Category: Nigerian Tribune

MANY residents of Lagos are yet to recover from the shock as they recount their experiences following the recent devastating floodwaters that left their neighbourhoods in the worst condition. Many homes and valuables worth millions of naira were severely damaged by floodwaters.

While assessing the damage the annual flooding is doing to the state, built environment experts have blamed the recurring incidents of flooding on a number of factors ranging from illegal development of major wetlands to blocked water channels/drainages, poor waste disposal and the distortion of the Lekki Master Plan.

The experts are calling for the restoration of Lagos wetlands, routine maintenance of water channels and drainage system, and enforcement of town planning regulations to avert future occurrences.

Apart from exposing the city’s perennial struggle with flooding, blocked drainage channels and poor waste management, the deluge disrupted commercial and transportation activities. The huge environmental impact has brought enormous pains to most residents, who have not been comforted by the many visits and assurances from the Lagos State government officials to do the needful. According to them, nowadays, whenever the sky becomes cloudy, they become very apprehensive.

‘Every downpour now brings fears of damaged property, disrupted livelihoods, prolonged traffic congestion and avoidable health risks,’ one of the residents on Lagos Island said.

Recounting his experience, Mr. Alao Taofeek, a resident of the Patey area on Lagos Island, described the recent rainfall as devastating, particularly for traders in Ofin, Balogun, Idumota and Ereko markets.

According to him, the flooding reflects the growing challenges of rapid urbanisation, poor waste management and inadequate drainage infrastructure in Africa’s largest city.

Alao argued that the Ilubirin development altered the natural water channel that once served the area.

‘Where the Ilubirin Estate now stands used to be a river. After it was sand-filled for construction, the water lost its natural outlet and now flows back into surrounding communities whenever there is heavy rainfall,’ he said.

He also blamed indiscriminate waste disposal and poor access for waste collection vehicles on Lagos Island’s narrow streets.

‘LAWMA trucks cannot access many inner streets because they are too narrow. Residents are left with few options, and some dump refuse by the roadside. Those who previously disposed of waste at Tinubu Square can no longer do so, while cart pushers have also been stopped from operating. All these contribute to blocked drains and flooding.

‘This persistent flooding serves as yet another reminder that until the structural and environmental factors driving the crisis are addressed, the state will continue to experience not only flooding but also economic losses, environmental hazards and hardship for communities across Lagos,’ he added.

Taofeek practically blamed the persistent flooding on blocked drainage channels and the sand-filling of the Ilubirin area.

Flooding, mostly result of years of environmental abuse

Speaking with Sunday Tribune, former Chairman of the Lagos chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Tayo Awomosun, said the problem of flooding in Lagos State was not a lack of planning but absolute disregard for the importance of wetlands.

Despite the low-lying location of Lagos, he pointed out that most wetlands, which are expected to store water and reduce flooding, have been illegally built upon, citing the wetlands around River Ogun in Isheri and other locations like Alapere, Ogudu and the Lekki axis, among others.

According to Google, wetlands are vital ecosystems that provide essential benefits such as flood control, water purification and biodiversity support. They act as natural sponges, clean polluted water and provide habitats for diverse plants and animals.

For climate stability, wetlands (especially peat lands) store large amounts of carbon dioxide, helping to slow down global warming.

Besides wetlands’ encroachment, Awomosun said that residents have also built on water channels and setbacks, thereby blocking the free flow of stormwater.

‘Water will always find its level,’ he said.

Awomosun also alleged that, due to poor environmental practices, residents have blocked most of the city’s drainages with trash, adding that climate change has made the situation worse.

‘There is need to restore some of these wetlands. There are laws guiding the use of wetlands, but the government refuses to enforce them,’ he said.

Another expert, Wasiu Olokunola, an engineer, said that the lack of routine maintenance of Lagos’ drainage channels was the major reason for the recurring flooding of streets and homes.

‘If you don’t maintain your roads and drainage [channels], there will be problems.

‘There are three types of drainages: primary, secondary and tertiary drainages. Lagos needs routine maintenance of these drains to prevent flooding,’ he said.

On frequent flooding in the Lekki corridor, former President of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria, Dr. Moses Ogunleye, said the key challenge was that less than 25 per cent of the components of most master plans are implemented before they expire.

He hinted that the master plan is already being reviewed.

‘The master plan is already being reviewed. Indeed, the work is being concluded,’ he said.

Regardless, Ogunleye said that this was not the major challenge of storm water management in Lekki, disclosing that the Drainage Master Plan for the area has not been implemented due to poor funding.

‘The key challenge is that, for most of the master plans, less than 25 per cent of the components are implemented before the plans expire. Regardless, this is not the major challenge of storm water management in the area. Even the Drainage Master Plan for the area has not been implemented. It is poorly funded,’ he said.

To prevent future occurrences, he suggested that drainage works should precede development.

He pointed out that the areas worst hit by flooding this year were the same ones affected over the last five years, noting that action should have been taken.

‘Let drainage works precede physical development. With that, the components would have been implemented before communities were built,’ he said.

Another expert, Femi Oyedele, said the Lekki Comprehensive Master Plan has been bastardised, hence the incessant flooding of the area after heavy downpours.

