Category: Nigerian Tribune

A 32-year-old truck driver, Oriyomi Ayesoro, has been convicted and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for unlawful transportation of 2,647 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa.

Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court sentenced the truck driver after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge filed against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The judge equally ordered the interim forfeiture of the white Iveco truck with registration number FKJ 271 IYL and Chassis Number SBCAIA000B015241, used to convey the illicit drugs, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In addressing the court, the counsel for the NDLEA, Paul Ekuri, stated that the convict was arrested on July 9, 2026, at Abraham Adesanya Street, Lekki, Lagos, while transporting the banned substance from Alasia Tipper Garage to Berger, Lagos State.

According to the charge designated FHC/LAG/CR/642/2026, the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Ayesoro pleaded guilty to the offence when the charge was read to him.

Therefore, consequent upon his guilty plea, the counsel for the NDLEA prayed to the judge to convict and sentence him accordingly and to order the forfeiture of the truck to the Federal Government.

Even the convict’s lawyer, Dennis Warri, did not oppose the request for conviction but opposed the final forfeiture of the truck, citing several legal authorities and provisions of the NDLEA Act.

Handing down his judgment, Justice Aluko sentenced Ayesoro to five years’ imprisonment but gave him an option of N1 million fine instead of the jail term.

The judge further held, while speaking on the fate of the truck, that the onus is on the vehicle owner to prove that the crime was committed without his knowledge or consent.

According to Justice Aluko, ‘The owner of the vehicle, of the truck, is given a period of seven days from today to place facts or evidence before the Court to show cause why the final forfeiture order should not be made over the truck.’

Uber’s announcement to exit Nigeria has introduced significant uncertainty into an ongoing dispute involving e-hailing drivers, passengers, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) regarding airport pickup regulations. This conflict has been acknowledged by FAAN in two separate statements, yet complaints from drivers in Abuja and passengers in Lagos continue to arise.

On Wednesday, Uber stated that it would discontinue its operations in Nigeria effective September 2, 2026, ending a 12-year presence that began in Lagos in 2014. ‘After a thorough review of our business, we have made the tough decision to wind down our operations in Nigeria,’ the company announced.

Uganda also saw a similar shutdown on the same day; however, Uber clarified that this decision was ‘limited strictly to these two markets.’ This exit is part of a broader global restructuring that includes a 10 percent reduction in workforce.

In Abuja, Shifaw Rahman, who operates a car hire service called ‘Ride With Shiffy,’ expressed concern that Uber’s departure further exacerbates the losses drivers have already endured due to FAAN’s restrictions on e-hailing services at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

‘Uber leaving Nigeria is honestly a big loss, particularly for drivers. It connected me with more reliable clients, including international passengers. Their customer service was prompt and professional, and having a physical office for issue resolutions made the platform feel seamless and dependable,’ Rahman said.

Rahman noted that FAAN had barred Bolt and other e-hailing operators from the airport for several weeks before allowing Bolt to resume operations ‘just a few days ago,’ but she described the current arrangements as still unsettled.

Additionally, FAAN continues to charge a ?2,000 fee for airport pickups, even when the passenger is someone known personally rather than through an app booking.

FAAN’s own statements, released in August, confirm parts of this timeline while disputing others. In a release dated August 20, the Authority stated that its position ‘is not, and has never been, directed at limiting passengers’ access to transportation options.’

Instead, it attributed these restrictions to concerns over ‘passenger solicitation and touting,’ as well as the need for ‘operational visibility’ over vehicles and drivers at the airport. The release clarified that ACHRAMS, FAAN’s car-hire management platform, ‘is not an e-hailing application and is not intended to compete with’ Uber, Bolt, or similar services.

A follow-up release dated August 27 and signed by Henry Agbebire, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, directly apologized to affected passengers.

‘We sincerely apologise for the difficulties this caused our passengers,’ the statement read, adding that FAAN and Bolt had ‘reached an agreeable operational framework’ allowing Bolt to commence its services at FAAN-managed airports immediately.

FAAN also stated that it remained ‘engaged with other e-hailing operators’ to address outstanding issues and denied any intention to create a monopoly in airport transportation.

The dispute has extended beyond Abuja. Respondents to FAAN’s Instagram statement have raised similar concerns about fares at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

A commenter with the handle @tywo_omole noted that FAAN’s approved airport transport system charges as much as ?30,000 for a trip from the airport to Ikeja, compared to the ?5,000 to ?8,000 previously charged by e-hailing platforms.

Another commenter, @sisibiola, stated that FAAN-affiliated cab drivers were charging ?12,000 for a trip to GRA Ikeja, which typically takes under 10 minutes, citing airport parking fees as the reason.

