Category: Nigerian Tribune

Suspected political thugs have allegedly attacked the campaign office of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Oredo Federal Constituency in the 2027 general election, Hon. Frank Uyi Omosigho, in Benin.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday, with campaign posters, banners, and other materials allegedly destroyed during the attack.

A visit by the Nigerian Tribune to the campaign office located along Stadium Road in Benin on Thursday revealed visible signs of destruction, with several campaign materials pulled down and damaged.

Reacting to the incident, Hon. Omosigho, who represents Oredo East Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, said community members alerted him to the attack, prompting him to visit the office at about 11 pm

He said he met youths at the premises who complained that unknown persons had arrived at the office and destroyed the campaign materials.

‘My appeal to youths is not to allow politicians to use them to perpetrate violence or other illegal acts. Anyone caught violating the law would face the consequences.

‘The campaign materials were meant to introduce candidates and political parties to the electorate. The voters had the right to make their choices independently,’ the lawmaker stated.

Omosigho further disclosed that the incident had been reported to the police at Aideyan Police Station. At the same time, the State Commissioner of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) had also been informed.

He urged his supporters and NDC members to remain calm and continue campaigning peacefully, saying the incident would not deter the party.

Omosigho further appealed to Nigerians, particularly youths, not to allow themselves to be used to perpetrate electoral violence, urging them to vote for candidates based on their programmes and capacity to represent the people.

The lawmaker further alleged the destruction of his campaign posters and billboards in parts of Oredo ahead of the 2027 general election.

He claimed that some of his campaign materials had been pulled down in different locations, including Stadium Road, Oguola, Oliha, Five Junction and Ekenwan Road.

The Public Relations Officer of Edo State Police Commander, ASP. Eno Ikoedem, could not be reached at the time of filing this report.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has called on the Federal Government to fully implement the 2026 agreement reached with the union and settle all outstanding financial obligations arising from the pact, including arrears.

SSANU, in an Independence Day message signed by its National President, Comrade Mohammad Haruna Ibrahim, said the agreement, which took effect on 1 January 2026, could not be regarded as fully implemented while legitimate entitlements accruing to university workers remained outstanding.

The union, which made the demand as Nigeria marked its 66th Independence Anniversary yesterday, urged the Federal Government to release the necessary funds to universities and inter-university centres to enable them to implement both the financial and non-financial provisions of the agreement.

‘The Agreement took effect from 1st January 2026, although it was formally signed on 29th June 2026, and the financial obligations arising from the effective date, including all outstanding arrears, must therefore be addressed,’ Ibrahim stated.

According to him, ‘implementation cannot be regarded as complete while legitimate entitlements accruing to workers remain outstanding.’

SSANU also called on state governments to ensure that workers in state-owned universities were not denied negotiated improvements in their conditions of service because of the ownership of the institutions.

‘Collective bargaining has meaning only when agreements freely entered into are faithfully implemented,’ the union president said.

The demand came against the backdrop of what SSANU described as mounting economic pressure on Nigerian workers and their families, with the rising costs of food, transportation, electricity, housing, healthcare and education continuing to put pressure on household incomes.

The union said the significance of Nigeria’s 66 years of political independence should ultimately be measured by improvements in the daily lives of citizens, particularly workers who depend on their wages to meet basic household needs.

It argued that while official economic indicators might record improvements in some areas, such gains would have limited meaning if workers could not afford basic necessities.

‘For independence to have its full meaning, this enormous potential must translate into improved living conditions, including security, decent work, quality education, affordable healthcare, food security and a dignified standard of living for all Nigerians,’ SSANU said.

The union added that ‘a salary that cannot adequately provide food, shelter, transportation, healthcare and education for a worker and his or her family is steadily losing its real value irrespective of the figure written on a payslip.’

It therefore urged governments at all levels to pursue policies capable of reducing the cost of living, protecting workers’ purchasing power and strengthening domestic production.

SSANU further warned against a situation where workers were continually asked to bear the burden of economic adjustment while waste, excessive expenditure and inefficiency persisted in public administration.

