Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Saturday dismissed as false reports claiming that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, directed police personnel to ‘shoot anyone with illegal firearms,’ describing the reports as a gross misrepresentation of his remarks.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, the Force said the Inspector-General gave no such directive during a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, Benue State.

It said his comments had been taken out of context and presented misleadingly to the public.

The statement explained that the IGP merely reminded officers that only duly authorised security personnel are legally permitted to bear firearms.

He also drew attention to the growing proliferation of illegal weapons used by criminals to perpetrate kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry, cult-related violence and other serious crimes.

It added that the Inspector-General reiterated that the use of firearms by police officers is strictly governed by Force Order 237, which outlines the lawful circumstances under which officers may deploy firearms in the course of their duties.

According to the statement, the IGP emphasised the need for officers to operate strictly within the confines of the law and adhere to the approved rules governing the use of force.

‘The Inspector-General did not issue any ‘shoot-on-sight’ order. At no time did he instruct officers to shoot anyone simply because they were found in possession of an illegal firearm,’ the statement said.

The Force reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the lives, rights and freedoms of all Nigerians, stressing that police personnel are expected to discharge their responsibilities professionally, lawfully and with full respect for human rights and the Constitution.

It also urged media organisations and members of the public to verify security-related information before publishing or circulating it, warning that inaccurate reports could create unnecessary panic, misinform the public and erode public confidence in security institutions.

The statement further encouraged members of the public to watch the full video of the Inspector-General’s address, noting that it accurately reflects his remarks and places them in their proper context.

The Force reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing the law fairly, professionally and within the limits prescribed by the Constitution and other extant laws.

The Spain-Argentina final was a must-watch for me. One thing that stood out the most, which was not expected, was how one-sided it was throughout the match. Spain controlled and dominated the game, giving Argentina no chance to attack. I was disappointed at how Argentina played. They looked like they did not have any tactics and were just trying to wait out the game and jump into fouls. Spain won the game, and deservedly so. I did not expect Argentina to be that below average.

Tunji Fasheyitan

To me, it was a match of the century – two talented footballers of different generations on the same pitch, Yamal winning his first World Cup at 19 years of age and Messi winning his second World Cup (back-to-back). I feel that match was special because Lamine Yamal has always looked up to Messi, and playing against him would have been the greatest match of his career.

Samuel Abiola

What stood out most for me in the Spain-Argentina World Cup final was how Spain tactically held down the Argentine team, particularly in the midfield, not allowing Argentina to score a single goal, despite having scored at least two goals in all their previous seven World Cup games. This was, however, not entirely surprising, as Spain had also only conceded one goal in their previous seven matches. What was most shocking, however, was that Argentina, with ‘Messiah’ and all their attack, could not manage a single shot in the 90 minutes, making them the first team in a FIFA World Cup final to not register a shot in regular time.

Jubril Adeyemi

What stood out was that Messi is not the greatest of all time. You cannot be called the greatest of all time but cannot perform in just a single match. Players do have bad days, but with more shots on target and more attempted goals. Argentina had zero attempted goals and zero shots on target, yet they are the number one FIFA world ranking team. All praise should be given to Martinez, their keeper, because they could have conceded five goals. But who gets the praise? Messi, of course.

Damilola Oketunji

What stood out was Spain’s discipline and composure under pressure. They remained organised throughout the game, defended brilliantly, and took their chances when it mattered most. Argentina fought with passion and created opportunities, but Spain’s tactical approach and teamwork ultimately made the difference. It was a final that showed football is not just about individual brilliance but also about collective effort, patience, and executing a game plan. The match was a fitting end to a memorable tournament.

Samuel Akinola

What stood out was Argentina’s inability to make a real impact. They failed to score and barely created any clear-cut chances, which was surprising for a team with so much quality. They struggled to create meaningful chances and couldn’t find a way past Spain’s well-organised defence. As a Lionel Messi fan, I was hoping he would produce another unforgettable moment to change the game’s narrative, but even a player of his quality could not make the difference in the match. Spain controlled possession, stayed disciplined, and capitalised on their opportunity. It was a reminder that football is a team sport. Even the greatest players need support from those around them.

Idara Archibong

It was Spain’s complete control of the game. They dominated possession and territory so much that Argentina could not register a single shot throughout the 90 minutes. Emiliano Martínez also really impressed me because he kept Argentina alive with a series of incredible saves before Spain finally found the breakthrough. For someone who does not really watch football like that, his performance was impossible to ignore. I heard he even broke a finger, but it seemed worth it in the end, since he earned huge recognition and broke a record. What surprised me most, though, was how quiet Messi was for most of the match.