‘Yes, we can say the Lekki Comprehensive Master Plan has been bastardised, and that is the reason for the incessant flooding of the area after heavy downpours,’ he said.

He defined the Lekki Comprehensive Master Plan as a regional development and zoning blueprint by the Lagos State Government, designed to transform the 70-80-kilometre-long Lekki Peninsula into a self-sustaining ‘Blue-Green Environment City’.

The master plan, he said, supports a projected population of over 5.3 million people and integrates high-end real estate with massive industrial hubs.

‘There were an estimated 100,000 trees in this city that have been cut down to give way for physical development. Water bodies, including lagoons, rivers, lakes and streams, have been sand-filled for housing construction,’ he said.

The worst bastardisation, Oyedele said, is the fact that there is no holistic channel for rainwater to escape because of the myriad of fenced estates developed without reference to the Lekki Comprehensive Master Plan.

He said: ‘The regional master plan includes the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFZ), a 16,500-hectare economic hub hosting major industrial projects like the Dangote Refinery, the Lekki Deep Sea Port and mixed-use developments like Alárò City.

‘Transportation and infrastructure development in the master plan encompass the expansion of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, the proposed Lekki-Epe International Airport (3,500-hectare site), the proposed Lagos Green Line Rail, and the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

‘Zoning divides the peninsula into distinct functional zones. The E2 axis focuses on financial, commercial and high-end estate properties, while the E4 axis is dedicated to logistics and industrial manufacturing.

‘This beautiful plan was to be regulated by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA).’

In 2024, he said, Lagos State Governor BabajideSanwo-Olu confirmed that less than 20 per cent of the buildings within the Lekki region had building approval.

‘That means over 80 per cent of the buildings in the Lekki region are without building approval.

‘Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu confirmed in 2024 that less than 20 per cent of the buildings within the Lekki region had building approval,’ he said.

Apart from this, Oyedele said many estates in the Lekki region are disjointed, with no relationship with one another in terms of roads and drainage connectivity.

To mitigate the problem of annual flooding, Oyedele is of the opinion that private and experienced housing experts must be involved by the Lagos State Government.

He suggested the review of the master plan and the establishment of waterways.

He said: ‘There are easy solutions to the flooding, starting with the review of the master plan.

‘There should be the establishment of waterways that will be used for transportation from the Eleko to Banana Island corridor. These waterways will also serve as floodwater absorbers during the rainy season.

Citing examples from other countries, Oyedele pointed out that over 90 per cent of the Netherlands is at or below sea level, yet the government has been able to mitigate flooding.

‘Over 80 per cent of Glasgow is prone to flooding, especially the islands, but the Glasgow local government authority has been able to control flooding through several measures, including comprehensive channelling.’

According to him, flooding in Lekki can be controlled if the Lagos State government is ready to work with housing professionals in academia and private practice.

To mitigate the impact of seasonal flooding, the Lagos State government said it has intensified drainage clearance, de-silting of canals and enforcement against indiscriminate waste disposal.

Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has said that it is banking on support across opposition party lines to secure victory for its presidential candidate in the 2027 elections, Mr Seyi Makinde.

The party cited the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), particularly its Ekiti State chapter, for its adoption of Makinde as the candidate to support while the parties maintain their individual identities.

The party stated that the key target remained to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s candidate, President Bola Tinubu, in 2027 and assume the mantle of leadership to run a government that catered most for the Nigerian people.

The APM’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Abubakar Yusuf, spoke in Abuja on Sunday while commenting on the reaffirmation of commitment to the alliance by the Ekiti chapter of the PDP and the support for Makinde, who is the sitting Governor of Oyo State, to win the presidency in 2027.

On Friday, members of the PDP in Ekiti state and other supporters gathered in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, where they reaffirmed their adoption of Makinde for the presidential poll.

According to Yusuf, the reaffirmation signalled ‘a major boost to the determination of Nigerians to elect Governor Makinde as the next President of Nigeria, especially given the abysmal failures of the Tinubu-led APC administration.’

He spoke further, ‘We are working very hard and putting all our energy on this election because we are running to win. We have a good Presidential candidate in Governor Makinde who has already become the rallying point for Nigerians, especially the youth.

‘As you are already aware, given Governor Makinde’s sterling performance, especially as governor of Oyo, Nigerians have accepted him as the credible alternative to President Tinubu, who has failed the nation in every ramification. So, we are in this election to win, and there is no going back.

‘Since Engr. Seyi Makinde emerged as the APM presidential candidate, Nigerians from across the country are increasingly identifying with our party, with many of them expressing their readiness to mobilise support for the APM and its candidates.

‘That is why we have been galvanizing cross-party support for our Presidential candidate, and I can confirm to you that our alliance talks with such like-minded political parties are yielding the desired results. So, we welcome the reaffirmation of support by the Ekiti Chapter of the PDP to our Presidential candidate, and I can tell you that you will hear more of such solidarity in the coming days.

‘Nigerians are expressing support for Governor Makinde because of the distinct governance identity he has built in Oyo State. His administration’s record of performance in critical areas including the economy, security, infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and civil service welfare continues to attract national attention.

