Category: Nigerian Tribune

The national president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Archbishop Francis Wale Oke, has urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to tackle insecurity, economic hardship, corruption and illicit drug trafficking in the country.

Oke, in his Independence Day message to Nigerians to mark the nation’s 66th anniversary, also called on citizens to reflect on the state of the country and rededicate themselves to building a peaceful, united and prosperous Nigeria.

The message, contained in a statement issued by the Media Bureau of the PFN, congratulated Nigerians on the anniversary while acknowledging the progress recorded by the country over the past 66 years.

According to him, the Independence Day celebration should not only be a time of thanksgiving and rejoicing, but also an opportunity for Nigerians to engage in ‘deep and honest reflection’ on the nation’s challenges.

‘For 66 years, we have seen much and achieved much. The progress we have made cannot be denied, but the challenges before us cannot be ignored,’ he said.

Oke identified peace and security as essential foundations for national development, urging the government to ensure the protection of every Nigerian irrespective of location, ethnicity or region.

He called for intensified action against banditry and terrorism, particularly in forests and other areas used as hideouts by criminals.

‘We must remove the bandits and terrorists from our forests and bring them and their financiers to justice. The Federal Government must do more and do it now,’ the PFN president said.

On the economy, Oke expressed concern over the worsening hardship confronting Nigerians, urging both the Federal and state governments to take stronger measures to improve citizens’ welfare.

He said Nigeria’s abundant human and natural resources should be deployed for the benefit of the wider population rather than a privileged few.

The PFN president also advocated the review of existing laws and the enactment of new legislation to create an enabling environment for businesses, while calling for aggressive industrialisation to expand the nation’s productive capacity and improve living standards.

Oke described corruption as a major threat to democratic governance, saying it had weakened accountability, transparency, justice and public trust.

‘Governments at all tiers-whether national, state or local-need to try harder and tackle it headlong and wipe it out so that every Nigerian will enjoy the dividends of democracy,’ he said.

He further expressed concern over the production and trafficking of illicit drugs in Nigeria, particularly the danger posed to young people.

He urged the authorities and citizens to intensify efforts to protect the younger generation from the menace.

Oke appealed to Nigerians across ethnic, religious and social divides to unite in building a nation founded on peace, justice, love and righteousness.

‘Nigeria can be great again, but we must all play our parts,’ he said, stressing that the country’s progress depended on the collective responsibility of its citizens.

He urged Nigerians to think, speak, and act in ways that would promote national development and accelerate progress, while calling for continued faith in God and commitment to the ideals of the nation’s founding fathers.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Nigerians not to despair but to keep hope alive for a better Nigeria.

It admitted that while the country had yet to be where it wished to be on the global map, it must still continue to hope to reach there.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, stated this on Thursday in commemoration of Nigeria’s 66th independence anniversary.

‘The PDP acknowledges that, as a nation and as a people, we are not yet where we aspire to be. However, we must not despair.

‘The future of Nigeria remains bright, and our collective hope must remain stronger than our present challenges.

‘Nigeria is a blessed nation, endowed with enormous human and natural resources. Let us harness these resources, alongside our rich ethnic, cultural and religious diversity into an instrument of unity, creativity and national progress’, the National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, stated in Abuja on Thursday.

The PDP called on all Nigerians to continue to preach peace, unity and national cohesion, adding, ‘Our leaders and followers alike must remain patriotic, reject violence and corruption, and always place the interests of Nigeria above personal and sectional considerations.’

On its part, the Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the PDP chaired by Dr Tanimu Turaki, urged Nigerians to borrow from the example of the country’s founding fathers who were resilient in the struggle for independence by shunning inducement and confronting intimidation.

‘Worthy of note is that when the moment for self-rule came, they rejected inducements and resisted threats designed to defeat their aim. They did not delay, and they did not miss their moment’, Turaki said on Thursday in a message he personally signed.

He said as Nigeria turned 66, it was now the turn of the citizens to rise in unison to ‘shun inducement and stand firm against intimidation.’

Turaki added, ‘Now, more than ever, we must be determined, at the earliest opportunity, to elect a government that will build a Nigeria that works for all, not just some: a nation of security, economic opportunity, unity and justice.

‘That responsibility now rests on us at the ballot box. This is our own time, and we must not let it pass.’