Emmanuel Alabi

What stood out most for me was Spain’s calm dominance and patience. They controlled the game with beautiful passing and pressing, even when Argentina defended stubbornly. The match stayed 0-0 through regular time. But in extra time, Ferran Torres scored the winning goal after a great build-up play. Spain deserved the trophy for their style and discipline. Argentina fought hard as defending champions, but Spain’s composure won it. The post-match tension added drama, but the football quality shone through. It was a World Cup final the world needed. It gave the world a new view of Argentina’s play and their star player, Messi, for his bad sportsmanship. Football won that night.

Matthew Okediya

What stood out was the intensity and tactical discipline of the game. It was a final where every mistake could have been costly, and both teams showed incredible resilience. Spain’s patience, control of possession, and ability to maintain pressure, even when Argentina defended stubbornly, were particularly impressive. The decisive goal in extra time made the moment even more memorable. The final match ultimately demonstrated why football remains unpredictable and beautiful. One moment can define an entire tournament and create a lasting memory for millions of fans.

Israel Oyedele

The match felt like football and theatre colliding. But Ferran Torres’ extra-time winner is what lives in my mind. Spain’s calm dominance against a Messi-led Argentina created ninety minutes of tension, yet the 1-0 breakthrough arrived casually. What truly stood out was the emotional contrast: Spanish composure after years of rebuilding versus Argentine heartbreak as a golden generation faded on the MetLife turf. That single goal captured the end of one story and the beginning of another. The Spanish side had the upper hand, and I knew Spain was destined to win the World Cup title.

Abisoye Imoukhuede

Watching the Spain-Argentina World Cup final was really exciting. What stood out was how calm and confident Spain remained from start to finish. They did not panic, even when Argentina pushed forward, and they made the most of their opportunity. I also admired the teamwork and discipline every player showed throughout the match. It was not just about individual talent – it was about playing as a team. That was the biggest lesson from the final and one of the reasons it was such a memorable game.

Oluwatayo Ogundare

What stood out was the complete dominance of the Spanish team from start to finish. Considering how both teams reached the final – I mean Spain beating France 2-0 convincingly and Argentina producing a dramatic 2-1 comeback against England – I expected a much more balanced contest. Instead, Spain controlled every area of the pitch and barely allowed Argentina to settle into the game. Even Lionel Messi, who had inspired Argentina earlier in the tournament, had little influence because of relentless pressure from Spain. I was also impressed by Emiliano Martínez. His outstanding saves prevented what could have been a far heavier defeat before Ferran Torres finally found the breakthrough for the Spanish side.

Oluwajuwon Lawal

What really stood out was how comfortable Spain looked from the beginning. They never seemed under any pressure, and Argentina did not create enough chances to make them worry. Spain just kept playing their football, stayed patient, and waited for the right moment. So, when the goal finally came in extra time, I was not surprised. I also felt for Messi because a lot of people wanted to see him end his World Cup journey with another trophy. But that is football. You cannot always have the ending you hope for. My only disappointment was that I expected the final to be more competitive, but it felt too one-sided for most of the game. I would have loved to see Argentina pose more of a threat and push Spain all the way.

Macaulay Anuoluwapo

What struck me most in the Spain vs Argentina World Cup final was the incredible performance of Argentina’s goalkeeper. He kept making saves that seemed almost impossible, keeping Argentina in the game even as Spain was in complete control. Spain pressed relentlessly, controlled the tempo, and forced Argentina to spend long periods defending deep in their own half. Then came the red card, a turning point that completely changed the atmosphere and raised the tension even further. It was a match defined by resilience, relentless pressure, and unforgettable drama.

Abdullahi Oladigbolu

What stood out most was how the match completely defied all the pre-game expectations. With all the endless online speculations about FIFA favouring Argentina, everyone anticipated a heavily scripted storyline or a tense, neck-and-neck thriller. Instead, the real shocker was watching a star-studded squad completely collapse and fail to manage a single shot on target the entire match. No one expects a world-class talent to get so thoroughly neutralised on the biggest stage in football.

Abdulhamid Hammed

What stood out was the high level of discipline and determination displayed by the Spain players. It is one thing to be a good team, and it is another thing to be a disciplined team. Spain showed that it is possible to be both a good and a disciplined team. This team demonstrated that right till the end of the match. It is almost impossible to keep Argentina away from your post, but they did it. Not even a shot was on target. That was incredible.

Ola Samuel

The referee did his job. No VIP treatment for anybody. Argentina’s matches this year have had a bit of a ‘look away’ reputation. For instance, Enzo Fernández practically boxed Elliot Anderson in the semi-final against England and got away with just a free kick. And even Egypt formally complained about decisions swinging Argentina’s way in their Round of 16 clash. So it felt refreshing to see Slavko Vincic book freely, with accountability finally applied consistently. Enzo’s red card against Cubarsí was well earned this time, as there was no diplomatic immunity whatsoever. The disallowed Nico Williams goal, for Merino’s foul on Otamendi, was controversial. But looking back, it was the correct call. Both sides played their hearts out, but the best team of the tournament deservedly won. At the end, football won.