‘So, we are not resting at all. We are focused on winning the election. We are building the numbers, we are strengthening the structure and we will run one of the most robust, issue-based and winning campaigns in the history of Nigeria. We welcome all Nigerians who share this vision to join the APM and be part of the movement for national renewal.’

He said the embrace of the APM by Nigerians was due to the party’s democratic principles and its ‘blueprint for accountable and transparent governance, improved security of lives and property, economic revival and sustainable development.’

Yusuf added that once in office, the APM would deliver on its promise to secure Nigeria and bring governance closer to the people.

Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, the Amanyanabo of Elem Kalabari, Alh. Mujahid Asari-Dokubo has urged Nigerian youths to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and give his administration more time to deliver on its development agenda.

King Asari – Dokubo made the call when he hosted the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) at his palace in Elem, Port Harcourt, ahead of the council’s National Thanksgiving Service at Salvation Ministries, Port Harcourt.

The event was organised to celebrate recent achievements, including various programmes and court judgments that helped resolve the NYCN crisis.

He noted that, in many parts of the world, retaining an incumbent political leadership is often more beneficial to a nation than experimenting with a new administration.

The Amanyanabo of Elem Kalabari stated, ‘I want to call on Nigerian youths and the executive to stand on the right side of history by supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In many countries, leadership that is allowed to continue often produces more results than leadership that is abruptly terminated.

‘When you meet Mr President, he will tell you to give him more time. He will say, ‘We are in a real mess; just give me more time, and in a short while, you will begin to see development.’

‘For now, you may not be able to see all the laudable work this administration is doing, but after a while, the results will become evident.’

In his remarks shortly after the National Thanksgiving Service, NYCN President, Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe, condemned banditry, kidnapping and other forms of social vices in the country.

Sukubo expressed concern that the growing insecurity, largely perpetrated by misguided youths, had continued to damage Nigeria’s image in the international community, contributing to the country’s designation by the United States as a ‘Country of Particular Concern.’

He vowed that the National Youth Council of Nigeria would collaborate with the Federal Government to tackle the wave of insecurity ravaging the country, stressing that the council would not sit idly by and allow the situation to deteriorate further.

NYCN President stated, ‘Our advice to Nigerian youths is that they should not take the law into their own hands. We are also appealing to our brothers who are involved in banditry, kidnapping and other social vices to desist from such acts. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and we all have a stake in the development of this country, even though their actions are not what we, as youths, encourage or support.

‘We condemn every action by young people in this great country who take the law into their own hands or engage in banditry and kidnapping. That is not the dream of the Nigerian youth constituency. Therefore, we call on our brothers involved in these kinds of vices to desist from them.

‘They may not see us coming after them, but if they continue to target and harm our young people across the country, we will have no option but to join forces with the Nigerian government and security agencies to identify and apprehend those perpetrating these unlawful acts in our land.

‘Such activities do not give our country the positive image it deserves at the global level. We have seen Nigeria being designated as a Country of Particular Concern because of the actions of a few individuals who have chosen to take the law into their own hands. That is not our dream, and it is certainly not something that the umbrella body of Nigerian youths will support.’

NYCN Deputy President, Amb. Innocent Nduanya, said the council would engage security agencies and the Federal Government in addressing insecurity, adding that it had developed a blueprint to tackle the menace, alongside programmes aimed at improving the lives of Nigerian youths.

Nduanya said the council was committed to the welfare and development of youths in a united Nigeria, stressing that banditry and other social vices had continued to pose serious challenges to the country.

He also urged Nigerian youths not to allow politicians to manipulate or exploit them for political purposes, calling on them to channel their energy towards promoting peace, unity, development and national progress.

NYCN Deputy President stated, ‘One of the key objectives we intend to pursue is to engage with Nigerian security agencies and the Federal Government on the issue of insecurity. We have developed a blueprint that will be unveiled soon, and we also have life-changing programmes aimed at improving the lives of Nigerian youths.

‘In addition, we have global partners who will collaborate with the National Youth Council of Nigeria to ensure that the youths of this country are adequately empowered.

‘As he mentioned, banditry and other social vices have continued to bedevil our nation. What I want to emphasise is that the Council is committed to the welfare and development of the youths of a united Nigeria. We are not interested in a disunited Nigeria.

‘I also want to use this opportunity to call on Nigerian youths who are being used by politicians to desist from allowing themselves to be manipulated or exploited for political purposes. The youths should instead channel their energy towards activities that promote peace, unity, development and the progress of our country,’ Nduanya stated.

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has detailed the extensive financial and strategic roles played by President Bola Tinubu in securing the victory of former President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2015 presidential election.

Speaking during an interview on Symfoni TV released on Saturday, Lawal revealed that Tinubu not only bankrolled key aspects of the historic campaign from his personal wealth but also independently funded the nationwide campaign activities of the then-vice presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Recounting the inner workings of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign machinery, the former SGF disclosed that Tinubu single-handedly financed Osinbajo’s outreach to specific demographics, hiring private jets to ease his mobility.

‘Through him, we were able to raise sufficient funds to do the campaign,’ Lawal stated. ‘Not only did he do that, Osinbajo’s portion of the campaign; he funded it, hired a chartered plane to fund the trip because Osinbajo’s campaign was a little bit broken away from the main campaign.’

