Category: Nigerian Tribune

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has approved the release of N18 million to support vulnerable widows in three local government areas of the state under the second phase of the O’Datiwa Widows Care Initiative.

The intervention, which is aimed at cushioning the effects of economic hardship on widows and their families, was launched on Monday at the palace of the Olubaka of Oka-Akoko Kingdom, Oba Dr Yusuf Adebori Adeleye, in Akoko South-West Local Government Area.

The governor said more than 500 widows drawn from the 15 wards in the local government benefited from free medical checks, drugs and financial assistance under the initiative.

Aiyedatiwa said the programme was part of his administration’s social intervention efforts aimed at providing succour to vulnerable and less privileged members of society.

Represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Bosede Osamaye, she said the initiative was conceived by Aiyedatiwa to support widows who had been left to shoulder the responsibilities of caring for their families following the death of their spouses.

Osamaye said the governor had identified widows as a vulnerable group requiring government intervention, particularly in view of the prevailing economic challenges.

‘The Governor has identified this vulnerable group who, as a result of the death of their spouses, are facing several hardships.

‘We have come to engage with them, providing succour as a government to alleviate their poverty in a way we think we can,’ she said.

She explained that the intervention was also designed to help widows build resilience and cope with the responsibility of raising their children and sustaining their households alone.

The commissioner commended Governor Aiyedatiwa and his wife, Mrs Esther Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, for their commitment to improving the welfare of vulnerable groups across the state.

According to her, the transparent selection process involved community chiefs, heads and opinion leaders, who assisted in identifying vulnerable widows in their respective communities.

She disclosed that the initiative would be extended to Idanre and Okitipupa local government areas, stressing that the state government was determined to ensure that vulnerable women across the state benefited from the intervention.

The Olubaka of Oka-Akoko, Oba Dr Yusuf Adebori Adeleye, commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for introducing programmes targeted at vulnerable members of society.

The traditional ruler described the intervention as evidence of the governor’s concern for the people, particularly those facing difficult circumstances.

‘Governor Aiyedatiwa’s government is a government that cares for everybody. Nobody is left behind in his laudable programmes,’ the monarch said.

The traditional ruler also appreciated Governor Aiyedatiwa and his wife for choosing Oka-Akoko to flag off the second phase of the initiative.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Radiat Temitope, thanked the governor, his wife and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for the intervention.

She said the free medical services had provided an opportunity for widows who could not ordinarily afford medical check-ups to access healthcare and receive drugs at no cost.

Temitope also said the financial assistance would help beneficiaries meet some of their immediate needs and support their families.

The event was attended by officials of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, representatives of the Ondo State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, Hospital Management Board, local government officials, women leaders and other stakeholders.

YOU have repeatedly spoken about Nigeria’s importance to PAPSS. What role has Nigeria played in the development of the system?

Nigeria has been extremely important to the PAPSS journey. Nigeria was among the first countries to come together in support of PAPSS, and it was the first country to chair the Permanent Council of PAPSS. Nigeria continues to provide leadership within the system. So, when we talk about the development of PAPSS, we must acknowledge the role Nigeria has played. I say this not simply because I am Nigerian. I grew up in Egypt, but I believe Nigeria has to rise and take its place in Africa. Nigeria has a very important role to play in shaping Africa’s economic future. The country has one of the continent’s largest economies, a sophisticated financial sector and a very strong technology and fintech ecosystem. In the payments industry particularly, Nigeria has developed innovations that have not received enough recognition. One of the things PAPSS is doing is connecting those innovations with what is happening in other African markets. The objective is to create a payment ecosystem that allows money to move seamlessly from one African country to another.

Why was PAPSS necessary in the first place?

The prosperity of African countries is closely linked to the amount of trade they conduct with one another and with the rest of the world. Trade creates economic value. A farmer produces food, a manufacturer processes goods, a technology company creates a service and businesses sell those products and services to consumers. At every stage, there must be a payment. Therefore, there is no trade without payment. Africa has 54 countries, different economic policies, different regulations and many currencies. Historically, when a Nigerian business wants to trade with another African country, the payment may have to pass through a foreign currency and an international financial institution. That creates additional costs, delays and risks. At the same time, Africa is trying to build a single market through the African Continental Free Trade Area. It does not make much sense to have a continental trade agreement encouraging Africans to trade with one another while the payment infrastructure remains heavily dependent on systems outside the continent. That is why PAPSS was created. PAPSS provides the financial infrastructure that allows African businesses and individuals to make and receive cross-border payments using local currencies. A Nigerian business can initiate a transaction in naira, while the beneficiary in another African country can receive the equivalent amount in his or her local currency. That is a major change in the way African trade can be conducted.