‘Workers must not continually be called upon to make sacrifices while waste, excessive expenditure and inefficiency remain visible in public administration,’ the union said, insisting that responsible and prudent governance must also reflect the sacrifices expected of the people.

On the university system, SSANU called for renewed commitment to public education, arguing that universities remained critical instruments of national development and social mobility.

The association demanded sustainable and predictable funding for Nigerian universities to address inadequate electricity, obsolete equipment, insufficient laboratories, weak digital infrastructure, deteriorating facilities and limited support for research and staff development.

It also stressed that the contributions of non-academic personnel must receive due recognition, noting that university operations depended on workers in the registry, bursary, audit, library, ICT, health, security, engineering, works, laboratories and other professional and administrative units.

‘University education must be treated as an investment in the country’s future, with transparency and accountability in the use of resources,’ the union stated.

SSANU also raised concerns over insecurity and its impact on education, agriculture and food production, calling for stronger intelligence gathering, improved community engagement, modern security technology and better-equipped security agencies.

The union said schools and universities must be adequately protected to enable staff and students to work and learn without fear, while farmers should have access to security, affordable inputs, finance, infrastructure and reliable transportation.

It further urged the government to strengthen the link between university research and practical solutions in agriculture, biotechnology, engineering, climate science and food technology, saying such collaboration could boost productivity and reduce dependence on imports.

On governance, SSANU called for stronger institutions, transparency, respect for the rule of law and responsible management of public resources.

It said citizens had a right to know that resources entrusted to government were being used for the public good, while public officials should recognise that leadership was a responsibility rather than a privilege detached from the realities confronting ordinary Nigerians.

As the country approaches the 2027 general elections, the association also urged political parties, candidates, electoral institutions, security agencies and citizens to conduct themselves responsibly and peacefully.

It called for an electoral process free from violence, ethnic division, religious hostility and intimidation, stressing that workers should be free to scrutinise the policies, programmes and records of those seeking public office and make their choices according to their own judgement and conscience.

According to SSANU, Nigeria needs an electoral discourse centred on security, employment, education, healthcare, the economy, infrastructure, workers’ welfare and the future of young people.

The union, however, said the challenges confronting the country were not beyond solution, urging responsible leadership, strong institutions, fairness for workers and a citizenry committed to building a peaceful and prosperous nation.

Ibrahim said SSANU would continue to defend the legitimate rights and welfare of its members, demand faithful implementation of agreements reached with government, protect accessible and properly funded public education, and promote professionalism and quality within the Nigerian university system.

‘Political independence must ultimately translate into economic security, social justice, quality public services and a life of dignity for the Nigerian people,’ he said.

Nigeria’s sporting story is not defined only by the trophies that slipped away or the major tournaments the country failed to reach.

For 66 years, Nigerian athletes and teams have also produced some historic sporting moments that have brought the country international recognition, broken records and created memories that have endured across generations.

Football has provided some of the biggest celebrations, from the Super Eagles’ Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumphs to the Dream Team’s Olympic gold, but the country’s sporting achievements stretch far beyond the pitch.

From Atlanta to Oregon, from the Paralympic Games to the Commonwealth stage, Nigerian athletes have repeatedly shown that the country’s sporting talent extends across several disciplines.

Here are six historic sporting moments that stand out.

Atlanta 1996: The Dream Team and Ajunwa

The 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta remain one of the defining moments in Nigerian sports history.

The country’s football team won gold in the men’s tournament after one of the most memorable runs in Olympic football.

The Dream Team came from behind to defeat Brazil 4-3 in the semi-final after extra time before overcoming Argentina 3-2 in the final.

The victory made Nigeria the first African country to win Olympic gold in men’s football.

The team featured several players who would go on to become major figures in Nigerian football, including Nwankwo Kanu, Jay-Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Sunday Oliseh, Victor Ikpeba and Emmanuel Amunike.

Atlanta also produced another historic moment for Nigeria.

Chioma Ajunwa won gold in the women’s long jump, becoming the first Nigerian to win an individual Olympic gold medal.

Her leap of 7.12m secured the title and added another landmark to an unforgettable Games for Nigeria.

The two achievements made Atlanta 1996 much more than a football story.