Lawal explained that Osinbajo’s semi-independent campaign was a deliberate strategy to court Christian voters and other ethnic nationalities who harboured reservations about Buhari’s candidacy.

‘Osinbajo on his own was a pastor. His ethnic nationalities and Christians had some doubts about Buhari. He was on that side. He wasn’t in our own area and he was just operating semi-independently of the main campaign. Tinubu was funding it,’ he noted.

The former SGF further alleged that Tinubu brought in high-profile American political consultants to overhaul the party’s election strategy, spending billions of naira to secure their services. ‘I don’t know their names. I just know that they were Obama people, and they came and they transformed our campaign, and I knew that the money he paid them was in excess of two billion naira, equivalent in dollars,’ Lawal revealed.

Highlighting Tinubu’s deep pockets and commitment to the alliance that birthed the ruling party, Lawal noted that the current president routinely bypassed the party’s central treasury to settle massive electoral bills. ‘If there’s a need for an expenditure, no matter how massive, he doesn’t come to the campaign purse; he spends from his own purse,’ he added.

Lawal, who served in Buhari’s administration, also recounted how the former president specifically entrusted him with facilitating the initial merger talks between the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) due to his close personal relationship with Tinubu.

FOR decades, commercial buses in Nigeria have served as more than just a means of transportation. They have acted as marketplaces, debating arenas, campaign platforms, and, for countless Christian evangelists, moving pulpits.

From Lagos’ yellow buses to the minibuses crisscrossing Ibadan, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, passengers have grown accustomed to hearing spontaneous sermons, calls to repentance, prayers, words of encouragement, and hymns before they reach their destinations.

However, this long-standing tradition now faces its biggest legal challenge. The controversy began after the Senate passed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which proposes a fine of ?50,000, six months’ imprisonment, or both, for anyone found guilty of hawking, trading, or preaching in commercial buses.

Lawmakers argue that this measure aims to reduce distractions that could endanger motorists and passengers. The bill is currently awaiting presidential assent.

Instead of resolving the issue, the proposal has sparked one of the most spirited national conversations in recent years, pitting road safety concerns against constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and expression.

A growing wave of Christian opposition

Within days of the Senate’s decision, Christian organisations and church leaders across denominational lines began issuing statements rejecting the proposal. They described it as unnecessary, unconstitutional, and a distraction from more pressing national issues.

The Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) stated that the provision contradicts constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and expression, arguing that placing peaceful preaching in the same category as hawking and trading diminishes an activity protected by Nigeria’s Constitution. The council questioned whether criminalising evangelism truly addresses the country’s more urgent socio-economic and security challenges.

The Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), Nigeria Region, also criticised the bill. Its president, Dr. Israel Akinadewo, argued that equating Gospel preaching with commercial hawking sends a troubling message and undermines constitutionally protected religious expression. The organisation appealed to President Bola Tinubu to withhold assent to the legislation.

The Anglican Communion added its voice to the growing opposition. The Anglican Bishop of Lagos South West, the Right Reverend Ebenezer Adewole, described the proposed legislation as an undue distraction from the core responsibilities of governance and a waste of legislative time.

During a media briefing at the Cathedral Church of Pentecost in Festac, Lagos, ahead of the inaugural Synod of the Diocese of Lagos South West, Bishop Adewole urged lawmakers to focus their efforts on addressing issues such as insecurity, economic hardship, and other matters directly affecting Nigerians, rather than pursuing legislation aimed at criminalising public preaching in commercial vehicles.

His intervention further reinforced the belief among Christian leaders that the proposed amendment represents a misplaced priority in legislative focus.

Women Christian leaders join the opposition

Resistance to the proposed legislation has expanded beyond church councils and bishops. The Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) has directly appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reject the legislation, emphasising that road safety goals should not infringe on fundamental human rights.

Dr Ayobami Akinadewo, the National Chairperson of WOWICAN, has called for broader consultations that include religious organisations, legal experts, and civil society before implementing any restrictions. The group argues that peaceful religious expression should never be criminalised simply because it occurs in a commercial vehicle.

Northern Christian leaders reject road safety argument

The strongest responses have come from Northern Nigeria. The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has warned that criminalising peaceful preaching would be a dangerous infringement on the constitutional freedoms of religion and expression. They cautioned that such legislation could create unnecessary religious tension in an already sensitive environment and urged President Bola Tinubu not to approve the bill.

Similarly, Reverend Joseph Hayab, Chairman of the Northern Christian Association (NCA), dismissed the claim that preaching or playing religious messages in commercial buses poses a threat to road safety. He argued that activities such as preaching, playing music, offering prayers, and sharing words of encouragement inside vehicles do not interfere with road safety or vehicle movement.

Hayab noted that if the proposal indeed originated from road safety authorities, it suggests a misunderstanding of road regulations. He pointed out that modern vehicles are equipped with radios and audio systems meant for providing information, education, encouragement, and entertainment as long as they don’t distract drivers.

While he acknowledged that some individuals may behave inappropriately while preaching in buses, Hayab maintained that many ministers use these opportunities to pray for travellers, encourage passengers, and remind drivers about safe journeys.