How important is PAPSS to small businesses and informal traders?

It is extremely important. One of the interesting things we have discovered from the data is that PAPSS is gradually capturing what we call informal trade. A large amount of African trade does not necessarily appear in official trade statistics because many small businesses operate outside the formal banking system. For example, a trader from Nigeria may travel to another West African country with cash, exchange the money at the border and then buy goods.

With PAPSS, that trader can go to the seller, make the payment electronically and have the seller receive the money almost immediately. That changes the economics of the transaction. Previously, a supplier could receive a payment and then spend two or three days confirming that the money had arrived before releasing goods. Those two or three days represent lost business time. With instant payments, the supplier receives confirmation immediately and can release the goods. For small businesses, time is money. The faster they can pay, receive goods and sell those goods, the faster they can turn over their inventory. This is why convenience is becoming one of the most important factors driving the use of PAPSS.

What are you seeing from Nigeria’s transactions with other African countries?

Nigeria is already showing the importance of cross-border payment corridors. We have seen significant transactions between Nigeria and Ghana. Interestingly, transactions between Nigeria and Rwanda have also grown strongly and, at certain points, have approached or exceeded the Nigeria-Ghana corridor. We are also seeing significant transactions between Nigeria and Kenya. But what has become particularly important is the demand for transactions between Nigeria and its immediate West African neighbours.

Banks have told us that unless they can transact easily between Nigeria and countries such as Cameroon, Niger and Benin Republic, the system has not fully solved their problem. This demonstrates that payment systems must follow the actual patterns of trade. We are seeing a significant flow of Nigerian goods into West African markets. Traders who previously carried cash across borders are increasingly using electronic payments. That is a very important development because it improves security, reduces the risks associated with carrying cash and creates a digital record of transactions.

What makes PAPSS different from traditional international payment systems?

PAPSS is designed around Africa’s specific circumstances. We are not simply trying to copy an existing global payment system. We are building an ecosystem that connects the payment systems that already exist in African countries. Payment is not only about technology. It is also about trust.

You cannot build a continental payment system by relying only on technology. You need strong governance, central-bank oversight, participating banks, security systems and mechanisms for resolving disputes. PAPSS therefore combines technology with governance. The Payment Systems Oversight Committee includes directors responsible for payments at participating central banks. They have direct oversight of the system. There is also a Management Board with representatives from different parts of Africa. The objective is to make sure that PAPSS reflects African priorities while meeting international standards.

Fraud is a major concern in digital payments. How is PAPSS addressing it?

Fraud management is a critical part of the system. We have built an artificial intelligence-driven fraud-management system that examines transactions and looks for unusual patterns. Transactions go through different checks before they are completed. When a transaction originates in Nigeria, for example, it enters the PAPSS infrastructure, passes through the required checks, reaches the destination country and the beneficiary’s account is credited. The objective is to make the payment instant without compromising security. We have therefore surrounded the technology with governance, compliance and dispute-resolution mechanisms.

How many countries are currently connected, and when do you expect full continental coverage?

PAPSS is expanding rapidly. At the stage covered by this strategy, our target is to close the year with about 38 countries. Our immediate objective is to achieve coverage of about 80 percent of the continent, including all the major economies. Over the five-year strategic period, our ambition is full continental coverage. South Africa remains one of the major economies we are engaging with, and discussions have been positive. We hope it will join the network.

We have also made progress in Central Africa. The recent participation of the Bank of Central African States, or BEAC, is particularly significant because BEAC serves six Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) countries. Its participation gives PAPSS an important gateway into Central Africa and Francophone markets. The important point is that we are not just trying to put countries on a list. We want to deepen usage within those countries.

Why is adoption uneven across African countries?

There are several reasons. The first is regulatory support.

In countries where the central bank actively supports PAPSS, adoption tends to be much faster. Central banks have to provide the necessary regulatory approvals for banks and other payment institutions to participate.

The second factor is the strength of the fintech and technology ecosystem.

Nigeria is a good example. Once PAPSS becomes available, fintech companies and banks quickly ask how they can connect to it. The third issue is technology infrastructure. Some African countries have relatively old banking technology. In some cases, we have had to support the infrastructure required to connect those markets to PAPSS. There is also the issue of awareness. A payment system can be excellent, but if businesses and consumers do not know that it exists, they will not use it. We have to do more in this area, and the media has an important role to play. Another concern is that some countries fear PAPSS could undermine regional payment systems they have already invested in. We tell them that PAPSS is not designed to destroy those systems. If a country has a regional payment system that works well for transactions within its region, it should continue using it. PAPSS can then provide the connection for transactions outside that region.