The countdown is over as Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) returns tomorrow for its highly anticipated 11th season, with millions of viewers across Africa expected to tune in for the unveiling of a new set of housemates competing for the biggest prize in the history of the reality television show.

The launch show will air at 7 p.m. on Africa Magic Showcase and Africa Magic Family, with media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu returning as host for another season of drama, entertainment, strategy and unexpected twists.

This year’s edition is themed ‘Everything Is For The Taking’, reflecting what organisers describe as a season where every opportunity must be earned as contestants battle for the coveted title.

Raising the stakes, the winner of Season 11 will walk away with a record-breaking ?160 million prize package, comprising ?100 million in cash and a brand-new Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), making it the richest prize ever offered in the history of the franchise.

Speaking ahead of the premiere, Executive Head of Content and Channels for West Africa at MultiChoice, Atinuke Babatunde, said the reality show has continued to redefine entertainment across the continent through authentic storytelling and memorable personalities.

According to her, Season 11 builds on the show’s legacy with bigger stakes, fresh twists and an exciting mix of housemates expected to keep viewers engaged from the opening night to the grand finale.

The new season also enjoys strong corporate backing, with BetPawa announced as the headline sponsor. Head of Local Marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility at betPawa, Borah Omary Ndanyungu, described Big Brother Naija as one of Africa’s biggest entertainment platforms, saying the partnership is aimed at rewarding fans, deepening audience engagement and creating memorable experiences throughout the season.

Following tomorrow’s launch, viewers will have 24-hour access to activities inside Biggie’s house via DStv Channel 198 and GOtv Channel 49, while the show will also be available for streaming on the DStv Stream and GOtv Stream platforms.

Since its revival in 2017, Big Brother Naija has grown into one of Africa’s most influential reality television franchises, producing several successful actors, musicians, entrepreneurs, media personalities and influencers. Beyond entertainment, the show has become a major platform for youth engagement, brand partnerships and social media conversations across the continent.

With a record-breaking prize, a fresh crop of contestants and the promise of bigger twists under the theme ‘Everything Is For The Taking’, expectations are high as fans prepare to witness another season of alliances, rivalries, romance and fierce competition when Biggie opens his doors tomorrow.

Despite the sunny weather in Lagos in recent days, many residents are yet to recover from the shock of the devastating downpour witnessed a few weeks ago, which wreaked havoc on homes and businesses across the city.

Apart from exposing the city’s perennial struggle with flooding, blocked drainage channels and poor waste management, the deluge also disrupted commercial and transportation activities.

For instance, despite several visits and assurances by officials of the Lagos State Government to address the situation, residents have become apprehensive whenever the sky becomes cloudy.

‘Every downpour now brings fears of our properties being damaged, our livelihoods being disrupted, prolonged traffic congestion and avoidable health risks,’ a resident of 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.

‘They couldn’t trade because it was a total shutdown. It was more than rainfall; it was like a river overflowing. Students were almost swept away, while cars, tricycles and buses were submerged. School buses used by the two local councils to convey pupils were also damaged by the flood,’ he said.

According to him, the flood reflected 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 blamed the persistent flooding mainly on blocked drainage channels and the sand-filling of the Ilubirin area.

Also, at Iyana-Ejigbo in the Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area, commercial activities came to an abrupt halt during the period as floodwaters inundated the main market, forcing traders to abandon their stalls in a desperate bid to save their goods.

For many traders, the experience has become an unfortunate annual ritual. However, the immediate concern is survival. Every heavy rainfall now brings fears of damaged property, disrupted livelihoods, prolonged traffic congestion and avoidable health risks.

One of them, Mrs Ajoke Sekinat, said repeated appeals to the authorities had yielded little result. ‘Whenever it rains, there is no peace of mind for traders. The drainage channels are blocked, and we understand that the market was built on a natural waterway. That is why we experience severe flooding after every heavy rainfall,’ she said.

She also blamed indiscriminate waste disposal, saying canals in the area are clogged with plastic waste, discarded tyres and other debris that prevent the free flow of stormwater.

A similar situation played out in Idi-Oro, Mushin, where floodwaters washed heaps of uncollected refuse onto major roads, worsening environmental and traffic conditions.

According to her, residents always watched helplessly as stagnant water mixed with refuse, creating an unhealthy environment and making movement difficult.

At the popular plantain market, trader Mrs Fausat Kayode described the flooding as both an environmental and public health concern.

‘The entire environment becomes almost uninhabitable whenever it rains. Refuse dumped along the road median between Olosha and Idi-Oro is washed onto the road by floodwaters, making the road impassable and leaving motorists stranded for hours,’ she said.