Describing the bill as a misplaced legislative priority, he warned that criminalising bus evangelism would infringe on Nigerians’ constitutional rights to freedom of religion and expression. Instead of debating restrictions on public preaching, he urged lawmakers to focus on addressing the pressing issues of insecurity, poverty, hunger, and other urgent national challenges.

‘I ask myself whether our National Assembly truly understands what it means to be lawmakers,’ he expressed. ‘At a time like this in Nigeria, they are concerned about creating a law to prevent people from preaching in vehicles.’

Hayab urged lawmakers to distinguish between isolated misconduct and legitimate religious expression, rather than impose blanket restrictions on all forms of preaching in commercial vehicles. He also called on Christian leaders nationwide to engage with members of the National Assembly and advocate for the withdrawal of the bill.

Directly appealing to President Bola Tinubu, he urged the President not to support any legislation that would limit citizens’ constitutional rights. He insisted that Nigerians have the right to freely practice, express, and propagate their faith, provided it is done peacefully and responsibly.

CAN calls for dialogue

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) also rejected the proposal, maintaining that while passenger comfort and public order are legitimate concerns, restrictions affecting religious activities must be carefully balanced against constitutional rights.

Rather than criminalising preaching, CAN advocated dialogue involving lawmakers, religious leaders, transport unions and civil society organisations to arrive at a solution that protects both road safety and constitutional freedoms.

A lone Christian voice supports the bill

Interestingly, not every cleric opposed the proposal. Pastor Remmy Hazzan, a Provincial Assistant Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), publicly supported the legislation. He argued that preaching inside moving vehicles can distract drivers and endanger passengers.

Pastor Hazzan emphasised that Christians are biblically instructed to obey lawful authorities and suggested that churches should educate their members on how to comply with any new laws if they are enacted.

He noted that the exact scope of the legislation would become clearer after its implementation. His stance is one of the few publicly supportive Christian voices amid widespread opposition.

More than a road safety debate

Legal and religious observers believe the controversy ultimately revolves around balancing two legitimate public interests. On one hand, the government has a responsibility to protect lives by minimising distractions on Nigerian roads. On the other, there is a constitutional guarantee that every Nigerian has the right to freely practice, profess, and propagate their religion.

Most Christian leaders argue that if distraction is genuinely the concern, enforcement should focus on behaviours that demonstrably compromise driver concentration, rather than singling out peaceful religious expression.

However, supporters of the amendment contend that any activity capable of diverting a driver’s attention-whether hawking, trading, or preaching-should be regulated equally in the interest of public safety.

As President Bola Tinubu deliberates whether to sign or withhold assent to the amendment, the debate has evolved beyond commercial buses. It has sparked a significant national conversation about where public safety ends and religious liberty begins.

The Nigerian Association of Paediatric Dentistry (NAPD) has urged pregnant women to avoid self-medication and maintain good oral hygiene during pregnancy, warning that their oral health and lifestyle choices could have lasting effects on their children’s dental health.

The association gave the advice during an oral health outreach for expectant mothers at the Gynaecology Clinic of Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan. The outreach formed part of activities marking the association’s 8th Biennial Conference, themed ‘Smiles for the Future: Advancing Paediatric Dental Care in an Advancing World.’

NAPD President, Prof. Odegwa Joy Eminue, said the association chose to engage pregnant women because healthy teeth begin with proper nutrition, good oral hygiene and regular dental visits. She added that expectant mothers are often more receptive to health information that could benefit their unborn children.

‘We are holding our 8th Biennial Conference here in Ibadan, and we want our children to wear healthy smiles at all times. The key message is that healthy teeth begin with proper nutrition, good oral hygiene and regular dental visits,’ she said.

According to her, increasing consumption of sugary snacks and changing lifestyles have exposed children to greater risks of tooth decay, making preventive oral healthcare more important than ever.

‘When you educate children in schools, they may get home and forget the message. Mothers, especially during pregnancy, are eager to learn how to care for their babies, including their oral health. That is why we brought this message to them,’ she said.

Eminue urged expectant mothers to maintain good oral hygiene, noting that poor maternal oral health could affect both mother and child.

‘If mothers have gum disease, it can affect their general health and even contribute to premature delivery. There is a clear relationship between oral health and overall health, so caring for the mouth is part of caring for the body,’ she said.

Speaking on the prevalence of dental caries among Nigerian children, Eminue said studies had reported varying rates depending on the environment.

‘Research has shown that dental caries prevalence ranges from about 12 to 25 per cent, depending on the environment. Some studies have reported figures as low as 6.6 per cent, while one study among children under six recorded 2.3 per cent.

‘Even if only one per cent of children are affected, it is significant because we do not want any child to suffer from dental caries. It is painful and remains the most common chronic health condition affecting children worldwide,’ she said.

She called on parents to adopt preventive oral healthcare by ensuring healthy diets, proper tooth brushing and regular dental check-ups for their children, stressing that prevention remains the most effective way to reduce childhood dental diseases.

A Consultant Paediatric Dentist at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Dr Bamidele Popoola, warned expectant mothers against the indiscriminate use of drugs, particularly tetracycline, during a health talk, saying it could permanently stain a child’s developing teeth.