NILDS advocates unity, inclusivity in nation-building

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, has called on Nigerians to strengthen national unity, embrace inclusivity and remain committed to the collective task of nation-building as the country marks its 66th independence anniversary.

Sulaiman made the call in a goodwill message he issued on Thursday in which he congratulated Nigerians on the anniversary and reflected on the country’s journey since independence on October 1, 1960.

He described Nigeria’s 66 years of independence as a testament to the resilience of its people and the efforts of successive administrations to advance the vision and aspirations of the nation’s founding fathers.

The DG, while aligning with the theme of this year’s celebration, ‘From Reforms to Stability: Consolidating Nigeria’s Renewed Hope for Shared Prosperity,’ noted that the country’s diversity should be harnessed as an asset for national development rather than allowed to become a source of division.

‘Our diversity across gender, ethnicity, region and religion should remain a source of strength rather than division,’ he said.

Sulaiman stressed the need for greater collective participation in nation-building, urging citizens to contribute actively to addressing the country’s security and developmental challenges.

According to him, issues of national cohesion, gender inclusivity, unity, economic development and legislative governance remain central to NILDS’ mandate of strengthening democratic institutions, promoting good governance and advancing sustainable national development.

Sulaiman, a former Minister of National Planning, also felicitated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Abbas Tajudeen.

He acknowledged that Nigeria had yet to achieve all its aspirations but noted that the country had continued to evolve and strengthen its democratic institutions.

The NILDS boss consequently urged Nigerians to sustain their faith in the country and uphold the values of patriotism and collective responsibility.

‘Let us remain actively engaged in building a peaceful, inclusive, prosperous and united Nigeria,’ he urged.

He called on citizens to uphold national unity and play their part in overcoming the challenges confronting the nation, stressing the importance of collective action in consolidating Nigeria’s democratic and developmental gains.

Sulaiman wished Nigerians a peaceful and restful Independence Day celebration and prayed for continued peace, stability and progress for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, on Wednesday, formally welcomed Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni as the unit’s 30th Acting Comptroller, even as Comptroller Gambo Aliyu retired from the Service after a distinguished tenure.

The handing-over ceremony was held at the unit’s conference hall and brought together friends, colleagues and well-wishers of both the incoming and outgoing Comptrollers.

Also in attendance were Acting Customs Area Controllers of the Port and Terminal Multipurpose Limited (PTML), Ogun 1 Area Command, and the Enugu/Ebonyi/Anambra Command, among other senior officers and stakeholders.

In his inaugural address, Deputy Comptroller Afeni pledged ‘purposeful, professional and accountable leadership’ in furtherance of the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.

He expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in him by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the Service’s management team.

The Acting Comptroller said his administration would pursue ‘intelligence-led enforcement’, block revenue leakages, and protect Nigeria’s economic and security interests.

He emphasised that enforcement activities would be ‘firm, lawful and respectful of human dignity’, while legitimate trade would be facilitated through constructive engagement with traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters, customs brokers and other stakeholders.

He also called for stronger collaboration with sister security and law-enforcement agencies to combat trans-border crimes, including the illicit movement of drugs, arms, currencies, counterfeit goods and other prohibited items.

He pledged attention to officers’ welfare, professional development, institutional discipline, and regular sporting activities to promote fitness, teamwork and work-life balance.

In his handing-over address, the immediate past Comptroller of the unit, retired Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, expressed gratitude and humility, marking the occasion as a formal transfer of leadership while reflecting on the responsibilities and challenges of commanding the unit.

He noted that his administration focused on combating smuggling, revenue fraud, concealment, under-declaration, false declaration, and the movement of prohibited goods.

Highlighting major operational successes, he reported the interception of 779 smuggling attempts involving items such as: Over 20,900 bags of foreign parboiled rice; 61 used vehicles;

Thousands of used compressors and clothing items; Foreign poultry products; 4,418 jerrycans of vegetable oil; 12,606 parcels of cannabis weighing 6,194.3kg; 2.30kg of cocaine; Over 3,000 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (76,505 litres); and 22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg. These and other seizures had a total duty-paid value of ?13,075,056,616.00.

On revenue recovery, Comptroller Aliyu reported remarkable performance between 10 December 2025 and 24 September 2026, with the unit recovering ?3,192,511,547.52-representing 798% of its ?400 million annual target for 2026, and a 776% increase over the ?411,451,901.18 recovered in the same period in 2025.