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has hailed the remarkable strides and progress the state has made 30 years after it was created by the administration of the late former military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

Oyebanji, in a statewide broadcast to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the state, said although it had encountered many challenges and unpleasant experiences within the period, its people had reasons to celebrate the three-decade milestone because of the remarkable progress recorded across various indices of development.

The governor noted that despite being among the last set of states to be created in the country and receiving one of the lowest allocations from the Federation Account, ‘Ekiti leads its contemporaries and many before it, including far richer states, in critical matrices of human development.’

Ekiti State was created on 1 October 1996 by the late Gen. Abacha, during a broadcast to mark the nation’s 36th Independence anniversary, alongside Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Gombe, Nasarawa and Zamfara states, which took the number of states in Nigeria from 30 to 36.

The feat was achieved after years of an epic struggle by eminent citizens of the state, among whom were traditional rulers, legal luminaries, politicians, senior bureaucrats, captains of industry and community leaders under the aegis of a body known as the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State.

Speaking during the broadcast, Oyebanji pointed out that many people did not give Ekiti a chance of being created as a state as it stood against ‘more formidable contenders from the South-West geopolitical zone’, but the governor ascribed the glory to God for making the creation of the state possible against all odds.

According to him, the creation of the state 30 years ago, 120 years after the Kiriji War, completed an epic struggle for independence started by Ekiti forebears during the liberation war of 1877 to 1893.

He congratulated all Ekiti sons and daughters, as well as people from other parts of the world who had made Ekiti their home, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary.

The governor paid tribute to members of the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State, led by its Chairman, Chief Oladeji Fasuan; legal icon, Aare Afe Babalola; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; and other monarchs whom he described as ‘incubators of the state creation struggle’. He also lauded the patriotic sacrifices of the heroes and heroines of the struggle who had joined their ancestors.

Oyebanji said it was heartwarming that, as the then Secretary of the Committee for Ekiti State Creation, through the grace of God and the benevolence of Ekiti people, he was now in the saddle as Governor of the state as it turned 30, describing the experience as ‘very humbling’.

He equally paid glowing tributes to all his predecessors in office: Col. Inua Bawa, Navy Capt. Atanda Yusuf, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Chief Ayo Fayose, Chief Segun Oni and Dr Kayode Fayemi, as well as leaders who served during interregnums, including Chief Friday Aderemi, Brig.-Gen. Tunji Olurin, Hon. Tope Ademiluyi and Hon. Tunji Odeyemi. He also acknowledged all former Deputy Governors and former heads of the legislature and judiciary.

Oyebanji restated the commitment of his administration to the ideals of the founding fathers that inspired the creation of the state, stressing that ‘the vision of the founding fathers was to have a state where Ekiti people can utilise their God-given natural and human resources in the most efficient, effective and inclusive manner, for the prosperity of our people’.

He pointed out that the state’s founding fathers envisioned ‘an industrialised Ekiti, where private-sector capital is at the centre of the economic nervous system of the state and where enterprise and productivity are the pillars of prosperity’.

While unveiling the theme of the anniversary, ‘Ekiti at 30: Celebrating the Past and Creating the Future’, the governor disclosed that his administration had decided to use the 30th anniversary as the launchpad for a 30-year Transformation Agenda.

The agenda, according to him, will make Ekiti a leading centre of agricultural production and agro-processing, innovation and technology development, quality and functional education, research and skills development, tourism, culture and creative economy, youth entrepreneurship and sustainable development.

To achieve the vision, the governor said a conversation with Ekiti youths on 7 October 2026 at the Obafemi Awolowo Civic and Convention Centre, Ado Ekiti, would be staged with the intention of achieving three important things: to remember with gratitude, to assess the present with honesty, and to approach the future with confidence and determination.

He said: ‘Our agenda is therefore to work aggressively to ensure that the socio-economic infrastructure we have built in these 30 years leads to real economic growth that produces quality employment, crystallises productivity, supports enterprise and enhances quality of life.

‘For example, the ongoing multi-billion-naira Ekiti Knowledge Zone (EKZ) project is a technological park and economic ecosystem to support the innovative and creative ingenuity of our young population.