She also advised pregnant women to pay close attention to their oral health, noting that hormonal changes during pregnancy could increase the risk of dental problems.

According to her, women who experience excessive salivation should avoid sucking sweets throughout the day and instead chew sugar-free gum containing xylitol.

She added that pregnant women who vomit should rinse their mouths with water rather than brush immediately afterwards to prevent stomach acid from eroding the tooth enamel.

The paediatric dentist stressed that oral hygiene for children should begin as soon as the first tooth erupts.

‘The first tooth is the signal to start cleaning a child’s mouth. Introducing oral hygiene early makes it easier for children to develop healthy brushing habits,’ she said.

She also encouraged parents to establish what dentists describe as a ‘dental home’ by taking their children for regular dental check-ups rather than waiting until dental problems develop.

Popoola identified frequent snacking on sugary foods as a major cause of tooth decay among children, advising parents to ensure sugary snacks are eaten at one time rather than continuously throughout the day.

She also advised parents to supervise their children’s brushing, recommending brushing twice daily with only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.

On teething, Popoola dismissed the widespread belief that it causes fever, diarrhoea or vomiting.

She explained that babies often develop itchy gums while teething, prompting them to put contaminated objects such as slippers, shoes and fingers into their mouths, thereby exposing themselves to germs that can cause infections.

She noted that the association would continue its oral health education campaigns in schools while extending similar initiatives to antenatal clinics and immunisation centres to reach more mothers.

‘We believe that by educating mothers early, we can prevent many oral diseases and give children a healthier start in life,’ she said.

The Right Reverend Joseph Olusola, Bishop of the Ijesa North-East Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), has called on the federal government to ensure that the 2027 elections are credible. He made this statement during his address at the second session of the sixth synod, held at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State.

The theme of the synod was ‘Living a Life of Total Victory in Christ Jesus in the 21st Century’ (Romans 8:37).

In his remarks, the bishop noted that the Federal Government has a responsibility to ensure that justice prevails before, during, and after the elections.

‘As the synod gathered in prayerful reflection on the state of our nation, we address the Federal Government of Nigeria with a deep sense of responsibility, patriotism, and hope as the 2027 general elections approach. The times demand not only administrative preparation but also moral courage and a sincere commitment to justice, equity, and national unity,’ he stated.

He reminded the government that elections are not merely political events but sacred civic duties that shape the destiny of millions. He referenced Scripture, stating, ‘Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach for any people’ (Proverbs 14:34).

Bishop Olusola urged that all structures and institutions involved in the electoral process be strengthened to ensure transparency, credibility, and fairness.

He stressed the importance of preserving the independence of electoral bodies and called for security agencies to act with neutrality and professionalism, ensuring a safe environment for all citizens to exercise their rights without fear or intimidation.

He voiced strong concern against the weaponisation of poverty, ethnicity, and religion for political gain, stating that such practices undermine national integrity and deepen divisions.

He also condemned the use of material incentives to induce voters, calling it a distortion of democracy that must be decisively addressed. Leadership must transcend short-term political advantages and focus on the long-term welfare of the nation. He cited 2 Samuel 23:3, ‘He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.’

Furthermore, he called on the government to create an environment that promotes issue-based campaigns rather than those driven by personal attacks or divisiveness.

‘Citizens deserve to make informed choices based on policies that address critical national issues, including security, economic stability, education, and youth empowerment. The voices of marginalised groups, especially the poor and the youth, must be heard and respected,’ he added.

Bishop Olusola reiterated the need for the federal government to ensure that justice prevails throughout the electoral process, advocating for the prompt investigation and prosecution of electoral offences without bias.

He warned against allowing impunity to erode public trust and weaken democratic institutions, stressing that the credibility of the 2027 elections will significantly impact national stability and Nigeria’s standing in the global community.

As a church, he reaffirmed their commitment to praying for the nation, educating members about their civic responsibilities, and promoting peace at all levels.

He encouraged all stakeholders, including the government, political parties, civil society, and citizens, to act with integrity and a shared sense of purpose. The future of Nigeria must not be compromised by selfish ambition or systemic failures.

In conclusion, Bishop Olusola urged the federal government to lead with integrity, fairness, and accountability. He expressed hope that the 2027 general elections would serve as a testament to national maturity, democratic strength, and collective responsibility.

‘May God grant our leaders wisdom, and may peace, justice, and righteousness reign,’ he concluded.

IT is the task of the institutional reformer not only to push for concrete reform steps and policies, or take stock of the steady achievements of reform articulation and implementation. It is also very cogent for the institutional reformer to always stay ahead of political and electoral dynamics. The civil service was founded on its capacity for administrative stability and continuity that defies political and regime changes. In other words, despite the regular changes in government, it is the task of the civil service system to keep up the administrative frameworks that undergird the business of government. If, as it has become axiomatic, the public service is a complement to democracy and democratic governance, then it becomes important for any government hoping to achieve legitimacy in governance to keep reforming its civil service system or to keep consolidating its reform achievements.