Additionally, @ktrineempire asked FAAN to disclose the terms of its agreement with Bolt after being quoted ?30,000 for a ride within Ikeja.

In response to these fare complaints, FAAN’s statement released on August 27 clarified that these rates were ‘not newly imposed by FAAN or created by ACHRAMS.’

The authority explained that airport taxi fares have long existed independently of the application and that ACHRAMS merely made these pre-existing rates more visible to passengers.

This visibility, they noted, understandably raised concerns when compared to the lower fares that passengers had become accustomed to with e-hailing platforms.

A separate, unverified claim posted on the same FAAN Instagram thread by a commenter using the handle @folaitanjimi_, who described herself as a driver displaced from Bolt’s airport shuttle work, alleged that drivers caught picking up Bolt passengers at the airport were fined and had their tires deflated. This claim has not been independently verified, and FAAN has not addressed it directly in its public statements.

Bashir Ahmad, a former presidential aide on new media under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, suggested on X that driver behavior may have contributed to Bolt’s decision to exit the market.

He pointed out that the phrase ‘please cancel the trip so we can go offline’ has become familiar to many riders, indicating a pattern in which drivers exploit Uber’s platform to connect with customers before taking them off the app to avoid commission fees.

Ahmad warned that this ‘short-term greed’ could ultimately lead to the exit of Bolt, inDrive, and other ride-hailing platforms from the country, as the burden of attracting and connecting drivers with passengers falls primarily on the platforms themselves.

FAAN has not issued any additional statements specifically addressing Uber’s exit, and their most recent public release predates this announcement by about a week.

Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) housemate Gerald Adebija, popularly known as Gerald, has been evicted from the Season 11 reality show.

His eviction came during the latest live show as housemates continued their battle for survival in the competition.

Following the eviction, Barry was named the Most Influential Player of the Week in the Big Brother Naija house.

However, in line with this week’s ‘Switch’ theme, Barry will not receive the usual immunity attached to the Most Influential Player title.

Instead, he was rewarded with a BB Box.

Barry also won an air fryer after participating in the spin, adding another reward to his week.

The development makes Barry the latest housemate to claim the Most Influential Player title in the ongoing BBNaija Season 11 competition.

Meanwhile, Gerald’s eviction further reduces the number of housemates competing for the grand prize as the reality show progresses.

ON his 2007 album, ‘Controversy and Precision’, the late Fuji music maestro, Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, did something noteworthy that went under the radar. He dedicated the eight-minute, thirty-three-second ‘Precision’ track to appreciating his colleagues in the Yoruba-language part of Nollywood.

A towering figure in entertainment who continues to inspire several other aspiring musicians despite being dead for over a decade, the Ibadan, Oyo State-born artist displayed remarkable humility by listing the names of the players in Yoruba Nollywood, uniquely praising them the only way he had mastered.

Adebayo Salami, Sunday Omobolanle, Ronke Oshodi, Iyabo Ojo, Bolaji Amusan, and many others, favourites of millions of Nigerians, were mentioned, as Barrister celebrated his fellow entertainers in acting.

It was the turn of Taiwo Hassan, better known as Ogogo, around 5.05 minutes of the track. He acknowledged the close ties between Yinka Quadri and Ogogo, asking the latter, ‘Sho n ti e bami toju handsome Taiwo Hassan mi o. Ogogo kulodo…’, that is, are you caring for the handsome Taiwo Hassan? Barry asked rhetorically before moving on to other artists.

Nineteen years after Barrister’s tribute, Ogogo passed away on Sunday, August 23, at the age of 66. Earlier, one of his children had told the public about his battle with cancer, making it clear that the family was not asking for money but hoping to find doctors who could help.

Ogogo will be remembered primarily as an actor, director, producer and mentor; a towering figure whose face and voice became familiar to generations of Yoruba film audiences. But before the films, there was another artistic foundation to his career: praise singing and chanting.

Ogogo’s journey into the performing arts began with ràárà, Yoruba praise singing and poetic chanting. He performed as a chanter in stage productions before finding his way into film and eventually becoming one of the defining figures of Yoruba Nollywood. He trained under Awo Ademola Fagbemi, learning the art of reciting eulogies, while his famous name, Ogogo, was drawn from his family’s oríkì.

In that sense, Ogogo represented something that is sometimes overlooked in discussions of Yoruba cinema. He was not simply an actor who happened to chant. He came from a performance tradition in which acting, music, poetry, praise singing and storytelling often overlap.