So, PAPSS should be seen as an additional layer that connects existing systems rather than one that replaces them.

What is the importance of Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem to PAPSS?

Nigeria demonstrates what is possible when banking, technology and innovation come together. Once a payment service is integrated into a bank’s digital channels, transaction volumes can rise significantly because customers do not have to visit a branch.

We have seen cases where connecting a bank’s digital channels resulted in transaction numbers increasing three or four times almost immediately. This shows that convenience is a major driver of financial behaviour. The consumer does not necessarily need extensive training. If the service is simple and secure, people will use it. That is one of the lessons Nigeria offers the rest of Africa.

PAPSS has also launched the African Currency Marketplace. Does this replace the proposed Pan-African digital currency?

They are not the same thing. The African Currency Marketplace, or PACM, addresses a specific problem: currency convertibility and liquidity.

PAPSS had already solved part of the payment problem. But we discovered that payments alone were not enough. A company may receive money in another African country but still have difficulty converting or repatriating that money. That creates what we call trapped capital. PACM was developed to enable the direct exchange of African currencies without necessarily passing through hard currencies such as the US dollar. It therefore complements PAPSS rather than replacing the idea of a Pan-African digital currency.

The proposal for a Pan-African digital currency, including stablecoins, remains a broader strategic idea being explored by Afreximbank. Afreximbank President George Elombi raised the issue in October 2025 as part of the bank’s digital transformation agenda. PACM, on the other hand, is already an operational initiative built around African currency exchange. It was launched by PAPSS and Interstellar in 2025 to address the currency-convertibility problem and reduce the costs associated with using hard currencies for intra-African trade.

What about cryptocurrency and stablecoins?

Blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies will play an important role in the future of payments. Stablecoins, in particular, are here to stay. Our objective is not to go around Africa creating stablecoins ourselves. There are already companies working in that space. Our responsibility is to create infrastructure that can bring different forms of money and payment technologies together.

Whether it is traditional fiat money or emerging digital forms of money, we want to be able to support legitimate money flows across African borders. We are therefore actively studying developments in this area.

What impact could an African credit rating agency have on PAPSS and the wider financial system?

I am very excited about the development of an African credit rating agency.

For too long, African institutions have sometimes been assessed primarily through external perspectives that do not always capture the realities of African economies. An African rating institution can help African institutions tell their stories from an African perspective while still applying credible international standards. There is also a capital-flow dimension.

A significant amount of African capital and reserves is held outside the continent. Better understanding of African institutions and markets could help encourage more African capital to remain within Africa and finance development. That would support the broader objective of financial integration.

What have you learned about financial behaviour across Africa?

One of the biggest lessons is that convenience matters enormously. People want to transact quickly, safely and easily. We have also learned that payment corridors matter. When two countries have strong trade, payment volumes tend to follow. Nigeria’s relationships with Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya and other African countries demonstrate this. We are also learning more about informal trade.

Many transactions that were previously invisible to formal financial systems are now becoming visible through digital payment infrastructure. That gives central banks better information about economic activity. We are developing our data capabilities so that we can understand these flows better and provide useful information to regulators and the market.

What is the ultimate goal of PAPSS?

The ultimate goal is to connect Africans.

Africa has about 1.4 billion people. Yet many businesses still think of their market as only the population of their individual country.

If you create a solution for Nigeria alone, you have a large market. But if that solution can work across Africa, the opportunity becomes much bigger.

PAPSS is trying to provide the infrastructure that makes that possible. Our vision is an Africa where a business can sell goods in another African country, receive payment in its local currency and settle the transaction quickly without unnecessary dependence on external currencies or financial intermediaries.

We want a Nigerian business to be able to trade with Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Cameroon, Egypt, South Africa and other African markets as easily as it trades within Nigeria. That is why PAPSS is important.

The African Continental Free Trade Area provides the framework for a single African market. PAPSS provides a critical part of the financial infrastructure needed to make that market work. We have already made significant progress in a relatively short period. But our work is not finished. The next stage is about deepening adoption, bringing more banks and fintechs onto the system, connecting more domestic payment schemes, supporting SMEs and making the service more visible to ordinary Africans. The goal is not simply to build another payment platform. The goal is to make it easier for Africans to trade with Africans. That is the real importance of PAPSS.

While the Northwest boasts of the highest number of individual student beneficiaries nationwide, the Southwest, which has the third-highest number of student beneficiaries, recorded the highest total volume of funds disbursed by the agency over its 27 months of operation.