This is the fundamental basis for this piece. It is founded on a serious question: How must we start thinking about next-level civil service reforms in Nigeria-all consolidated together in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration and in the institutional reform programmes of some state governments, LGAs inclusive-after the 2027 elections and the constitution of new governments across the Nigerian federation? For the institutional reformer, this question implies that it does not matter which government is in place as long as such a government is either dedicated to consolidating its own reform agenda or continuing to deepen the frameworks of institutional reform left by the previous government. Administrative reform is a continuous business, given that its objective is to keep the civil service system sufficiently adaptive and creative to pre-empt challenges and generate resolutions of administrative problems.

The challenge before the communities of service and practice in Nigeria therefore derives from their responsibility to keep holding up Nigeria’s governance, administrative and institutional reforms to the mirror of global best practices and national imperatives. In other words, it is our responsibility to spotlight where we are coming from, where we are at the moment, and what possibilities for more inclusive reform the future holds if we articulate specific change management frameworks and scenario reflection. All across the world, proactive governments are recognised by their attention and dedication to continuously reassessing their policy implementation, performance effectiveness and service delivery efficiency. In the United Kingdom, for example, the government is focusing on, among many other reforms, a very strict emphasis among senior civil servants on performance management, which necessitates tying performance to pay and incentives. This also involves some kind of negotiated exit for those who are not able to meet the performance contract and its requirements.

In the United States, there is an ongoing tension in the relationship between merit and patronage, and between job security and administrative performance. In other words, the struggle lies in the need to balance political correctness with the need for professional civil servants to exercise policy discretion. In Latin America and Africa, reform efforts are directed towards transitioning the civil service away from (neo)patrimonial frameworks founded on clientelist and political patronage to meritocratic and performance-based bureaucracies that have the capacities to backstop developmental states.

The charge for the communities of service and practice is then to determine how we can align ongoing civil service reform agendas across the world with the realities of the unfinished business of administrative and institutional reforms in Nigeria. We need to determine how we can keep renewing the transformative edge of institutional reform to backstop democratic governance, especially in the next four years that the 2027 general election is set to herald. To be able to do this, we must be able to give cogent attention to a series of diagnostic questions which first emerged in my attempt to grapple with the task of researching the civil service and its reform challenges.

i. What, in the light of lessons from high-performing administrative systems across the world, can the inherited Weberian civil service achieve that will be suitable for the purpose of Nigeria’s current governance and development objectives?

ii. If delivery of democratic dividends and restoration of public trust in public institutions is a clear objective for any reform thinking, how can we reengineer the MDAs’ management system into a performance-oriented, technology-enabled, socially compliant and accountable institution in a stewardship relationship with the public under a social compact?

iii. What fundamental changes can be made to the MDAs’ personnel policies, structure and operational cost ratios that are most effective and consistent with the optimal productivity level of the national economy while restoring the status of government as an employer of choice in the labour market?

iv. How can the MDAs’ skills deficit be corrected in a manner that would achieve a mix of reskilling, regulated injection of fresh skills and some measure of rightsizing and the reduction of redundancies, if unavoidable, within a framework that labour unions will like to sign on to and partner with to spiritedly implement?

v. How would policy work and the civil service be more sensitive to the political objectives of the government and at once be accountable to the public in the context of democratic consolidation without its capacity for relative independence as an apolitical and professional entity being undermined?

vi. How can the political leadership be encouraged to commit the much-needed political will that is a defining factor in investing in the transformation of the public service?

In applying these questions to the MDAs as the operational engine room of the public service system, the fundamental issue is not just to transform their business model but also to determine the scope of reforms to prioritise in each MDA. Focusing on the federal service, therefore, this will eventually raise the crucial matter of which MDAs are the most critical in delivering on the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda specifically, and the national development agenda generally. And finally, how might such prioritised MDAs be re-engineered to better be able to efficiently and effectively manage the business of government for enhanced performance and productivity?

Given the depth of my interaction with the system and my research connection with its inner dynamics, I will hazard a recommendation that the government needs to prioritise three sets of MDAs: one, those at the forefront of delivering on national priority programmes and projects like wealth and job creation; two, those tasked with the implementation of infrastructural and project-rooted master plans involving investment possibilities, SMEs, rule-based market players, etc.; and three, those MDAs delivering human capital development, and welfare-oriented and social impact services. To jump-start their institutional reform, these MDAs will have to first be taken through basic reform housekeeping that helps them to get the basics right in terms of the fundamental elements of any effective management system that can make the public service functional. And second, there is the need to beef up the organisational IQ of the MDAs through the mobilization of technical support that will facilitate a service-wide capability review that will attempt to fill the capability gaps while reinforcing the framework of performance improvement plans that must necessarily be implemented

In the rest of this piece, I will highlight some critical reform points to signpost the next level of performance of the public service as we look to 2027 and beyond in terms of the institutional transformation of the public service. One, given the deep erosion of the status of the public service as a vocation that is a complement to a democratic government, the government must constantly work on (re)launching a cultural adjustment programme that enables it to regain public trust in the public service. This can be done through the mainstreaming of codes of ethics and codes of practice that reinvent the public service as a value-based institution. This serves as the first level in consolidating the building of a new generation of public managers that can keep driving the transformation of the system. In this regard, the establishment of a multidisciplinary talent-reinforced senior executive service (SES) feeds into this need to reinvent and rebrand the public service, and beef up its organisational IQ. In pushing for the SES model for beefing up the brain and capability readiness of the civil service, we defer to Bob Garratt’s idea that in administration, the fish always rots from the head first.

