to shaping public perception, rallying national support, countering misinformation and influencing the outcome of military operations.

Anele, who is the first female Army Spokesperson, pointed out that with the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the rapid spread of information through digital platforms, narratives could be manipulated within seconds, fake news, doctored images and deepfakes now pose as much threat as enemy propaganda on the battlefield.

She said, ‘This reality underscores why fact-checking, verification, and responsible journalism have become indispensable to both national security and public trust. No doubt, warfare is not fought solely with weapons but also in the information domain. Hybrid threats, disinformation campaigns and Artificial Intelligence-driven fake content are being weaponised to erode public confidence, discredit institutions and demoralise security forces.

‘To defeat these threats, we must counter falsehoods with verified facts, replace propaganda with truth, and ensure that the Nigerian public is accurately informed. This calls for professionalism, ethics and patriotism from all media stakeholders.’

Anele pledged the directorate commitment to ensuring access to timely, credible and verifiable information that would enable responsible reportage while safeguarding national security interests.

She said, ‘For participants at this seminar, our role is not only to inform but to ensure that narratives surrounding security operations are accurate, constructive and supportive of national security objectives.

‘Together, we must ensure that our troops win not only the battles in the field but also the battles of perception and information in the public domain. We must encourage and appreciate the huge sacrifices of troops; their gallantry sacrifice must be reinforced by responsible media reportage that amplifies their achievements, counters false narratives and fosters unity among Nigerians.’