According to the latest statistics released by NELFUND, a total of N355,872,779,439.25 has been disbursed so far. This comprises N192,888,267,439.25 allocated for tuition fees and N162,984,512,000 for students’ monthly upkeep.

The scheme currently covers 1,819,011 students across 319 public tertiary institutions, ranging from colleges of education to universities.

The data across the six zones as of 3 September 2026 showed the highest numbers in the Northwest (450,000), followed by the Northeast (378,103), Southwest (360,000), North Central (324,908), South South (198,000), and Southeast (108,000).

Speaking exclusively to the Nigerian Tribune, the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, disclosed that the number of beneficiaries and participating institutions continues to grow daily.

He attributed this steady expansion to vigorous nationwide sensitisation campaigns and the pressing financial needs of indigent students.

He noted that the current government, especially President Bola Tinubu, is totally committed to ensuring no Nigerian is again dropped out of school because of lack of money.

Explaining why the Southeast lags in applications, Sawyerr pointed to regional cultural attitudes toward debt and education.

‘People of the Southeast generally prefer not to borrow money for education; that is simply the culture,’ Sawyerr stated. ‘The Ibos traditionally do not believe they should take loans to pay for their children’s school fees. Closely linked to this is the region’s strong entrepreneurial drive. Many believe they can succeed through business and the apprenticeship route, choosing to borrow capital for trade rather than for formal studies. That is the reality on the ground.’

When asked why the Southwest received the highest monetary volume despite not having the highest number of individual beneficiaries, Sawyerr cited varying institutional costs.

‘Schools in the Southwest charge higher fees. For instance, institutions in Lagos charge significantly more than those in northern states like Katsina,’ he explained. ‘Furthermore, courses in specialised fields like medicine and the sciences attract higher fees than arts and humanities. Institutions also price their tuition based on operational costs, such as expensive city land, electricity, rent, and overheads.’

He maintained that the agency would continue to improve in its operations.

The rapid growth of the loan scheme has elicited mixed reactions from education stakeholders, including parents, students, and educators.

While many applauded its impact on access to higher education, others blamed the massive demand on Nigeria’s challenging economic climate.

Several student beneficiaries told the Nigerian Tribune that the fund has saved them from severe hardship.

‘Without these loans, staying in school would have been an extreme struggle. It has brought immense relief to our families,’ one student shared.

Supporting the initiative, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Babatunde, described the scheme as a vital lifeline preventing indigent students from dropping out. Dismissing critics of the loan’s structure, Babatunde reportedly argued that they fail to understand the deep financial struggles of poor families.

He urged other eligible students to take advantage of the interest-free facility.

Parents, however, remain divided. While some express concern over the future repayment burden on their children, others view it as a timely intervention.

The National President of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NPTAN), Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, also described the scheme as a highly positive initiative for low-income families, though he cautioned against systemic lapses.

‘It is not every student who has the privilege of rich parents,’ Danjuma noted. ‘Poor students can now access quality education if this scheme is managed transparently.’

However, addressing the overwhelming rush of applicants, Danjuma linked the demand directly to national economic pressures.

‘The massive rush for these loans indicates the harsh state of the economy. Countless parents nationwide are struggling with tuition due to high inflation, job losses and underemployment, making these loans an absolute necessity rather than an alternative,’ Danjuma concluded.

Benue State Government has warned parents and guardians against assaulting, threatening, intimidating or verbally abusing teachers, principals and any other school staff across the state.

The State Commissioner of Education and Knowledge Management, Mrs Margaret Adamu, announced this at a press conference held in Makurdi on Monday.

The commissioner, who rolled out the policies of the ministry, called for renewed commitment to quality education and strict compliance with all the policies.

The state government also warned against any individuals, non-governmental organisations or any other external body having unauthorised access to both private and public schools across the state.

Also, the state government has prohibited the use of mobile phones during school hours as well as extra lessons after regular school hours.

Other policies included ‘barbaric ways of celebrating birthdays’, whereby learners manhandle the celebrants in schools, classrooms and hostels.

The state government also warned against parents and guardians assaulting, threatening, intimidating or verbally abusing teachers, principals or other school staff.

She stated that genuine grievances should be addressed through the appropriate channels.

She said, ‘No NGO, individual, organisation or external body shall enter a school to conduct programmes, activities, research, advocacy or interventions without the appropriate authorization from the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management.

‘Learners are prohibited from possessing or using mobile phones during school hours, except where specifically authorized for legitimate educational purposes under the applicable school guidelines.