He attributed these achievements to ‘enhanced risk profiling, stricter compliance checks, targeted introspection into suspicious declarations, teamwork, professionalism and collaboration with sister agencies and stakeholders’, stressing that ‘no enforcement agency can succeed in isolation’.

Concluding his address, he welcomed and congratulated his successor, assuring him of a strong operational foundation and charging him to ‘lead with fairness, firmness, courage and sound judgment’.

He thanked the officers for their loyalty, discipline and resilience, and prayed for the success of the new leadership, the continued growth of the Nigeria Customs Service, and the security of Nigeria.

No fewer than 500 residents, including children, young adults and the elderly, on Tuesday benefited from free cardiovascular and other health screenings organised in an Ibadan community to commemorate the 2026 World Heart Day.

The beneficiaries of the programme are Agbo Ile Faola, Yemetu, Ibadan and IMG Primary School, Oje Igosun, Ibadan, which was designed to take cardiovascular care beyond the hospital and into the community.

The exercise, organised by the Stroke Free Society International in collaboration with the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, and the World Heart Federation, raised concerns over undiagnosed cardiovascular conditions after some residents who appeared healthy were found to have elevated blood pressure.

The development, according to medical experts at the outreach, underscores the need for regular health checks, as cardiovascular diseases could remain undetected until they result in serious complications such as stroke, heart attack or heart failure.

Medical professionals screened participants for hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and other cardiovascular risk factors.

Children were also screened for congenital and rheumatic heart diseases, while vision screening was introduced to identify eye problems that could affect pupils’ learning.

Speaking on the significance of the exercise, a cardiologist and one of the organisers, Professor Moshood Adeoye, said the programme had a personal meaning for him because the community was where he was born more than six decades ago.

Adeoye said returning to the community to provide medical services offered him an opportunity to give back while raising awareness about cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors.

‘Cardiovascular diseases are on the increase. We have people developing stroke, having heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems.

‘Some of the risk factors are more common in the community, but people may not come to the hospital because of financial reasons or ignorance.

‘That is why we are here in the community to educate them about the symptoms and risk factors,’ he said.

Adeoye expressed concern over the increasing cases of stroke among young people, stressing the importance of early detection and intervention.

According to him, some children already show signs of conditions that could predispose them to cardiovascular diseases later in life, while others may have hypertension or diabetes without knowing it.

‘We have started seeing strokes in young people. So, the earlier we identify these problems, the better,’ he said.

He explained that they also included vision screening for pupils because some children who appeared inattentive or struggled academically might not necessarily have learning difficulties but could be experiencing visual impairment.

He said the eye examinations would help identify such problems early and enable affected children to receive appropriate attention.

Also speaking, a consultant cardiologist at UCH and the University of Ibadan College of Medicine, Dr Olanike Orimolade, said the major message of World Heart Day was the need to prevent cardiovascular diseases rather than wait until complications develop.

Orimolade said cardiovascular health was closely linked to conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol, noting that many of them could remain silent for years.

‘The world is moving towards prevention rather than the cure of cardiovascular disease,’ she said.

She explained that hypertension, often described as a silent killer, might not produce obvious symptoms until significant damage had occurred.

The consultant cardiologist therefore urged residents to adopt healthy lifestyles and make regular medical checks part of their routine, particularly for conditions that could develop without noticeable symptoms.

At I.M.G. School 2, the Headmistress, Mrs Adenike Oyedeji, described the outreach as a welcome development, saying it provided an opportunity for pupils and staff to access medical services without having to travel far.

Oyedeji expressed appreciation to the organisers for bringing the programme to the school and community, saying the initiative would help promote the early detection of health conditions among residents and schoolchildren.

Former commissioners, political appointees and grassroots associates of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai have broken their silence on their decision to part ways with him, insisting that they were political partners, not political property, and therefore retained the right to determine their own political future.

The former allies said they supported El-Rufai because they believed in a political project, not because they surrendered their political identities, structures, and followers to him.

The position was signed by former Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Mukthar Isa Hazo, and former Kaduna State SDP Chairman and four-time House of Assembly member for Ungwan Sanusi Constituency, Hon. Nasiru Abdullahi Maikano.