Like Barrister, Ogogo possessed a powerful voice, and throughout his career, he occasionally returned to those roots. His performance in productions such as the award-winning Seven Doors, for instance, reminded audiences that behind the actor was a performer shaped by the older traditions of Yoruba oral art.

Since his death, short videos of Ogogo chanting and singing have circulated on social media. Beyond the understandable nostalgia, those clips have served another purpose: they have reminded many people of the artistic range that existed behind the familiar screen persona. They have also drawn attention to an important question: what happens when the generation that carries these traditions begins to disappear?

That question became even more urgent with the death, a day after Ogogo, of Pa Alabi Ogundepo, the veteran poet and ìjálá chanter.

The coincidence of their deaths brought two related but distinct traditions of Yoruba oral performance into the same moment of public reflection. Ogogo took the skills of praise singing into theatre and eventually into popular cinema. Pa Ogundepo remained more closely identified with ìjálá, the rich poetic tradition historically associated with hunters, although his talent also took him into theatre, broadcasting and film.

Born in Saki, Oyo State, into a family with a hunting background, Ogundepo learned ìjálá chanting from his father and from other masters, including Lasisi Alarape Oni. After his primary education, he worked several jobs, including milling and gathering gravel, before his unusual gift for performance opened the door to theatre.

The late Pa Oyin Adejobi recognised that talent and brought him into his theatre company. From there, Ogundepo›s voice travelled across different artistic spaces. He appeared in Professor Ola Rotimi›s Kurunmi as a praise singer. He later auditioned for Professor Wole Soyinka’s Kongi’s Harvest, directed by the late Ossie Davis and produced by Pa Francis Oladele’s Calpenny Nigeria Films.

His journey also took him into The Acting Company at the University of Ibadan, where he became friends with the late Wale Ogunyemi and Uncle Tunji Oyelana. He performed with Oyelana’s band, The Benders, chanted at occasions and worked with other theatre companies.

For Ogundepo, ìjálá could belong to the hunting tradition, the theatre stage, radio or television. If you don’t remember what Chief Ogundepo’s chant sounded like, you can find it in General Kollington Ayinla’s 1984 album ‘Knockout Special’. Listen to his beautiful chant in the ‘Ogun Onire’ track.

But perhaps his widest impact came through broadcasting. Ogundepo spent most of his life in Osogbo while promoting Yoruba culture through his work with Radio Nigeria, Ibadan; NTA Ibadan; Radio OYO; and the then Television Service of Oyo State.

For many people of my generation and those before us, his voice was part of everyday life. We grew up listening to his poems and ìjálá on radio and television,

One of the poems that remained particularly memorable was his warning about the dangers of children engaging in street trading. It goes thus:

Gbogbo abiyamo pata, e je ka si rawa leti

Gbogbo alagbato pata, e je ka jo sapero

Se omo ti ko ti dagba to eniti da oja ta, lo gbe ‘gba lori ko maa kiri worobo

Lomo o si mogba ti onimoto nbo

Gbe bisiki wa lawe gbo, lomo ba fo sona lo b abo senu irin

Oro yi di ikaya, o di howu howu

E maa taja loju ona mo, tori moto o mo enikan. Ogun o nifi eran wa yi lele

The power of artists like Ogogo and Pa Ogundepo lay not only in their talent but also in the worlds that produced them. They emerged from traditions in which young performers could learn directly from masters; where oríkì, ràárà and ìjálá were not simply subjects for academic discussion but living art forms.

Barrister belonged to that wider world too. His decision to celebrate actors on ‘Precision’ was more than a musician casually mentioning famous names. It reflected the interconnectedness of the Yoruba creative tradition. The musician could celebrate the actor because they drew from many of the same cultural wells: language, praise poetry, oral history and performance.

Today, however, those wells appear to be producing fewer practitioners with the same depth of grounding. There are still artists keeping the traditions alive. Ibrahim Chatta, for example, in movies, and Akeem Lasisi in ìjálá,.

But the question raised by the deaths of Ogogo and Pa Alabi Ogundepo is larger than whether a few talented individuals can continue the work.

The more urgent question is whether we are still creating the conditions that produced artists like them. Who is teaching young people the intricacies of ìjálá and ràárà? Are our creative institutions preserving these art forms as living traditions, or are we waiting until their talented practitioners die before rediscovering what they represented?

Ogogo and Pa Alabi Ogundepo belonged to different generations and travelled different artistic paths. One became a household name through cinema; the other remained more closely associated with poetry, chanting and broadcasting. Yet both represented a level of artistic grounding that connected contemporary entertainment to older Yoruba traditions.