Visitation by government

However, the full complement of the state’s officials that visited the flood-affected areas in Eti-Osa Local Government recently was, without doubt, seen by many as reflecting the magnitude of the impact of the recent heavy rainfall on communities across the city and demonstrating the level of attention the environmental disaster was receiving from the government.

Interestingly, it provided an opportunity for the team, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab; the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso; and others, to assure the affected communities, whose infrastructure had been devastated by the recent flood, of the government’s determination to address the situation and prevent a recurrence.

Not a few believe that more of such visits and reassurances have become imperative to calm frayed nerves and restore the people’s dwindling confidence in the state government’s ability to tackle the perennial problem. But the state government says it remains determined. It noted that with sustained investment in drainage infrastructure and flood mitigation projects, flooding would eventually become a thing of the past.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, while speaking during an extensive inspection of critical drainage infrastructure and flood control projects across Lagos, said the challenge was not insurmountable.

He expressed regret over the persistent reports of flooding in the area despite the completion of major drainage infrastructure more than two years ago. According to him, the drainage system was designed to discharge floodwater by gravity into the lagoon, but the deliberate blockage of its outlet had severely undermined its effectiveness.

‘We discovered that the outlet into the lagoon had been deliberately blocked. Without opening that channel, the water cannot leave the area. We have therefore directed that it be reopened immediately in the overriding public interest,’ he said.

The commissioner warned that obstructing drainage channels would continue to expose residents to severe flooding despite the government’s huge investment in flood control infrastructure.

‘You can imagine the level of flooding within the community, yet the government is often blamed for inadequate infrastructure. Taxpayers’ money is being used to construct and maintain these drainage channels, and residents should not worsen the situation by blocking them. We will continue to clear all obstructed drainage channels wherever they are found in the overriding public interest,’ he added.

Saturday Tribune reports that from the Mainland to Lagos Island and many inner communities, floodwaters submerged major roads, markets and residential areas, disrupting commercial activities and leaving motorists and commuters trapped in hours-long traffic gridlock.

Across the state, the scenes were familiar. Traders scrambled to rescue their wares, commuters were stranded at bus stops, while tricycles, minibuses, private vehicles and commercial buses struggled through flooded roads. For residents, it was yet another period they would rather not relive.

A commercial bus driver in Ikotun, Mr. Kayode Olakanmi, lamented the impact of the flooding on transport operators, saying gridlock had left buses trapped for hours while passengers remained stranded at bus stops across the state.

‘We spend hours in traffic, burning fuel while passengers are stranded at bus stops each time it rains. By the time we get out of the congestion, the rush hour is over and we struggle to meet our daily target. Most times, we cannot even remit the expected daily returns to the vehicle owner, let alone make enough for ourselves.

‘The government needs to address this problem urgently. It is difficult to understand why the city is still overwhelmed by flooding each time it rains. Many roads are submerged, and we constantly take our vehicles to the mechanic because of flood-related damage. We lose productive hours on the road and spend our hard-earned income on repairs that could have been avoided,’ he said.

But as residents wait for the state government to fulfil its promise of finding a lasting solution to flooding in the city, every change in the weather has become a nightmare, and the rain, generally regarded as therapeutic, continues to be a source of anxiety for many living in the State of Aquatic Splendour.

Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has renewed his call for dialogue with armed groups, questioning why the approach adopted in resolving the Niger Delta militancy has not been extended to Boko Haram insurgents and bandits operating in northern Nigeria.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Gumi recalled how former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo engaged Niger Delta militants in peace efforts that eventually led to programmes aimed at ending violence in the region.

According to him, ‘The former President Jonathan visited Delta militants in the creeks, so also the former vice president Osinbajo. They all came up with a program to tame the militants.’

He then posed a question over the possibility of similar engagement with armed groups in the North, asking, ‘Who is going to visit BH and Bandits to tame them without fools castigating them?’

Gumi has consistently advocated dialogue as a means of addressing insecurity in the North-West and North-East.

Over the years, he has visited camps linked to armed groups in states such as Zamfara, maintaining that negotiations can achieve lasting peace more effectively than military action alone.

The cleric has repeatedly rejected allegations of supporting terrorism, insisting that his engagements are intended solely to promote peace, reduce bloodshed and encourage rehabilitation.

The Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, introduced in 2009 under the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later sustained by Jonathan, offered disarmament, vocational training, stipends and reintegration opportunities to former militants, helping to reduce attacks on oil facilities.

Recall that Jonathan had earlier met with ex-militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, during his time as vice president, describing the engagement as a key step toward the eventual amnesty initiative.

Osinbajo also visited Niger Delta communities in 2017 while serving as acting president, where he met with community leaders and stakeholders, arguing that residents of the region had legitimate grievances that required engagement rather than force alone.

In a fresh attack, suspected armed bandits have abducted the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Bungudu, and killed two of his security guards.