They said members of the group, including former commissioners Ja’afaru Sani, Dr. Shehu Usman Makarfi, Bashir Saidu and Senator Abdu Kwari, had made significant contributions to the political structures that supported El-Rufai, alongside numerous grassroots politicians across Kaduna State.

The group said it was therefore unfair to describe their departure as betrayal, stressing that political relationships were not permanent and that alliances could change when circumstances, interests and objectives changed.

‘Are we not adults who can take our own political decisions?’ the group quoted Bashir Saidu as asking, saying the same freedom that allowed them to support El-Rufai in the past should allow them to make different choices today.

It said the political relationship became increasingly strained after El-Rufai’s 2019 re-election, when, according to its account, former allies felt increasingly marginalised while members of the former governor’s family were perceived to be exercising growing influence in government affairs.

The group stressed that it did not question El-Rufai’s right to rely on family members or trusted associates, but said its concern was what it described as the consequent weakening of the wider political structure and the growing sense among former allies that their political relevance was diminishing.

It said the disagreement later became more pronounced after El-Rufai left office, particularly over the 2027 political realignment and the ADC governorship primary, where Ja’afaru Sani was regarded by their camp as a preferred successor.

According to the group, El-Rufai instead backed Isa Ashiru, his former political rival, who defeated Sani in the ADC direct primary with 86,113 votes to 29,580. Sani rejected the outcome and alleged irregularities in the process.

The former allies also alleged that the support for Ashiru was linked to an arrangement designed to retain El-Rufai’s influence over a possible ADC administration, including alleged plans to appoint two of his wives. They expressly acknowledged that the allegation had not been independently established by a court or formally documented in a public agreement.

The group said the development reinforced its belief that the political interests of former allies were no longer aligned with those of El-Rufai, adding that the central question was whether Kaduna’s political future should be shaped by the interests of the people who built political structures or by the interests of a few individuals.

It challenged El-Rufai’s supporters to examine not only why people left his political camp but also what happened to the relationships that made them leave. According to the group, repeated political departures deserved examination rather than automatic accusations of betrayal.

It argued that El-Rufai’s own political journey demonstrated that political alliances could change, saying he had worked with different political actors and formations and had subsequently found himself on opposite sides of political battles with some of them.

‘If El-Rufai could make political choices based on his assessment of circumstances and interests, why should his former associates be denied that same right?’ the group asked.

Researchers at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, have identified heterogeneously dense breasts, advanced age, and having had at least five pregnancies as significant predictors of suspicious breast changes, including lumps, among women undergoing three-dimensional mammography.

The study found that women with heterogeneously dense breasts had about 10 times the odds of having suspicious breast changes compared to those with other breast patterns.

Women over the age of 70 also had about 10 times the odds of presenting with suspicious lesions, while grand multiparity-defined as having had five or more pregnancies-emerged as another significant predictor.

The findings were presented at the I-Research and Innovation event organised by the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.

The study examined sociodemographic, reproductive, and radiological factors independently associated with suspicious findings-classified as BI-RADS 4A to 5-compared to benign findings, classified as BI-RADS 4A-5, compared with benign findings classified as BI-RADS 1-3, among women undergoing digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), commonly known as 3D mammography.

Speaking about the research, Dr Ayo Idowu, a Consultant Radiologist at UCH, stated that the study was designed to identify factors that could help predict suspicious findings among women undergoing DBT.

According to her, DBT uses multiple X-ray images taken from different angles to create a three-dimensional view of the breast, reducing the effect of overlapping tissues and helping radiologists detect and evaluate abnormalities.

The researchers conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional analytical study involving women who underwent DBT at UCH. They found that heterogeneously dense breast tissue was the strongest independent predictor of suspicious findings.

‘Among the factors we assessed, heterogeneously dense breast tissue emerged as the strongest independent predictor of a suspicious final assessment,’ Idowu said.

She noted, however, that menopausal status, family history of breast cancer, and previous breast disease were not significantly associated with suspicious findings in the study.

Idowu stated that the findings underscore the need for further research involving Nigerian women, noting that risk factors identified in studies conducted in other populations may not necessarily yield the same results in Nigeria.

‘We need our own data to look at our women and identify which clinical factors can predict suspicious findings during mammography,’ she said.