Their deaths should force us to ask a more difficult question: not simply whether another Ogogo or another Ogundepo will emerge, but whether we are still building cultural institutions capable of producing them.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has begun making a fresh case for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, urging Northern youths to support the administration’s economic reforms and policy continuity.

Akpabio made the appeal on Saturday while receiving a high-level delegation of the Northern Ethnic Groups Assembly in Abuja.

He said the reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms, were painful but necessary measures to reposition the economy.

According to him, the policies have now crossed a critical threshold and are beginning to produce tangible benefits for Nigerians.

‘I stand before you not merely as a politician, but as a public servant committed to the prosperity of our nation, and particularly this vital region,’ Akpabio told the youth leaders.

‘The reforms initiated by President Tinubu are not abstract theories; they are concrete, courageous actions designed to dismantle long-standing structural bottlenecks and unlock Nigeria’s vast potential.’

The Senate President said the removal of the fuel subsidy and efforts to stabilise the foreign exchange market were necessary steps towards achieving fiscal sustainability.

He acknowledged that the measures initially imposed difficulties on Nigerians but argued that they were required to redirect government resources to critical sectors.

‘While these measures initially posed challenges, they were the surgical procedures needed to redirect resources into healthcare, education, and infrastructure,’ he said.

Akpabio also claimed that the reforms were producing early positive indicators, including improved revenue collection, increased investor confidence, and renewed interest from international partners.

He urged Northern youths to become active participants in governance rather than waiting for the future before taking responsibility.

‘You are architects of today, not just leaders of tomorrow,’ he told the delegation.

He said the 10th National Assembly was prioritising reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and the rule of law.

‘Your innovation and engagement are the lifeblood of these reforms,’ Akpabio said.

‘We urge you to be critical consumers of information and to engage in constructive dialogue.’

The Senate President’s comments come as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to gather momentum across the country.

His appeal also places policy continuity at the centre of the argument for another Tinubu term.

Akpabio argued that abandoning the current reform programme before its consolidation could undermine the gains being recorded.

On his part, The group’s spokesperson of the Northern Ethnic Groups Assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan-Musa, commended Akpabio for what he described as efforts to strengthen political understanding between the North and South.

‘We commend the Senate President for his accessibility and his unwavering dedication to the Nigerian project,’ Dan-Musa said.

‘His proactive engagement has rebuilt vital bridges of trust. He has proven that true national leadership transcends ethnic and geographical boundaries.’

The coalition also pledged to mobilise at the grassroots to educate Nigerians on what it described as the long-term benefits of the Federal Government’s economic policies.

Dan-Musa said national unity must remain above regional demands and sectional interests.

‘National unity is the ultimate anchor of our collective survival.

‘No regional sentiment can take precedence over the sovereignty and peace of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’, he said.

Meanwhile, the assembly identified three key areas for its political engagement ahead of 2027.

They include continuous consultation with Northern youth structures, grassroots enlightenment on federal fiscal policies and an uncompromising commitment to national cohesion.

The coalition said federal leadership must maintain mutual respect and transparent consultation with Northern youth organisations.

It also pledged to embark on awareness campaigns aimed at explaining the government’s economic policies to rural communities.

The group said such engagement was necessary to address misinformation and help Nigerians understand the implications of the reforms.

Kings University, Odeomu, Osun State, has challenged scholars and researchers to move beyond theories and academic publications by developing technology-driven solutions capable of addressing the growing challenges confronting humanity.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Adenike Kuku, gave the charge at the maiden Kings University Interdisciplinary Conference (KUIC 2026), held from September 2 to 4, with the theme, ‘Sustainable Futures Beyond 2030: Technological Breakthroughs, Environmental Action, and Social Transformation.’

The three-day conference, which formed part of activities marking the university’s 10th anniversary, brought together scholars, researchers, educators, industry experts and thought leaders from Nigeria and beyond to examine practical pathways to sustainable development beyond 2030.

In her welcome address, Kuku said the world was confronted with increasingly complex challenges, including climate change, technological disruption, inequality, food insecurity, disease outbreaks and rapid social transformation, which could no longer be adequately addressed through isolated academic disciplines.

She called for stronger collaboration among the sciences, social sciences, humanities, technology, business, engineering and other fields, stressing that the convergence of expertise was critical to producing innovative and sustainable solutions to global problems.

The Vice-Chancellor said KUIC 2026 was deliberately designed to encourage researchers to take scholarship beyond theories and publications and translate their findings into actionable policies, market-ready innovations and practical interventions capable of improving lives and contributing to national development.

Kuku, who described the conference as a significant milestone in the university’s first decade, also urged researchers, lecturers and students to use the platform to establish networks and partnerships that would outlive the three-day event and produce tangible benefits for communities and society.