The rampaging gunmen stormed Bungudu town in the early hours of Saturday and went straight to the council chairman’s residence in the Zango area of the town.

A family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the gunmen overpowered the security personnel at the residence.

‘They killed two police officers and vigilantes before whisking away the chairman and some members of his family,’ the source said.

More than ?1.6 billion in federal payments has already been released for the reconstruction of the 17-kilometre Ayegun-Oleyo Road in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State, a sum that exceeds the entire ?1.5 billion budgeted for the project in 2023. Yet the road remains visibly unfinished, its identifying project signboards have disappeared from both ends, and residents along the corridor say they are left battling dust, mud and worsening transport conditions.

Now, the 2026 Appropriation Bill lists the project as ‘ongoing’ once again, with a fresh allocation of ?2.1 billion-bringing the total federal funds earmarked for the road to about ?3.8 billion, without any public accounting of how the first ?1.6 billion was spent.

On February 12, 2026, Senator Yunus Akintunde, who represents Oyo Central and lobbied for the road’s inclusion as a federal project, posted footage of the site on Facebook with the caption: ‘Work in progress… Promise made and kept to the glory of God.’ The video showed graded earth and drainage works along the route.

However, during repeated visits to the site by the Saturday Tribune since then, no contractor personnel or active construction work were seen. The project signboards, which once displayed President Bola Tinubu’s photograph alongside the contract details (information that enables citizens to verify who is executing a public project and at what cost), had also disappeared.

The Ayegun-Oleyo Road, Project Code SUP2023116, received a ?1.5 billion allocation under the 2023 Supplementary Budget. The Federal Executive Council awarded the main construction contract on March 25, 2024.

Records on the Federal Government’s GovSpend transparency portal show the following payments linked to the project:

September 24, 2024: ?1,279,800,055.81 (Part payment for road construction)

September 30, 2024: ?359,069,767.44 (Part payment for road construction)

September 8, 2024: ?61,526,734.88 (Engineering design consultancy)

March 8, 2023: ?38,137,740.62 (FERMA rehabilitation of Taska Junction-Ayegun Oleyo-Baare Road)

December 15, 2023: ?24,255,877.72 (FERMA rehabilitation, listed on the payment record as Ogun State although the described route is in Oyo State-a discrepancy in the government’s own documentation).

Together, the two payments to the main contractor alone total ?1,638,869,823.25. Both were recorded as ‘part payment’, not final settlement, and together exceed the project’s original appropriation by about ?138 million. Both payments were made within one week in September 2024. Including the two FERMA rehabilitation payments made before the main contract was awarded, federal agencies have disbursed close to ?1.73 billion on a road whose construction has stalled and whose identifying signboards have vanished.

A fresh ?2.1bn, with no accounting for the first ?1.6bn

The project has now resurfaced in the 2026 Federal Government budget. Under the Federal Ministry of Works, the Appropriation Bill lists ‘Construction of Ayegun-Oleyo Road’ (Project Code ERGP12231274) as an ongoing project with a fresh allocation of ?2.1 billion.

That allocation appears alongside dozens of other ongoing federal road projects, including the Illara-Iselu Road and the Ilesha-Etioni-Atakumosa Road in Osun State. Ordinarily, such entries would attract little attention in a 2,790-page budget document. But this case is different. The road has already absorbed more than its original appropriation, remains unfinished on the ground, and neither the contractor nor the sponsoring lawmaker has publicly explained how the earlier funds were utilised.

Living with the road

For residents living along the corridor, the figures on GovSpend mean little compared with the daily reality of the road.

Baba Hikmah, a welder who has lived in the area since 1992, recalled that residents initially widened and graded the road themselves long before government intervention.

‘The road was narrow then, and it was gradually expanded by the people themselves. We contributed money and helped grade it,’ he told the Saturday Tribune. It was, he said, Senator Akintunde who later facilitated its adoption as a federal road.

Residents say that community effort has now been undone by the reconstruction project. Another resident, Babawale Hammed, said residents had previously built drainage channels ‘area by area,’ only for contractors to block much of them after claiming they could not work around the structures. According to residents, granite had been spread on parts of the road in preparation for asphalting, but work stopped at that stage, leaving long stretches covered with loose stone and earth.

When rain does not fall, dust remains residents’ biggest complaint. Usama Akindele, a student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, said returning home from school had become an ordeal.

‘Entering home, the first thing I do isn’t greet my parents; I go straight to bathe and shake off the clay dust from my clothes. The road is a choking hazard.’

Trader Temitayo Olawale put it differently.

‘I clean my shop every day, only for it to be covered by dust minutes later. Clothes, skin-everything is affected. The road itself does the ‘make-up’ for everyone.’

Hammed added that the dust penetrates vehicles even with the windows shut, causing coughing and eye irritation. He said contractors should regularly wet the road to minimise the problem.