She explained that DBT was available at UCH and could be useful for further evaluation of women with dense breasts.

However, she emphasised that women must first undergo mammography to determine whether they have dense breast tissue.

‘You need to undergo mammography before you know whether you have dense breasts. In our study, dense breasts were associated with about 10 times the odds of detecting a suspicious lesion,’ she said.

The radiologist advised Nigerian women to begin regular mammography screenings at age 40 and to continue with annual examinations thereafter.

‘When you turn 40, you should start getting mammograms. It’s not like taking an anti-malaria drug once and forgetting about it. You need to come back annually so we can monitor your health,’ she said.

Idowu stated that women with dense breasts could undergo further assessment using digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) to help radiologists identify suspicious abnormalities that may require additional investigation and treatment.

She said the study aimed to improve breast cancer screening and clinical decision-making by generating evidence specific to Nigerian women.

Idowu urged women to undergo regular breast cancer screenings even when they have no symptoms, stressing that early detection and appropriate follow-up can improve treatment outcomes.

The Federal Government has disclosed that the present administration is putting in place measures aimed at lifting children begging around the country, particularly in the northern states, off the streets.

Speaking on Thursday night while appearing on Channels Television, the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad, highlighted different programmes the government is undertaking to empower youths.

She explained that the government has intensified efforts to improve skill-acquisition programmes at O-level to further strengthen youths’ financial independence after school.

Ahmad also stated that specific initiatives are currently in force to ensure a reduction in the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, noting that the Federal Government’s reforms in the education sector are targeted at creating a population that can contribute meaningfully to the development of the nation.

She, however, lamented that decades of inadequate youth development have made the situation a bit challenging, stating that most of the programmes need more time for the results to become visible.

The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a workforce that is creative, productive and can contribute to the economic development of Nigeria.

Governors and political leaders across Nigeria have called on citizens to uphold national unity, peace and responsible citizenship as the country marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.

In separate messages to commemorate the anniversary on Thursday, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, among others, stressed the need for Nigerians to protect the country’s unity and support peaceful democratic processes.

Oborevwori urged Nigerians to remain steadfast and united, saying sustained commitment to ongoing reforms was essential to achieving lasting development and prosperity.

In a message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, the governor said, ‘there is hope on the horizon and brighter days ahead.’

He urged Deltans to continue supporting President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his administration’s MORE Agenda, arguing that continuity and stability in governance were critical to sustainable development.

Oborevwori said his administration was complementing federal efforts through infrastructure development, investment in renewable energy, job creation and initiatives aimed at attracting foreign direct investment to Delta State.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive governance and policies aimed at improving living standards and expanding opportunities across the state.

In Ondo State, Governor Aiyedatiwa urged residents to approach the forthcoming electoral process with maturity, tolerance and restraint, warning that political differences should not undermine the bonds that unite citizens.

Aiyedatiwa, who spoke on Thursday in Akure during the state’s Independence Day celebration, called on political leaders, party members and youths to shun violence, embrace issue-based engagement and respect citizens’ rights to participate peacefully in elections.

‘Political differences are natural in a democracy, but they must never destroy the bonds that unite us as families, neighbours and citizens,’ he said.

The governor also highlighted his administration’s activities in healthcare, education and agriculture, including the recruitment of 3,323 health professionals, acquisition of a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine and a 160-slice CT scanner for the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital Complex.

He said the state had also expanded support for retirees and pensioners through fully funded health insurance, while continuing teacher recruitment, bursaries, scholarships and increased support for tertiary institutions.

In agriculture, Aiyedatiwa said the government had secured 26,000 hectares of land and distributed more than two million cocoa seedlings, while about 14,000 smallholder cocoa and oil-palm farmers had been profiled under an FAO-supported programme.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, meanwhile, urged Nigerians to use the anniversary to reflect on the country’s resilience, diversity and shared identity and renew their commitment to nation-building.

Speaking in Ilorin, AbdulRazaq congratulated Nigerians and urged them to reject violence, criminality and hate speech while embracing peace and collective security.

‘Despite our challenges, Nigerians continue to demonstrate courage, enterprise, creativity and determination-our greatest national assets,’ he said.

The governor highlighted interventions by his administration in education, agriculture, healthcare and urban renewal, including KwaraLEARN, which he said had trained thousands of teachers and provided more than 1.2 million textbooks and learning materials across more than 1,500 primary schools.