The conference featured distinguished keynote speakers, including Professor Christian Happi, Director of the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer’s University, Nigeria; Dr Navneet Kaur, Executive Director of ICERT, India and the United States; and Dr Ilia Stambler of Bar-Ilan University, Israel.

Happi, in his presentation, highlighted the transformative role of genomic technology in public health, particularly genomic surveillance, rapid pathogen identification and the development of field-deployable diagnostic tools.

He also called for stronger African scientific capacity and encouraged researchers to develop creative and innovative solutions to problems affecting their immediate environments.

Dr Kaur, in her presentation on the future of education, advocated learning communities that are happy, mindful, resilient, skilful and prepared for the demands of the future.

She identified psychosocial intelligence, emotional regulation, resilience, a sense of belonging and empowered teachers as essential elements of future-ready education.

Stambler, while examining the longevity economy, explored the scientific, social, economic and policy implications of increasing human lifespan.

He stressed the need for greater attention to healthy ageing, longevity research, public policy and international cooperation as societies grapple with changing demographic realities.

The plenary sessions further expanded the discussions, with Professor Olawale Emmanuel Olayide of the University of Ibadan examining sustainable development and the integration of data, education, technology, environmental considerations, economics and governance.

Professor Kunle Michael Oluwasegun of the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada, brought his expertise in materials science and engineering to the conference, highlighting the relationship between academic research, industrial innovation and practical solutions.

The conference also featured contributions from the Local Organising Committee Chairman, Dr Bankole, and the host of the conference, Dr Ajayi, who welcomed participants and underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing complex societal challenges.

Commending the keynote and plenary presentations, Kuku said researchers presented papers covering climate-resilient agriculture and food security, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, aviation technology, antimicrobial resistance, biotechnology, One Health, environmental sustainability, economics, governance, historical preservation and social development.

According to her, ‘One of the studies proposed an artificial intelligence-driven framework for integrating environmental, clinical, genomic and geospatial intelligence to strengthen antimicrobial-resistance surveillance and improve health decision-making in Africa.’

She added: ‘Other presentations examined indigenous crops and climate resilience, digitalisation in aviation maintenance and the preservation of Africa’s historical heritage through digital technologies.’

Participants also took part in physical and virtual oral presentations, exhibitions, networking and other knowledge-sharing activities before the conference culminated on September 4.

The gathering reinforced the message that challenges such as disease outbreaks, climate change, food insecurity, technological disruption, education and population ageing require collaboration across disciplines rather than isolated academic approaches.

The conference was organised as part of activities marking the 10th anniversary of Kings University.

Amid persistent poverty, squalor and insecurity confronting many Nigerians, the need to depend on God for succour and provision has become indisputable, the Ibadan District Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Reverend Solomon Wada, has said.

Wada stated this in Ibadan during the 2026 Ibadan District Convocation of the church, with theme, ‘Ultimate Satisfaction’, drawn from Psalm 107:9.

He attributed many of the challenges confronting Nigerians to the belief that they could achieve success without God’s help and guidance, leading many to struggle with poverty, pain and disappointment.

According to him, while the physical needs of many Christians continue to increase, the means of meeting them appear to be diminishing, partly because people often pursue their wants rather than their needs.

‘Painfully, many believers are running after shadows. God did not promise to satisfy our wants, but our needs. And those who seek God and His righteousness, all things will be added unto them,’ he said.

The General Overseer of the church, Rev. (Dr.) Sam Aboyeji, represented by the Southwest Regional Coordinator, Reverend Rasaq Akinwale, described the convocation as timely, saying it would promote spiritual renewal, deeper consecration and fresh empowerment for greater exploits.

Aboyeji urged Christians to remain steadfast in God despite challenges and trials, assuring them that God was preparing opportunities and favour to satisfy their needs and souls.

The Chairman of the Convocation Committee, Ayodeji Olugbenga, said true and lasting fulfilment could not be found in the fleeting pleasures of the world but in a personal relationship with God.

He added that the convocation was designed to facilitate spiritual renewal, divine encounters and lasting transformation through a deeper understanding of the satisfaction found in Christ.

Delivering the sermon, Akinwale challenged Christians to stop questioning God’s ways and instead delight in His Word, stressing that ultimate satisfaction comes from knowing and walking with Him.

He said spiritual hunger could not be satisfied by earthly possessions and pleasures, adding that those who seek God first experience peace, purpose and contentment.

‘Without God, there will be vacuums that only pain and burden will fill,’ he said, stressing that ultimate satisfaction comes through self-control and total submission to God.