‘Learners are expected to resume school on time, attend classes regularly and remain within authorized school areas. Late coming, truancy and loitering during school hours must be firmly addressed by school authority.

‘Bullying, intimidation, harassment, hazing and ali forms of violence among learners are strictly prohibited. School authorities must establish and maintain safe, respectful and inclusive learning environments.’

The commissioner explained that the policies were designed to protect learners, reduce unnecessary financial burdens on parents, improve discipline, strengthen school management and raise the standard of education in the state.

‘I therefore warn that non-compliance with approved policies and directives will attract appropriate sanctions in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and guidelines.

‘School proprietors, principals and heads of schools are expected to familiarize themselves with all relevant Ministry directives and ensure full implementation. Ignorance of an existing policy will not be accepted as an excuse for noncompliance,’ the commissioner said.

Adamu promised that the ministry would strengthen monitoring, supervision and quality assurance activities across schools in the state to ensure that the policies are implemented at the school level.

Despite the commencement of presidential and National Assembly campaigns for the 2027 election in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026, major political parties are yet to inaugurate their campaign councils, investigations by the Nigerian Tribune have revealed.

Findings by the Nigerian Tribune indicate that in line with the 2026 Electoral Act, presidential and National Assembly campaigns were expected to have been kick-started from August 19.

But two weeks after the deadline, political parties are still delaying the inauguration of their campaign councils.

Though the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) announced its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) on August 22, the party is yet to inaugurate the body.

But the national secretary of the party, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, said in an interview on Sunday that campaigns can go on with or without the inauguration of the presidential campaign committees, whether the body has been formally inaugurated or not.

National secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday, said that the party has commenced its campaigns, notwithstanding the delay in formally inaugurating the PCC.

The case is similar in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), whose national publicity secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said that the campaign committee would soon be inaugurated.

Party leaders spoken to by our correspondents said on Sunday that the failure to inaugurate the PCC should not delay the campaigns, just as the leadership of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) said that it would inaugurate its PCC on Monday (today).

We have commenced campaigns without formal inauguration of PCC- APC National Secretary

The APC said that the anxiety over the formal inauguration of the PCC was needless.

The Presidency had, on August 22, released the list of members of the PCC, with President Bola Tinubu emerging as the Chairman of his campaign team.

Former Zamfara State Governor and Senator representing Zamfara West, Abdulaziz Yari, was announced as Director-General, while Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, was picked as Secretary.

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune in a telephone interview, Senator Bashiru disclosed that the inauguration of PCC was a mere ceremony, as he noted that certain members of the campaign council have since commenced campaigns for the party presidential candidate.

He said: ‘Nothing is really delaying the inauguration. In fact, I can tell you that campaigns have started. When we are ready, we will do a formal inauguration.

‘You must have noticed that we have started our campaigns already. The party’s national leadership was in Kano on Saturday, where we received the likes of Senator Kabiru Gaya, Senator Hanga Rufai, and others who joined our party.

‘Also on Saturday, there was an elaborate event in Ikwerre in Rivers State. The Director-General of the Campaign Council, Senator Yari, was also in Gusau to receive those who joined the party in Zamfara State.

‘So, we don’t have to wait until formal inauguration before we start to talk to the electorate. We have started our campaigns. When we are ready, we will do the formal inauguration.’

ADC to announce campaign council, inauguration date soon – Bolaji Abdullahi

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said it will soon announce its National Campaign Council and the date for its inauguration ahead of the 2027 general elections.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this on Sunday in Abuja while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune.

Abdullahi, while responding to questions on the delay in constituting the council, said the party is not under any time pressure.

‘I told you earlier that you can’t be talking of delay when you don’t have a deadline. So, we will announce the campaign council when we are ready and announce the date of inauguration. We will announce it soon,’ he said.

The ADC spokesman did not give a specific date for the announcement, but said consultations within the party are ongoing to ensure that the council reflects the party’s strategy for the 2027 polls.

The party has in recent months been repositioning itself and attracting new members as political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of the next general elections.

Party leaders say the campaign council, when constituted, will be saddled with the responsibility of driving the ADC’s mobilisation, messaging and election strategy nationwide.

We won’t constitute campaign council yet-Accord

The Accord party, however, presents a different picture, where its national leadership said that they would not constitute a presidential campaign council in the absence of a presidential candidate to fly the party flag.

There has been a tug of war between the leadership of the party and the presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo Hashim, in recent months.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, national publicity secretary of Accord, Joseph Omorogbe, said it is left for the National Working Committee (NWC) to decide the next line of action as the party reconvenes for an extraordinary meeting to inform Nigerians on who will be flying the party’s flag in next year’s presidential election.