He also said more than 2,000 classrooms had been constructed and nearly 9,000 teachers recruited, while more than 200 primary healthcare centres had been renovated, equipped and solarised.

In Borno, Governor Zulum urged residents to protect the relative peace achieved in the state and ensure that the emerging political season did not undermine it.

Zulum said about two million residents had returned to their communities, while more than 30,000 homes, schools, health facilities and other public infrastructure destroyed during the insurgency had been reconstructed.

He said his administration had implemented more than 1,500 clusters of projects across the state’s 27 local government areas, covering security, infrastructure, human capital development, agriculture, resettlement and reconstruction.

On education, Zulum said the number of functional secondary schools had risen from 34 in 2019 to 129 in 2026, while enrolment had reached 1.8 million children.

‘As the political season sets in, let us conduct our campaigns without rancour, so we do not undermine the relative peace and stability our state now enjoys,’ he said.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele also called on political parties and candidates to conduct peaceful campaigns in line with the Electoral Act, 2026 and the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Bamidele, who is Chairman of the South-West Caucus in the National Assembly, warned political actors against hate speech and inflammatory statements capable of triggering unrest and ethno-religious violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said political rights must be exercised within the law, adding that political ambitions should be pursued with restraint and respect for democratic rules.

‘No ambition is worth setting the nation ablaze,’ Bamidele said, stressing that Nigeria’s political activities should preserve rather than undermine the country’s unity and collective heritage.

In Oyo State, the governorship candidate of the Allied People’s Movement, Bimbo Adekanmbi, congratulated Nigerians on the anniversary and commended citizens for what he described as their resilience and continued belief in the unity of the country.

Adekanmbi acknowledged the economic difficulties faced by Nigerians, particularly the rising cost of food, transportation and other basic necessities, but said citizens should remain committed to building a country that future generations could be proud of.

He called for peaceful participation in the democratic process and urged voters to consider the vision, competence and values presented by political parties and candidates.

He also called on residents of Oyo State to continue supporting Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, citing its projects and programmes across the state.

Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has reaffirmed his commitment to delivering on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to transform Nigeria’s power sector, assuring Nigerians that ongoing interventions across the country will further improve electricity supply.

Tegbe spoke when he paid a thank-you visit to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State at the party’s secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, where he appreciated party leaders and stakeholders for the support that followed his appointment by President Tinubu.

The Minister said the confidence reposed in him by the President had placed a major responsibility on him to contribute to resolving the longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s power sector.

‘President is determined to fix problems in the power sector and we are not leaving any stone unturned to achieve this goal,’ Tegbe said.

‘Nigerians can testify to the considerable improvement in electricity supply nationwide in recent weeks but we have not got to where we want to be as a force to reckon with in the global community.’

He said the Federal Government was implementing several projects across the country, stressing that the completion of the ongoing interventions would significantly improve electricity access.

‘A lot of projects are ongoing in all parts of the country and the time most of them are completed, every part of the country would have constant power supply and we would all be proud of the Tinubu administration,’ he said.

Tegbe disclosed that several projects were also being implemented in Oyo State, including solar-powered street lighting and mini solar grids.

‘In a few weeks from now, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will have a full installation of solar-powered street lights while mini solar grids will be constructed in six different locations in the state,’ he said.

On the Ogbomoso project, the Minister said work was nearing completion, assuring residents that challenges encountered by the contractors had been addressed.

‘The project in Ogbomoso is nearing completion and I can say it here that the little challenges being experienced by the contractors handling the project have been addressed and they will deliver the whole project very soon,’ Tegbe said.

He also assured residents of Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa that the Saki project was receiving attention.

‘The one in Saki which is aimed at fixing the age-long problems in Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa axis is equally receiving the right attention and hopefully, the darkness being experienced in those parts of the state will be addressed,’ he said.

Tegbe expressed appreciation to APC leaders, members and supporters in Oyo State for the support that accompanied his appointment, saying the level of enthusiasm demonstrated by the party had exceeded his expectations.

‘I did not expect the degree of support and enthusiasm which my first and second appointments by President Tinubu attracted from all APC leaders, members and supporters,’ he said.

He added: ‘But I have come to realise that nothing is too much to be done for the progressive family and humanity as a whole.’