Two, rebranding the public service and establishing a senior executive service must be reinforced by the deepening of the ongoing professionalisation of some core cadres in the service. This allows the service to restore the government and the public service as an employer of choice by connecting meritocracy to diversity and talent management in recruitment. In constantly revising the intellectual contents of skills for running the business of government through benchmarking globally available competency frameworks, the public service is then able to regrade skills and competences that are accompanied by the installation of new and competitive wage structures and incentive packages, the rightsizing and downsizing alongside considerable social assistance programmes and severance packages, which deserve to be funded with a major credit facility given the incredible value that their return on investment (ROI) promises.

Three, it is inevitable and urgent that the government must keep reengineering the operating and management system of the MDAs as a safeguard to make them structurally capable of backstopping results-based performance management systems which connect talent management with knowledge, performance and productivity. We must do all it takes to create performance-managed backends in MDA operations, ones that not only displace the discredited APER scores, but also deploy new performance appraisal metrics and instruments that will henceforth account for what officers have contributed or accomplished or have the capabilities and competences to achieve. The performance management system is, of course, meant to instigate the consolidation of competency-based human resource practices, career management protocols and leadership pipelining in the service.

Four, the emergence of the new normal consequent on the COVID-19 pandemic demands that the public service, post-2027, will not be able again to ignore the critical utility of digital technologies, including the pre-eminence of artificial intelligence in the public service workplace. This demands, therefore, that if the Nigerian state is to successfully navigate a place in the fourth and fifth industrial revolutions, the public service needs to deploy new technologies in strengthening its policy management function. This can be done through reprofiling and professionalising its planning, research and statistics function, concretising the policy-research-consulting synergies as a means of deepening policy intelligence, strategic thinking, evidence-based analytics and problem-solving. The system also must consider upgrading its MandE systems, as well as consolidating and significantly upgrading its programme, project and change management capabilities.

After the general election is conducted, won and lost in 2027, what will continue to matter is the state of the public service and its capability readiness to deliver the dividends of democratic governance to Nigerians. We cannot afford to lose sight of that significant issue.

Olaopa is the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, Abuja, and Professor of Public Administration.

It is a singular honour to have been invited to serve as the Mother of the Day at this eighth annual lecture, organised by Penpushing Media.

I warmly commend the organisers for sustaining a platform that enriches public discourse and deepens our collective reflection on the issues that define the future of our democracy.

The theme of today’s lecture, ‘Restoring Electoral Integrity: The Path to Good Governance and Public Accountability’, speaks directly to one of the defining challenges of our time.

Elections are not merely periodic political contests; they are the constitutional expression of the sovereignty of the people. Their integrity is therefore indispensable to the legitimacy of government and the stability of the state.

History teaches us that enduring nations are built not simply on the strength of their constitutions but on the fidelity with which their institutions and citizens uphold them.

Good governance and public accountability do not begin after elections; they begin with elections whose outcomes command public confidence.

I therefore congratulate the organisers for convening this important conversation.

At a time when democracies across the world are confronting new tests, thoughtful engagement such as this strengthens our institutions and renews our shared commitment to democratic ideals.

It is my hope that today’s deliberations will move us beyond diagnosis to renewed resolve so that future generations may inherit a democracy that is not only constitutionally sound but also worthy of the trust and aspirations of our people.

It is, therefore, my pleasure to welcome you all to what I am confident will be an enlightening and consequential lecture.

Thank you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Being remarks of Ambassador Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu (as Mother of the Day) at the 8th Annual Lecture of Penpushing Media, held on Thursday, 23rd July, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Delta State Police Command has arrested 81 suspects during a Police raid on identified black spots across Asaba metropolis as part of efforts to tackle crime and dismantle criminal networks in the state.

The suspects, comprising 50 males and 31 females, were arrested for offences including the possession and sale of suspected illicit drugs and operating an illegal checkpoint at the Asaba-Onitsha Head Bridge.

The operation, led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police alongside tactical teams of the command, also led to the impoundment of five vehicles for various offences, including operating an unauthorised taxi park at Pinnacle Junction along Okpanam Road and facilitating the sale and distribution of suspected illicit drugs in the area.

The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement issued at the weekend, describing the operation as part of the command’s proactive strategy to dismantle criminal networks and deny offenders safe havens across the state.

According to him, exhibits recovered during the raid included large quantities of tramadol and substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

In a related development, the command said it had arrested nine additional suspects as it commenced a statewide crackdown on illegal roadblocks and unauthorised revenue collection along highways in compliance with the Federal Government’s directive to eliminate extortion and criminal activities on Nigerian roads.

The suspects were apprehended at strategic locations, including the River Niger Head Bridge linking Delta and Anambra states and the Benin-Asaba Expressway near Agbor.

The enforcement exercise targeted notorious locations where illegal toll collection and unauthorised roadblocks had hindered the free movement of motorists and posed security risks.

The command reiterated its commitment to restoring safety and order on highways across the state, assuring residents that the ongoing operations would be sustained to curb criminal activities.