Whenever it rains, dust gives way to mud with pedestrians and motorists struggling to move on the road.

Danger, health, and no emergency care

Beyond the dust and mud, residents say the condition of the road has become a matter of life and death.

In Abodan community, Mrs Lola Oladokun described a community that becomes virtually isolated during the rainy season.

‘During the rainy season, we find it difficult to move within the community,’ she said. ‘Many people have left their homes and rented houses in town because of the poor condition of the road.’

According to her, many motorcycle and tricycle operators now avoid the route, making it difficult for traders to transport their goods.

‘I had to drop my goods somewhere and walk to my shop. My children have to do the same.’

With no hospital or health centre nearby, she said ordinary medical emergencies often become life-threatening.

‘We fear emergencies because they can feel like a death sentence,’ she said, recounting one incident-an account the Saturday Tribune could not independently verify-in which a woman reportedly died after she could not be transported for urgent medical care.

She added that accidents and delays linked to the road’s poor condition had also claimed lives. Even attending church on Sundays, she said, sometimes requires spending up to three hours searching for a commercial motorcycle willing to ply the route. A journey home after closing at work at 2 p.m. can extend until 5 p.m.

‘The government needs to take action,’ she said. ‘They do some work on the road and then disappear for a long time without any progress. They have stopped working altogether.’

Getting to Abodan itself illustrates the problem. During a visit by this reporters, a motorcycle trip that would ordinarily cost about ?1,200 eventually cost ?6,000 for a return journey after nearly an hour’s wait for a rider willing to take the risk. The rider said his motorcycle was less than one year old. It did not look it.

The agencies respond

Presented with the GovSpend records and asked about the missing project signboards, officials at the Federal Ministry of Works’ field office at the Federal Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, declined comment and referred all enquiries to the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. As of press time, no response had been received, including on the fresh ?2.1 billion allocation in the 2026 budget.

FERMA’s Zonal Director in Ibadan was also unavailable to explain the rehabilitation payments made in 2023 on a road that now shows no active construction.

A fresh legal dispute has emerged over the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Kogi West Senatorial District, with Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro filing a suit at the Federal High Court in Lokoja against the APC, Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In the originating summons, Aro is asking the court to determine whether the APC complied with its constitution, electoral guidelines, and the Electoral Act in nominating its candidate for the 2027 Kogi West Senatorial District election. He is also challenging the party’s submission of Senator Karimi’s name to INEC.

The plaintiff is seeking a declaration that the APC primary election conducted on May 18, 2026, validly produced him as the party’s candidate.

He argues that the subsequent submission of another candidate’s name to INEC on July 11, 2026, is unlawful, null, and void. Aro further contends that, since he has not withdrawn his candidacy, the party is obligated to recognise him as its legitimate flag bearer.

Among the reliefs sought is an order directing INEC to accept and recognise his name as the APC candidate for the Kogi West Senatorial District in the 2027 general election.

The lawsuit marks the latest chapter in the lingering controversy surrounding the APC senatorial primary in Kogi West. Although Senator Karimi has enjoyed the backing of the party leadership and many stakeholders, Aro’s legal action signals that the dispute over the ticket is far from settled.

Senator Karimi was officially declared the winner of the May 18, 2026, primary election after the returning officer, Isah Haruna, announced that he secured 51,665 votes.

Reports at the time indicated that Aro and several other aspirants had withdrawn from the contest before the exercise. The primary was also conducted following Karimi’s endorsement as the APC consensus candidate by party stakeholders, with the support of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.

Following allegations of irregularities in the primary election, the APC National Working Committee (NWC), acting on the recommendations of the Election Appeal Committee, reaffirmed Karimi as the duly elected candidate and forwarded his name to INEC through the party’s nomination portal. The appeal panel reportedly reviewed more than 700 petitions nationwide, resulting in changes across nine states.

Aro’s decision to challenge both the outcome of the primary and the APC NWC’s resolution has generated mixed reactions within the party. While many acknowledge his constitutional right to seek judicial interpretation, some APC stakeholders and political observers have criticised the move, describing it as an unnecessary prolonging of internal disagreements.

According to some party members, reopening the contest after the party leadership accepted Karimi’s candidacy could divert attention from preparations for the 2027 general election and undermine party unity. One APC chieftain, who spoke on condition of anonymity, argued that the litigation reflects the determination of some political actors to sustain internal divisions rather than promote cohesion within the party.

As the case proceeds before the Federal High Court, political observers say the outcome could have significant implications for the APC’s internal cohesion and electoral strategy in Kogi West ahead of the 2027 general election.

An atmosphere of grief has enveloped family members, friends, and associates following the passing of Prince Adetunji Ogunwusi, whose death has left a deep void within the Ogunwusi family and among those privileged to have known him.