The Minister particularly thanked the leadership of the Oyo APC for its confidence in his ability to deliver, saying, ‘I appreciate the current leadership of the party in the state for believing in us to deliver the good.’

Beyond his ministerial responsibilities, Tegbe also pledged to contribute to the success of the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

‘More importantly, we will spare no efforts to ensure that President Bola Tinubu gets reelected in 2027 and we are not going to stop at that as all the candidates of our great Party will get our full backing,’ he said.

He disclosed that he had opened discussions with aggrieved governorship aspirants in the state as part of efforts to strengthen unity within the party.

‘I have opened talks with most of the aggrieved gubernatorial aspirants and I have no doubt in my mind that everything will be resolved in no time,’ Tegbe said.

He also pledged to work with APC support groups, acknowledging their contribution to the party and the country.

‘We will work with all the Support Groups because we appreciate what they are doing in the interest of our great Party and our dear country as patriots,’ he added.

Earlier, Oyo State APC Chairman, Dr. Moses Alake Adeyemo, commended Tegbe’s performance and commitment to the power sector, attributing recent improvements in electricity supply to the Tinubu administration’s determination to revive critical sectors of the economy.

Adeyemo, a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, expressed confidence that Tegbe would justify the confidence reposed in him by President Tinubu and deliver on his mandate.

The visit was attended by several APC leaders and stakeholders, including Dr. Taofeek Lamidi, Hon. Fatai Adesina, Alhaji Lateef Ajiboye, Olawale Sadare, Hon. Joshua Oyebamiji, Tunde Oloyede, Comrade Olalekan Oladejo, Sunday Babalola, Alhaji Mojeed Delesolu, Sunday Aborisade, Fatima Hassan, Akanbi Elegbede, Alhaja Tinuade Adigun, Lukman Owonikoko and Comrade Muse Osundara.

The Presidential Campaign Organisation of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate, Mr Seyi Makinde, and his running mate, Mr Lawal Daura, has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s 66th Independence Day address, describing it as ‘rhetorical’ and bereft of concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic hardship, poverty and insecurity.

The campaign organisation said the address failed to present specific, measurable and binding economic and security policy commitments for which Nigerians could hold the administration accountable.

The Director of Strategic Communications of the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr Richard Ihediwa, gave the campaign body’s position in Abuja on Thursday while reacting to the President’s address.

Ihediwa stated: ‘It is indeed disappointing that the President’s address failed to present specific, measurable and binding economic and security policy commitments for which Nigerians can hold him accountable.

‘Instead, the speech remained vague and failed to provide concrete answers or direction on major national issues.

‘This lack of binding policy commitment shows that the All Progressives Congress administration has no solution to the challenges facing our nation.’

The organisation said the four consecutive Independence Day speeches delivered by Tinubu since assuming office in 2023 had contained promises of a better future without delivering the expected improvements to Nigerians.

It also faulted the President’s claim that his administration’s reforms had not weakened the economy, arguing that the removal of the petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira had triggered severe economic disruptions.

The organisation claimed that the reforms had contributed to a sharp increase in the price of petrol and a significant weakening of the naira, with consequences for businesses and households across the country.

According to Ihediwa, the impact of the reforms included the weakening of the productive sector, closure of businesses, increased transportation and food costs, reduced purchasing power and rising poverty.

The campaign organisation also alleged that the departure of several multinational companies from Nigeria reflected the difficult operating environment created by the government’s economic policies.

Ihediwa said the President’s promise of prosperity was not matched by decisive plans to address the country’s infrastructure deficit, estimated at $2.3 trillion, or clear commitments on agriculture, industrialisation and local manufacturing.

He also questioned the government’s borrowing plans, citing the country’s rising debt and the reported request for a $1.5 billion World Bank loan.

On insecurity, the organisation said the address failed to provide sufficient reassurance to families and communities affected by killings, abductions and other violent attacks.

Ihediwa added that the campaign organisation believed Nigerians deserved ‘a new leadership’ that would listen to citizens, understand their challenges, take responsibility and deliver results.

He declared that the organisation was confident that voters would support the APM presidential candidate, Engr. Seyi Makinde, whom he described as possessing the capacity, commitment and blueprint required to ‘Reset Nigeria’ and guarantee the security and wellbeing of citizens.