‘It is our dream that in another three decades, the tag of Ekiti as a ‘civil service’ state will have yielded to Ekiti as a ‘Tech Hub in Nigeria’ and a major commercial centre for international trade and commerce.

‘This is our promise, and we are resolutely committed to it. The Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) will also take off soon. These two projects, upon completion, will transform the economic outlook of the state and drive our government’s Shared Prosperity Agenda.’

The governor urged the people of the state to troop out en masse during the 16 January 2027 presidential election and use their votes to re-elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in appreciation of the benevolence, support and favour Ekiti had enjoyed under his presidency since 2023.

The Special Adviser on Media to the Oyo State Governor, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, has dismissed allegations by the Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation blaming Governor Seyi Makinde for the economic hardship being experienced by Nigerians.

Olanrewaju, in a statement issued on Wednesday, described the campaign organisation’s position as misplaced, arguing that the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians were largely linked to national economic policies and macroeconomic conditions beyond the control of individual state governments.

He said attempts to attribute the hardship to the Oyo State governor amounted to political blame-shifting.

According to him, ‘Nigeria’s current economic situation is not the result of state-level governance failures. It is the direct consequence of national policy choices that have transformed the fiscal environment across the federation.’

Olanrewaju said the depreciation of the naira, removal of the petrol subsidy and rising inflation had affected the purchasing power of Nigerians and increased the cost of food, transportation, medicine and production inputs across the country.

He argued that the impact of currency depreciation was being felt nationwide, stressing that ‘no state governor can shield citizens from the inflationary shock triggered by such a dramatic currency decline.’

He also faulted the argument that increased allocations from the Federation Account necessarily represented an improvement in the economic wellbeing of states.

According to him, although states may receive higher nominal allocations, inflation and the depreciation of the naira have reduced the real value of the funds.

‘A ?10 billion allocation today cannot deliver the same value as ?10 billion in 2022. Higher nominal revenue in an inflationary environment is not prosperity; it is erosion,’ he said.

Olanrewaju said this was what Governor Makinde referred to as a ‘Voodoo Economy’, arguing that increased revenue figures should not be interpreted in isolation from inflation and the rising cost of goods and services.

The governor’s aide also rejected the allegation that Makinde was responsible for the challenges surrounding local government autonomy.

He described local government autonomy as a constitutional and institutional matter involving the Federal Government, state governments, the National Assembly and the judiciary.

‘Local government autonomy is a constitutional matter currently under judicial review and legislative consideration,’ he said.

Olanrewaju argued that the Federal Government should be held accountable for the implementation of policies within its jurisdiction, rather than transferring responsibility to state governments.

He also questioned why Makinde should be blamed for the implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision on local government financial autonomy.

‘Why then should Governor Makinde be blamed for the Federal Government’s inability to execute its own judgment?’ he asked.

The media aide further argued that the constitutional framework governing the State Joint Local Government Account remained relevant to the debate on local government financial autonomy.

He said the issue should be approached through constitutional and legal processes rather than political accusations.

Turning to the broader economic situation, Olanrewaju said the hardship being experienced by Nigerians required serious policy discussion rather than partisan exchanges.

He said the effects of inflation, currency depreciation and the removal of the petrol subsidy had affected households, businesses and governments across the federation.

‘The truth is clear: Nigeria is experiencing one of its most difficult economic periods in decades,’ Olanrewaju said.

According to him, ‘The naira’s collapse, soaring inflation, subsidy removal, and rising poverty have reshaped the economic realities of every state. No governor, irrespective of party, can reverse nationwide macroeconomic shocks through state-level spending alone.’

He therefore urged political actors to focus their arguments on policies, governance records and practical solutions to the economic difficulties confronting citizens.

Olanrewaju said the Makinde administration in Oyo State had continued to implement policies within the limits of the resources available to the state, adding that national economic conditions should be considered when assessing the performance of state governments.

The statement was issued in response to criticism from the Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation, which had accused the Makinde administration of contributing to the hardship in the state.

Olanrewaju maintained that political disagreements should not obscure the distinction between responsibilities at the federal and state levels.