The convocation also featured the ordination of 12 people as ministers, elders, deacons and deaconesses of the church.

The federal government’s reform of the nation’s maritime sector has started yielding the necessary fruits as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) at the weekend said it recorded growth in cargo throughput, vessel traffic, container movements, vehicle traffic, among others in the second quarter (Q2) of 2026.

This was contained in the NPA Operational Performance Report for the Second Quarter of 2026, which revealed an overall improvement in operational activities.

Analysis of the report showed that most of the key performance indicators recorded positive growth, reflecting sustained increases in vessel traffic, cargo throughput, container movements and port utilisation.

‘The increase in cargo volumes and ship calls underscores the continued resilience of the nation’s seaports to facilitate trade and be more competitive,’ said Managing Director of the NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, while commenting on the stellar performance.

A breakdown of the report showed that cargo throughput increased by 12.3 per cent, from 31,825,592 metric tonnes recorded in Q2 2025 to 35,740,362 metric tonnes in Q2 2026.

An analysis of cargo throughput by type of trade showed that inward cargo accounted for 56.8 per cent of total cargo handled, while outward cargo represented 41.9 per cent.

Transshipment cargo contributed 488,364 metric tonnes, representing approximately 1.4 per cent of total cargo throughput.

The report further stated that inward cargo increased by 7.7 per cent, while outward cargo recorded a 22 per cent increase, ‘demonstrating improved export performance during the period under review.’

The number of ocean-going vessels completed increased from 1,050 in Q2 2025 to 1,201 in Q2 2026, representing an increase of 14.4 per cent.

Similarly, the Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of ocean-going vessels increased from 40.87 million tonnes to 49.95 million tonnes, representing a growth of 22.2 per cent.

The number of service boats completed rose by 22.3 per cent, from 3,554 to 4,347, while the associated Gross Registered Tonnage increased by 62.4 per cent, from 1.06 million tonnes to 1.73 million tonnes.

Container traffic increased by 11.3 per cent, rising from 541,229 TEUs in Q2 2025 to 602,392 TEUs in Q2 2026.

The report stated that inward laden containers increased by 6.3 per cent, accounting for approximately 51.5 per cent of total container traffic.

Outward laden containers declined marginally by 3.9 per cent, while empty container traffic increased by 13.9 per cent compared with the corresponding period of 2025.

Transshipment container traffic stood at 29,038 TEUs, compared with no recorded movement during the corresponding period of 2025.

This, the report said, reflects the growing importance of transshipment operations within the Nigerian port system.’

Also, Vehicle traffic increased during the period under review. A total of 44,147 units were handled in Q2 2026 compared with 37,306 units recorded in Q2 2025, representing an increase of 18.3 per cent.

The report said the increase was indicative of improved automobile import activities attributable largely to the stability of the exchange rate.’

The report identified the continued growth in transshipment traffic as a development within the Nigerian port system.

It stated that ‘The emergence and continued growth of transshipment traffic continues to position Nigerian ports as an emerging regional transshipment hub. The on-going Port Modernisation if completed with the sustained investment in infrastructure and commercial engagement with shipping lines will further enhance this opportunity.’

Overall, the report stated that positive growth was recorded across most operational indicators, particularly cargo throughput, vessel traffic, container traffic and vehicle traffic.

‘The Second Quarter of 2026 recorded encouraging operational performance across the Nigerian ports, with sustained growth in ship traffic, cargo throughput, container movements, vehicle traffic, and berth utilisation,’ it stated.

Commenting further, Dantsoho said the NPA’s core priority for 2026 is a massive infrastructure overhaul, complemented by digital reforms and operational efficiency improvements. Stakeholders should expect visible progress on the ground, starting with the groundbreaking of the port modernisation projects.

‘The centerpiece is the modernisation of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports. The NPA notes both are outdated-Apapa is nearly 100 years old and Tin Can over 50. NPA is also supporting the Lekki and Badagry deep-sea projects to handle larger vessels and revitalising Eastern Ports to reduce Lagos congestion. NPA is prioritising the full implementation of the Port Community System (PCS) to streamline operations and reduce manual bottlenecks. This integrates with the National Single Window (NSW) (operational since Q1 2026) to create a unified digital trade ecosystem.

‘The authority is enhancing technology-driven security for 24-hour operations and strengthening collaboration with customs agents to tackle congestion and improve cargo evacuation. NPA is positioning Nigeria as West Africa’s trade nerve The expected impact includes faster operations, lower logistics costs, increased trade volumes, and improved export competitiveness,’ he added.

Operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, have arrested three suspected cultists in the Ikorodu area of the state and recovered a locally fabricated, cut-to-size double-barrel pistol from them.

The command also said it had commenced efforts to apprehend other members of the alleged criminal network.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Afolayan Gbenga, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued over the weekend.

According to him, the operation was part of the command’s sustained efforts to curb cultism, violent crimes and other criminal activities across Lagos and Ogun.

He said the operation followed credible intelligence from a member of the public concerning the activities of suspected cultists allegedly terrorising residents of Ikorodu and its environs.

Afolayan said detectives attached to the Zonal Quick Intervention Squad commenced surveillance on the suspects before launching a coordinated operation on September 3, 2026.

He said the operation led to the arrest of one of the suspects, Michael Badejo, at Ifo, Ogun State, adding that his arrest subsequently facilitated the apprehension of two other suspects in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

The suspects were identified as Michael Badejo, aka Senior, 33; Fatai Oladipupo, aka Labalaba, 36; and Kamarudeen Salau, aka Otunba, 46.

One locally fabricated, double-barrel cut-to-size pistol was recovered during the operation.

According to the police spokesperson, preliminary investigations revealed that Badejo, who is based in Ogun State, allegedly served as a link between Oladipupo and Salau, who works as a security man in Ikorodu.

Investigators further established that Oladipupo, who was in possession of the firearm, contacted Badejo to arrange for its repair. Badejo subsequently introduced him to Salau for the purported repair.

Afolayan said Salau allegedly offered to buy the firearm from Oladipupo instead of repairing it.

During interrogation, Oladipupo, aka Labalaba, reportedly claimed that the pistol had been given to him by a friend who is currently at large.

He also reportedly confessed to being a member of the Eiye confraternity, alongside the other two suspects.

The police spokesperson said efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the alleged criminal network, adding that the suspects in custody would be prosecuted after the conclusion of investigations.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Headquarters, AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, commended the operatives for their diligence and the successful recovery of the firearm.

Jimoh stressed that removing illegal firearms from the hands of criminal elements remained critical to maintaining public safety.

He charged the operatives to sustain the momentum and intensify efforts to track down other members of the criminal network.

The AIG also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that criminal elements have no safe haven in Lagos and Ogun states.

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or through official complaint channels.

Families of some police officers residing along Kontagora Road in Sokoto metropolis on Sunday protested the demolition of parts of their houses by a bulldozer allegedly escorted by security personnel.

The demolition reportedly took place at about 6 a.m., with the affected residents saying they were caught unaware while still asleep.

When our correspondent National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disclosed that local pharmaceutical manufacturing in Nigeria has increased by 25 per cent following the implementation of its 5+5 policy and Ceiling List initiatiSERAP demands probe into N78.8bn allegedly unaccounted for at humanitarian ministry agenciese.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the regulatory measures had also contributed to a shift in the ratio of imported to locally manufactured pharmaceutical products from 70:30 in 2019 to 50:50 in 2025.

Adeyeye disclosed this at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) organised Invest in Nigeria Conference and Expo 4.0, where she urged investors from more than 43 countries participating in the event to take advantage of the Federal Government’s reforms and invest in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and medical device sectors.

She said the number of pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in the country had risen from 174 to 190, while 176 pharmaceutical companies had undergone facility layout reviews and approvals by NAFDAC as of June 2026.

According to her, 70 of the companies whose layouts were reviewed were existing manufacturers, while 106 were new companies, a development she said reflected growing confidence in local pharmaceutical production.

The NAFDAC boss explained that the 5+5 policy, introduced in 2019, was designed to phase out the importation of selected medicines that could be produced locally.

She said products covered by the policy were prohibited from being imported into the country and could only be manufactured locally, with companies required either to establish manufacturing facilities or engage suitably qualified Nigerian manufacturers through contract manufacturing arrangements.

Adeyeye said the Ceiling List had further strengthened the policy by increasing the number of products restricted from importation from nine in 2020 to 36.

She said the two initiatives had resulted in a 70 per cent decline in the importation of drug products covered by the measures, while encouraging more companies to establish or expand manufacturing operations in Nigeria.

The NAFDAC DG also disclosed that the number of companies involved in contract manufacturing had risen sharply from 10 in 2019 to 87 in 2026.

She said the growth in contract manufacturing was helping companies utilise existing production capacity while reducing dependence on international supply chains.

‘The rise in contract manufacturing reflects a strategic move toward sustainable and scalable local operations,’ Adeyeye said.

She added that existing manufacturing facilities were undergoing retrofitting and upgrades to meet current Good Manufacturing Practice standards.