He said: ‘We have not come up with our final decision on that matter. Like I told you the other time as the mouthpiece of the party, I will be communicating to Nigerians who our presidential candidate will be. That was exactly my position before I left for the Osun poll.

‘That’s our position, and we’ve not taken our stand on it, and I believe very soon, we are in a new month now, we are reconvening an extraordinary meeting where we shall be telling Nigerians who our presidential candidate is and how we intend to work in line with the electoral provision in Nigeria.’

We will do things differently – PDP

Almost three weeks after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) opened the window for campaigns, some parties, including the PDP, have not announced their campaign plans.

When asked to explain the reason for the delay, the National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, told the Nigerian Tribune that the PDP would make a decision on how to go about it at its own discretion and not because it must follow another political party’s example.

‘The PDP does not take decisions simply because of what people think or say. We make decisions when it is right for us to do so and, more importantly, when the time is right.

‘It is not about how early we act, but about how well we act and the outcome we achieve,’ he said.

Mohammed added that at the appropriate time, the party would update Nigerians.

‘At the appropriate time, we shall speak to Nigerians,’ he added.

He spoke amid speculation that the PDP might be in a quandary over the way forward due to the decision of the national leader of the party, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT ), Mr Nyesom Wike, who had declared support for President Tinubu’s reelection.

Findings indicated that even the fate of the PDP’s presidential candidate, Senator Sandy Ojang Onor, remained uncertain as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party chaired by Honourable Abdulrahman Mohammed was said to be awaiting further directives from the national leader.

Another party source the newspaper contacted on Sunday disclosed that not much had happened regarding campaigns because the minister holds the aces.

‘I think the party is waiting for that critical moment for things to be sorted out.

‘It may be that the PDP will downplay its own presidential interest, while fully backing Tinubu, but will contest all other offices; governors, National Assembly and so on, the source revealed.

APM to inaugurate campaign council today

Meanwhile, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has announced the formal commencement of its 2027 presidential campaign, with its candidate, Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, scheduled to inaugurate the party’s presidential campaign office in Abuja on Monday (today).

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Abubakar Yusuf, who disclosed this, said the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Office would serve as the national coordinating hub for the campaign.

Yusuf said the campaign would be issue-based and people-driven, focusing on the policy choices and governance record of Makinde, who is contesting the presidency alongside Alhaji Lawan Daura, the party’s vice-presidential candidate.

He said, ‘The Makinde/Daura campaign will focus on solutions while presenting the candidate’s policy choices and proven record of governance to the electorate.’

According to him, the party was beginning the campaign with ‘confidence, humility and an unwavering commitment’ to offer Nigerians a credible alternative capable of restoring hope, security, prosperity and national pride.

Yusuf said the emergence of Makinde and Daura as the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates had triggered a surge in membership and support for the APM, which he attributed to confidence in their records of integrity and public service.

He described Makinde’s candidacy as a combination of ‘competence, youthful energy, administrative experience and broad public acceptance’ needed to build a safer, more prosperous, united and functional Nigeria.

The APM spokesman said the party’s presidential candidate had, in preparation for the campaign, embarked on extensive consultations with political leaders, stakeholders and communities across the country.

He said the consultations were aimed at understanding the aspirations and concerns of Nigerians and developing a comprehensive national agenda to address the country’s pressing challenges.

Yusuf added that the party would soon unveil a comprehensive policy blueprint containing practical and measurable solutions to the challenges confronting Nigerians and setting out Makinde’s vision for a better-governed Nigeria.

Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast cloudy skies, thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rains across the country from Monday to Wednesday.

NiMet disclosed this in its weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, advising residents to take precautions during thunderstorms.

For the northern region, the agency forecast thunderstorms with moderate rains over parts of Adamawa, Kebbi and Taraba on Monday morning.

It predicted thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains over most parts of the region later in the day.

For the North-Central region, NiMet forecast thunderstorms with light rains over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Plateau and Benue.

Other areas include Kogi, Nasarawa and Kwara states, particularly during Monday morning.

NiMet said thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains were expected over most parts of the North-Central region during the afternoon or evening.

For the southern region, NiMet forecast cloudy skies, with prospects of light rains over parts of Ebonyi, Edo and Delta states.

Other affected states include Abia, Cross River, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa, particularly during the morning hours.

The agency predicted light rains over parts of the South-East, South-South and South-West later on Monday.

For Tuesday, NiMet forecast patches of clouds over the northern region, with chances of thunderstorms and light rains over parts of Adamawa, Sokoto and Kebbi.