He said the economic debate should instead focus on how governments at all levels could improve productivity, protect vulnerable citizens, create employment and strengthen public services.

He added that Nigerians deserved ‘facts and responsible policy debate’ rather than what he described as attempts to personalise complex economic challenges.

Taraba Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, has approved a total of N2.5 billion in intervention funds to cushion prevailing economic hardship among vulnerable households, boost youth empowerment, and accelerate recovery in communities hit by communal crises.

The governor announced the approvals on Thursday, October 1, 2026, during his statewide broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

While exercising his constitutional powers under Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) upon the recommendation of the State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, Kefas also granted executive pardons to 24 reformed prison inmates.

Breaking down the N2.5 billion intervention, the governor explained that N500 million has been earmarked for the six-month TARABA CARES Social Investment and Poverty Relief Programme running from October 2026 to March 2027, aimed strictly at supporting indigent households, widows, persons with disabilities, and the elderly without political bias.

He also announced an additional N1 billion injection into the Taraba State Youth Development Agency to finance vocational skills and enterprise support, alongside another N1 billion intervention fund dedicated to rebuilding livelihoods and providing relief materials to crisis-affected communities in Karim Lamido Local Government Area and other affected parts of the state.

Kefas said: ‘Independence must mean that a poor family’s child can access quality education, a pregnant woman can enter a clinic without fear, and our farmers can reach markets profitably.

‘Leadership must be measured by what it does for the people. These three interventions represent N2.5 billion in approved funding. Every single naira must serve its intended purpose, and the implementing agencies will publicly account for every kobo.’

On infrastructure and the prolonged hardship trailing the collapsed Namnai Bridge along the Jalingo-Wukari federal highway, Governor Kefas issued a seven-day ultimatum to the State Ministry of Works and the Secretary to the State Government to engage the North East Development Commission, NEDC, the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, and the contractor for a realistic completion timetable.

‘The people do not need another speech about Namnai Bridge; they need a safe, completed bridge. Repeated assurances without visible progress are no longer enough,’ he said.

Addressing the controversy surrounding the state’s debt profile, the governor noted that he

welcomes responsible scrutiny, accountability and fact-based criticism but rejects the use of incomplete figures and distorted records to frighten the public.

He said: ‘Borrowing is not automatically evidence of failure; what matters is whether it is lawful, affordable, transparent, and invested productively. Our books must be open to lawful scrutiny, and I take full responsibility for our financial decisions.’

Kefas also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government over Nigeria’s September 17, 2026 victory at the International Chamber of Commerce arbitration tribunal, which cleared legal hurdles stalling the multi-billion-dollar Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.

He, however, noted that Taraba will not depend solely on the federal dam, directing the State Electricity Commission to open up the state’s intrastate power market to credible mini-hydro and solar investors under the Electricity Act 2023.

Other key policy announcements in the broadcast included the planned rollout of the Taraba Teachers’ Welfare, Professionalisation and Housing Programme in 2027, the unveiling of the 168-Ward Quick Impact Development Programme before the end of October 2026, and an upcoming multi-stakeholder summit on October 3 to regulate artisanal mining against environmental pollution, mercury poisoning, and child labour.

Suspected political thugs have allegedly attacked the campaign office of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Oredo Federal Constituency in the 2027 general election, Hon. Frank Uyi Omosigho, in Benin.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday, with campaign posters, banners, and other materials allegedly destroyed during the attack.

A visit by the Nigerian Tribune to the campaign office located along Stadium Road in Benin on Thursday revealed visible signs of destruction, with several campaign materials pulled down and damaged.

Reacting to the incident, Hon. Omosigho, who represents Oredo East Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, said community members alerted him to the attack, prompting him to visit the office at about 11 pm

He said he met youths at the premises who complained that unknown persons had arrived at the office and destroyed the campaign materials.

‘My appeal to youths is not to allow politicians to use them to perpetrate violence or other illegal acts. Anyone caught violating the law would face the consequences.

‘The campaign materials were meant to introduce candidates and political parties to the electorate. The voters had the right to make their choices independently,’ the lawmaker stated.

Omosigho further disclosed that the incident had been reported to the police at Aideyan Police Station. At the same time, the State Commissioner of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) had also been informed.