Adeyeye said 37 existing manufacturers were currently undertaking construction and upgrades, while 28 others had completed construction and commenced operations.

She also attributed part of the growing investment in the sector to the Presidential Executive Order providing zero tariffs, excise duties and Value Added Tax on imported machinery, equipment and raw materials for local healthcare manufacturing.

The NAFDAC boss said the government policy had provided additional incentives for investors and was contributing to the shift from dependence on imported medicines towards domestic production.

‘There has been a marked increase in foreign investment, particularly in the medical devices sector,’ she said, adding that international investors were entering joint ventures with Nigerian firms to establish local manufacturing facilities.

She said the country was also witnessing increased technology transfer of formulations for which local manufacturing capacity already existed.

Adeyeye disclosed that 16 new pharmaceutical manufacturers and six new medical device and in-vitro diagnostics manufacturers had emerged, with the new facilities aligning with regulatory requirements, including the installation of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and other critical infrastructure.

She put the overall impact of the 5+5 policy and Ceiling List at 28 newly developed and retrofitted companies and 16 new facilities, totalling 44 companies and facilities and resulting in a 25 per cent increase in local manufacturing.

Adeyeye said NAFDAC would continue to support manufacturers through regulatory handholding and Corrective and Preventive Action clinics to help companies address compliance challenges.

She said the agency was also extending its local manufacturing strategy to the food and cosmetics sectors through Global Listing Re-evaluation, aimed at identifying products that could be manufactured locally and encouraging investment in their domestic production.

The NAFDAC DG urged stakeholders to collaborate with the agency in implementing the government’s local manufacturing policies, stressing that strengthening domestic production was critical to Nigeria’s food and drug security.

‘The increase in local manufacturing is in tandem with the Executive Order of the Federal Government. We should embrace it,’ she said.isited the area, parts of the perimeter fence had been pulled down, while a section of one of the houses was also affected.

One of the residents, Hajiya Safiya, widow of the late Assistant Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwarzo, said she had lived in the house with her children for more than 20 years.

She said her late husband died after falling ill while serving in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, where he had been posted to combat banditry.

‘We were sleeping around 6am when we heard the sound of heavy machines approaching our houses. We hurriedly came out with our children, only to discover that a bulldozer had been sent to demolish our houses under the cover of some security operatives,’ she said.

Safiya alleged that the operators pulled down the perimeter fence and began demolishing one of the houses before neighbours intervened.

‘They pulled down our perimeter fence and started demolishing one of the houses before some of our neighbours came out and started throwing stones at them,’ she added.

Expressing concern over the welfare of her children, Safiya said her late husband was the family’s breadwinner.

‘He left some children for me, whom I am struggling to take care of. But this is how the Sokoto State Government is paying us for the sacrifice made by my husband, who was our breadwinner,’ she said.

She appealed to the Inspector-General of Police and the Sokoto State Commissioner of Police to intervene and prevent the affected families from losing their homes.

Another resident, Hajiya Shafa’atu Abubakar, appealed to the authorities to consider allowing the police officers to purchase the houses under an owner-occupier arrangement.

‘This is what is done to their colleagues in other states. We found out that the houses belong to the Federal Government, not the state government,’ she said.

She also expressed concern that the removal of the perimeter fence had exposed residents to security risks.

Meanwhile, a notice from the Sokoto State Rent Tribunal pasted on the affected premises showed that All Pro Developers Limited had instituted a case against the Sokoto State Commissioner of Police and nine others.

The company is seeking, among other reliefs, an interim order of ejectment against the occupants. It claimed to have been engaged and authorised by the state government to undertake development of the property.

The tribunal, however, directed that the defendants be individually served and appear before it on September 8, 2026.

A senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the state government had made alternative accommodation available to the police.

He said 10 houses had been allocated to the police at the Marafa Danbaba Housing Estate in Konnawa as replacements for the affected properties.

However, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Barrister Nasiru Dantsoho, said he was unaware of the demolition.

‘First of all, I’m not aware. Secondly, the case is already before the courts,’ Dantsoho said.

The commissioner said he made inquiries after learning of the demolition and was informed that a court order had been served on the affected premises.

‘I made some inquiries and I realised the court had given them an order which, I think, was placed in their respective houses last week,’ he said.

Dantsoho said he was not familiar with the details of the case or the parties involved.

‘And the case is not even between the state government and them. I don’t know. I don’t know because we are neighbours; we don’t know anything about the case,’ he said.

Asked again whether he was aware of the demolition, the commissioner replied: ‘I’m not aware. I don’t know.’

Efforts to obtain the reaction of All Pro Developers Limited were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.