Taraba was also expected to experience thunderstorms accompanied by light rains during the morning hours.

The agency predicted thunderstorms with moderate rains over parts of Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states later on Tuesday.

It forecast cloudy skies across the North-Central region during the morning, followed by thunderstorms with moderate rains later in the day.

NiMet anticipated cloudy skies across the southern region on Tuesday, with prospects of light morning rains over parts of Cross River and Akwa Ibom.

The agency, however, forecast light rains over most parts of the southern region later in the day.

For Wednesday, NiMet envisaged partly cloudy skies across the northern region, with chances of morning thunderstorms over several states.

The affected states include Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.

The agency predicted thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rains over parts of Borno, Yobe, Jigawa and Adamawa later on Wednesday.

Taraba, Bauchi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina and Gombe were also expected to experience heavy rains.

For the North-Central region, NiMet forecast cloudy skies in the morning, followed by thunderstorms with heavy rains later in the day.

It also forecast cloudy skies across the southern region, with chances of light morning rains over parts of Imo, Abia, Rivers and Cross River.

Akwa Ibom was also expected to experience light morning rains, while most parts of the southern region could record heavy rains later.

NiMet warned that strong winds could precede thunderstorms and urged residents to fasten loose objects to prevent accidents.

The agency advised motorists to avoid driving during heavy rainfall and urged residents to disconnect electrical appliances during thunderstorms.

It also advised residents to stay away from tall trees to avoid injuries from falling branches or broken trees.

‘Airline operators are advised to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning in their operations,’ it said.

NiMet urged residents to remain informed through regular weather updates and take appropriate precautions during periods of severe weather.

The Commission Chief Executive (CCE) of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, has said the Commission will launch a new oil licensing round by early October 2026, involving 13 unlicensed blocks returned to the pool from the previous bidding process.

Eyesan revealed this while outlining the regulator’s strategy to revive crude oil production and attract fresh investment into Nigeria’s upstream sector. She stated that the Commission’s objective was to sustain at least one licensing round annually as part of efforts to reverse Nigeria’s declining oil production.

According to her, the new licensing round would cover assets across Nigeria’s deepwater and shallow-water areas, with possible inclusion of frontier onshore basins, adding that the Commission was targeting between $30 billion and $50 billion in new investments in 22 deepwater projects by 2030.

The NUPRC chief said the forthcoming round would not be targeted primarily at international oil majors, as she emphasised the emergence of successful indigenous operators such as Renaissance and First EandP following the exit of international oil majors such as Shell, ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies and Eni from parts of Nigeria’s onshore oil operations.

Eyesan stated that the Commission was focused on developing a new generation of operators capable of unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s inland oil-producing areas, saying Nigeria could resort to conducting annual or even twice-yearly bid rounds, with a turnaround time of between six and seven months.

While noting that the pace of licensing had increased substantially since the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), with the number of assets offered rising from seven oil blocks in the 2022/23 mini bid round to 19 in 2024 and 50 in 2025, the NUPRC boss said the newly awarded concessions were expected to increase Nigeria’s oil production by about 300,000 barrels per day within their first three years, while subsequent licensing rounds could generate an additional 300,000 to 600,000 barrels per day.

The October licensing round will serve as another major test of the government’s efforts to attract capital, develop new operators and restore Nigeria’s position as a leading crude oil producer in Africa.

Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on Monday launched Rapid Response 3 (CRE 2026) in Asaba, Delta, a five-day national crisis response exercise aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s preparedness and inter-agency coordination during complex emergencies.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, the Director of the Presidential Command and Control Centre (DPC4-ONSA), Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, explained that the Rapid Response 3 will operate across the Gold, Silver and Bronze command levels and will run in four phases.

According to him, ‘pre-exercise briefing, enabler training for participating components, the main Exercise Day (D-Day), and an after-action review to capture lessons learned.

‘This is a scheduled multi-agency simulation designed to evaluate and strengthen our capacity to respond effectively to complex emergencies’,

Ayo-Vaughan added that the ‘exercise is a simulation and does not represent an actual emergency’.

For the first time, ONSA is hosting the crisis exercise outside the Federal Capital Territory. The move to Asaba was made possible by the support of the Governor of Delta, Sheriff Oborevwori.

He commended the Governor for prioritising the security of lives and property.

The Director said that venues were selected after reconnaissance to ensure realism, and that the exercise will involve heavy movements of security and emergency response vehicles and personnel within designated areas.

He further added that the public have been notified by SMS and radio, urging them not to panic if they see increased activity.

According to him, only accredited media will be permitted to cover on-site activities to ensure responsible reporting and protect operational security.