Since news of his demise became public, tributes have continued to pour in from across the country, with many remembering him as a man of honour, humility, and remarkable generosity. Friends and associates described Prince Ogunwusi as a dependable confidant whose warmth, wisdom, and willingness to support others endeared him to people from all walks of life.

Members of the Ogunwusi family paid glowing tribute to the late prince, recalling his unwavering devotion to family, his respect for tradition, and his commitment to fostering unity among relatives and friends. They noted that his life was defined by compassion, integrity, and a quiet strength that inspired everyone around him.

Business associates and longtime friends also celebrated his legacy, describing him as a gentleman whose sincerity, professionalism, and genuine concern for others earned him widespread admiration. Many recounted fond memories of his kindness and the positive impact he made both in his personal relationships and within the wider community.

Condolence messages have continued to flood in from traditional rulers, community leaders, captains of industry, and prominent personalities, all praying for the peaceful repose of his soul while asking God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Though his passing has brought immense sorrow, those who knew Prince Adetunji Ogunwusi have taken comfort in the legacy of a life well lived, one marked by dignity, selfless service, and an enduring commitment to humanity. As preparations begin for his final rites, he will be remembered as a beloved family man, a loyal friend, and a respected member of the Ogunwusi royal family, whose memory will continue to live in the hearts of many.

My journey has moved from learning how computers work to understanding how technology can improve decisions and institutions. Computer science gave me the foundation to build software. Information systems taught me to connect technology with organisations, people, and processes. Data science showed me how evidence can be extracted from complex data, while my PhD allows me to study trustworthy AI in high-impact settings. It taught me that technology is never separate from society. A system may be impressive and still fail if it ignores local realities or human needs. It should solve meaningful problems and remain accountable to the people it affects. This perspective has made social impact, accessibility, and accountability central to the way I approach both engineering and research.

Why did you choose AI as the focus of your doctoral research, and what inspired your interest in AI for healthcare?

I chose AI because it is increasingly involved in decisions about health, work, education, security, and public services. I want to understand when it is dependable enough to be trusted. Healthcare made that question urgent. An unreliable clinical prediction can affect diagnosis, treatment, and a patient’s future. This inspired my focus on trustworthy healthcare AI. My research examines fairness, calibration, uncertainty, security, and deployment readiness. My goal is to help move AI from impressive demonstrations to systems that can be used responsibly.

For people who may not have a technical background, how do AI systems learn, reason, and make decisions?

Modern AI learns by analysing large amounts of data and identifying patterns. A healthcare model may study patient histories, laboratory values, or medical images and learn which combinations are associated with particular outcomes.

What people call ‘reasoning’ in AI is usually a sequence of mathematical comparisons and learned steps. The system does not understand illness or responsibility in the human sense, and it can be confidently wrong. That is why AI should be treated as a decision-support tool. Human experts must still interpret the result, consider context, and decide what action is appropriate.

Your research often goes beyond measuring AI accuracy to evaluating fairness, calibration, uncertainty, security, and governance. Why are these dimensions essential before AI systems can be trusted in real-world environments?

Accuracy tells us how often a model is correct overall, but it can hide serious weaknesses. A model may perform well on average while being less reliable for certain groups. Fairness examines whether performance is equitable. Calibration asks whether confidence matches actual reliability. Uncertainty helps users recognise when human review is needed. Security protects the system from manipulation, while governance defines responsibility and acceptable use. These dimensions matter because deployment introduces people, institutions, changing data, and real consequences. My research asks whether a model is safe, reliable, understandable, and accountable enough for its intended environment.

Your recent research publications explore topics such as demographic fairness in breast cancer prediction, deployment readiness for chronic kidney disease prediction, security-by-design for clinical AI, and oversight of autonomous AI agents. How do these projects fit together, and what is the central research question they are trying to answer?

These projects form one connected programme on trustworthy AI. The breast cancer work investigates whether risk predictions are equally calibrated across demographic groups. The chronic kidney disease study examines uncertainty and whether strong test performance truly means a model is ready for clinical use. My security-by-design research studies adversarial threats, while StepShield examines when oversight should intervene as autonomous agents move toward unsafe behaviour.

The central question is: What evidence should be required before society relies on an AI system in a high-impact environment? Together, they support evaluating AI before deployment and monitoring it afterwards, rather than assuming accuracy alone proves trustworthiness. The work is therefore less about isolated models and more about building a complete evidence base for responsible deployment.

How do you see AI transforming healthcare delivery, and what impact do you hope your research would have on patients, clinicians, and health systems?

AI can support earlier disease detection, help clinicians interpret complex information, personalise care, and improve how hospitals allocate limited resources. These benefits depend on systems being clinically useful, fair, secure, and designed around real workflows. My work on healthcare resource optimisation reflects this focus. Allocation decisions cannot be based only on efficiency; they must respect clinical priorities, safety constraints, and ethical considerations. AI should provide recommendations that professionals can understand and override.