He urged journalists to verify information before publication, clearly distinguish exercise activities from real incidents, and contact the exercise coordinator or designated media liaison for enquiries.

He assured that adequate safety measures have been put in place for participants, observers and the public, pointing out that the objectives of the exercise include enhancing inter-agency communication, command and control, rapid deployment, and effective crisis management.

‘Observations from stakeholders and commanders will feed into a final lessons report to inform future exercises’.

The exercise will begin on Friday, 11 September 2026, bringing together Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to test plans, procedures and command structures under the National Crisis Management Doctrine.

The national leader of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Senator Bala Mohammed, has described the party’s presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, as a man with a ‘remarkable résumé’ and the experience required to lead Nigeria in 2027.

Mohammed, a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is now the Bauchi-South senatorial candidate of the APM, is also the Governor of Bauchi State.

He spoke in Abuja on Monday during the inauguration of the presidential campaign office of the APM candidate, Makinde, who is the current Governor of Oyo State.

Both politicians were previously members of the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the PDP.

Mohammed said the APM had made the right choice by selecting Makinde, whom he described as one of the best human resources Nigeria had produced at both the sub-national and national levels.

He noted, ‘I am bringing you one of the best human capital Nigeria has ever produced at the sub-national and national levels. That is Engineer Seyi Makinde.’

The Bauchi governor said Makinde had distinguished himself as a ‘mobiliser’, ‘manager of resources’ and engineer, particularly through his achievements in Oyo State since 2019, despite the limited resources at his disposal.

‘This is the mobiliser, the manager of resources, and an engineer par excellence, somebody who used little resources and achieved so much. Where there was active negligence, he brought urban renewal to a level that nobody had ever achieved’, he added.

Mohammed said Makinde’s experience in the oil and gas industry and the private sector, coupled with his knowledge of governance, humility and respect for others, made him suitable to lead the country.

The governor spoke further, ‘He has been in the oil and gas sector, he has been in the private sector, and he has seen it all, with a remarkable résumé that is required to lead this country.

‘He has a fair knowledge of the country, coupled with humility and respect, as well as a deep knowledge of governance.’

The APM leader also said the party remained one of the least-troubled political parties in the country, attributing its relative stability to loyalty, party supremacy, constituted authority and harmony among its leaders.

According to him, the party is offering Nigerians ‘a new lease of life to leadership,’ anchored on tact, intellect, planning, effective deployment of resources and accountability, adding that the APM will campaign across the country under the motto, ‘Nigeria First.’

Mohammed further stated that the APM’s objective was to reset Nigeria and build a country where every citizen, regardless of age or gender, would have the opportunity to realise their aspirations.

‘I think Nigerians would be pleasantly surprised by what my brother, whom I know very well and whom I can vouch for, will do for Nigeria within a very short time to reset Nigeria’, Mohammed remarked.

Pan-Atlantic University announces with profound sadness the passing of Professor Albert Alos, pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the varsity and Founding Dean of Lagos Business School, who passed away on September 5, 2026.

Professor Alos was a visionary educator, distinguished scholar, and institution builder whose commitment to excellence played a foundational role in shaping both Pan-Atlantic University and Lagos Business School. Through his leadership, wisdom and unwavering dedication to education, he made an enduring contribution to higher education and to the development of generations of leaders who continue to serve Nigeria, Africa and the wider world.

As the University’s pioneer Vice-Chancellor and the Founding Dean of Lagos Business School, Professor Alos helped establish a culture of academic excellence, ethical leadership and service that remains central to the institution’s mission and values today. His influence extended far beyond the classroom, inspiring students, faculty, staff, alumni, and colleagues through his example of professionalism, integrity, and commitment to the common good.

Reflecting on his remarkable legacy, Pan-Atlantic University acknowledges the profound impact of Professor Alos’s work in laying the foundations for an institution dedicated to developing competent and responsible leaders. His vision and dedication helped shape an educational philosophy that continues to guide the University and Lagos Business School in their pursuit of excellence.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Enase Okonedo, mentioned that ‘Professor Albert Alos leaves behind a legacy deeply woven into the history and ethos of Pan-Atlantic University. As a teacher, mentor and leader, he inspired countless individuals through his wisdom, integrity and service. His contributions will continue to influence generations to come.’

The University extends its heartfelt condolences to Professor Alos’s family, friends, colleagues, former students, and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. The entire Pan-Atlantic University community mourns the loss of a remarkable educator and leader whose life’s work continues to transform countless lives.

The University invites members of the community and the public to remember Professor Alos in their prayers and to pray for the peaceful repose of his soul.