I hope my research helps patients receive safer and more equitable care, gives clinicians dependable tools, and helps health systems use resources more effectively. The goal is better healthcare supported by carefully evaluated technology.

You have previously published research on AI, ethical hacking, and healthcare cybersecurity. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into critical sectors, how important is cybersecurity in ensuring trustworthy AI, especially in healthcare settings?

Cybersecurity is essential because an accurate AI model can still become dangerous if its data, software, or outputs are compromised. In healthcare, attackers could manipulate information, disrupt services, expose records, or influence clinical recommendations. Trustworthy AI therefore requires protection of the entire system, not only the model.

My work supports proactive testing. Healthcare organisations should assess threats before deployment, test adversarial inputs, control access, maintain audit trails, and monitor performance continuously. Hospitals also need clear responsibility and response procedures when an AI system behaves unexpectedly. Technical safeguards, governance, human oversight, and regular reassessment must work together.

Many African countries, including Nigeria, largely rely on AI technologies developed elsewhere. From your perspective, what are the biggest barriers to building world-class AI research and innovation in Africa, and what practical steps should governments, universities, and industry take to change this?

Africa does not lack talent. The larger barriers are inconsistent research funding, limited computing infrastructure, weak links between universities and industry, restricted access to quality local data, and the loss of skilled professionals to better opportunities elsewhere.

Progress requires sustained investment. Governments should fund research programmes, shared computing facilities, and responsible public datasets. Universities should strengthen postgraduate training and interdisciplinary research. Industry should sponsor laboratories, provide internships, and help turn promising ideas into products.

Africa should not simply import AI systems without asking whether they fit local languages, institutions, or social conditions. The continent should build technology around its own priorities, including healthcare, agriculture, education, financial access, and public administration.

Based on your research and professional experience, what are three major challenges facing Nigeria that could be addressed using AI and data science, and how would you approach solving them?

The first challenge is healthcare access. AI can support earlier screening, clinical decision-making, disease surveillance, and better allocation of scarce hospital resources. The second is agriculture and food security. Weather, soil, market, and farm data can help predict crop risks, improve irrigation, identify disease, and deliver timely advice to farmers. The third is public service delivery. Data science can improve infrastructure planning, detect billing or procurement anomalies, support emergency response, and direct resources where needed.

My approach would begin with clearly defined local problems, reliable data, and collaboration among communities, experts, government, universities, and engineers. Small pilots should be evaluated before expansion. The objective should be measurable public value.

Beyond your academic research, you also work as a Senior Software Engineer. How has your industry experience influenced your research? And how has your research, in turn, shaped the way you build and evaluate AI systems?

Industry has shown me that an AI system must do more than perform well in a controlled experiment. It must integrate with existing software, handle unclear requirements, remain reliable under changing conditions, and produce results people can verify. In evaluating AI coding systems, I have seen outputs that appear convincing but contain hidden errors, invented functions, incomplete fixes, or unsupported claims.

I treat AI outputs as claims that must be tested rather than accepted because they sound confident. My research also shapes my engineering practice by making me more attentive to uncertainty, failure modes, data quality, security, and deployment consequences. Industry exposes practical weaknesses, while research provides better methods for building and evaluating systems responsibly.

Outside your studies, are you involved in mentoring, leadership, entrepreneurship, or community initiatives that help develop the next generation of AI professionals?

Yes. Mentoring and leadership are important parts of my work. As a leadership coach with Braven, I have supported early-career professionals in problem-solving, adaptability, and professional development. Through NPower, I have mentored people developing technical support skills and preparing for technology careers. I am also involved in entrepreneurship through projects exploring AI in healthcare, document understanding, decision optimisation, and information services.

I see mentorship as part of responsible innovation. A strong AI ecosystem requires people who can think critically, work ethically, and understand the communities they serve. I hope to keep sharing what I learn while creating opportunities for others, especially professionals and researchers connected to Africa.

Where do you see your research over the next five years, and what legacy do you hope to leave in the fields of AI, healthcare innovation, and technological development?

Over the next five years, I want to build a recognised research and innovation programme focused on trustworthy AI for healthcare and other high-impact sectors. I hope to develop practical evaluation frameworks, deployment tools, and software that help organisations determine when an AI system is ready for use and when human intervention is required.

I also want to deepen collaboration among researchers, hospitals, technology companies, and policymakers. I want the work to produce tested systems, useful standards, intellectual property, and measurable improvements. The legacy I hope to leave is responsible innovation: helping AI become not only more capable, but also fairer, safer, more secure, and more accountable. I also want to mentor researchers and strengthen AI capacity in Nigeria and across Africa, showing that locally grounded work can have global value. I want that work to connect scientific quality with practical benefit for patients, institutions, and communities around the world.