He urged his supporters and NDC members to remain calm and continue campaigning peacefully, saying the incident would not deter the party.

Omosigho further appealed to Nigerians, particularly youths, not to allow themselves to be used to perpetrate electoral violence, urging them to vote for candidates based on their programmes and capacity to represent the people.

The lawmaker further alleged the destruction of his campaign posters and billboards in parts of Oredo ahead of the 2027 general election.

He claimed that some of his campaign materials had been pulled down in different locations, including Stadium Road, Oguola, Oliha, Five Junction and Ekenwan Road.

The Public Relations Officer of Edo State Police Commander, ASP. Eno Ikoedem, could not be reached at the time of filing this report.

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.

As candidates intensify efforts to outshine their opponents, the campaign organisation of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Senator Aishatu Ahmed Binani, has rejected recent accusations by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir Lawal, describing them as unsubstantiated and politically divisive.

The response followed a recent statement by Lawal after his emergence as a leader of the NDC’s political activities in the North-East.

The former SGF had accused Binani and other NDC governorship candidates in the northern zone of working against the party’s presidential ticket.

In a statement signed by the Director of Media and Public Affairs of the Binani campaign organisation, Hon. Mathias Yohanna, the campaign said it would not be intimidated by what it described as ‘indecent language’ or personal attacks.

The campaign organisation said Binani participated in a democratically convened meeting of NDC governorship candidates where decisions concerning the North-East were taken, adding that it remained committed to the decision to recognise Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as the party’s leader in the North.

‘While we respect elders who stand for the truth, our respect should not be taken for granted,’ the statement said.

It faulted Lawal for allegedly referring to some NDC governorship candidates as ‘so-called gubernatorial’ candidates and ‘nincompoops’.

The campaign further accused the former SGF of engaging in divisive politics rather than building unity within the party, urging him to adopt what it called the dignity expected of political leaders seeking the mandate of citizens.

The statement also challenged Lawal’s political influence, questioning whether his political weight alone could determine the outcome of the North-East political contest.

The campaign organisation urged the national leadership of the NDC to intervene in the dispute and call Lawal to order, stressing that the party’s constitution and principles should guide political debates and interactions among members.

It appealed for the promotion of ‘conscience, integrity and respect for one another’ as the basis for building a united and peaceful party ahead of the 2027 elections.

The latest exchange is part of a growing disagreement within the NDC’s North-East structure. Six governorship candidates recently rejected Lawal’s appointment as the party’s regional leader, citing inadequate consultation, while Lawal subsequently accused some party members of attempting to undermine the Peter Obi-Rabiu Kwankwaso ticket.

THE recent directive by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) ordering filling stations across the country to immediately calibrate and verify their fuel dispensers and totalisers is both timely and necessary. The Authority says it has uncovered incidents of under-dispensing of petroleum products at retail outlets nationwide and has consequently intensified inspections and enforcement activities. It has also warned that persistent or serious violations could attract sanctions, including revocation of operating licences. This is welcome. But warnings are not enough.

Under-dispensing is not simply a technical irregularity or an improperly calibrated machine. Where it is deliberate, it amounts to taking money from consumers for products they did not receive. A motorist who pays for 20 litres but receives 18 litres has effectively been deprived of the value of two litres. Multiplied across hundreds of customers and thousands of transactions, seemingly small discrepancies can translate into substantial illicit gains at the expense of consumers. This practice is particularly unconscionable at a time when Nigerians are paying extraordinarily high prices for petrol. In September, petrol was selling at about ?1,400 per litre in Lagos and Abuja, with prices reaching about ?1,500 in some northern locations as higher international crude prices fed into the domestic market. At such prices, every litre matters.

Families are already adjusting household budgets to accommodate transportation and energy costs. Commercial drivers pass higher fuel costs to passengers. Businesses that depend on generators or road transportation incorporate them into the prices of goods and services. Some workers increasingly reconsider whether they can afford to drive regularly. Petrol is therefore not just another commodity: its price reverberates throughout the economy. To make consumers pay these elevated prices and then deny them part of the product purchased is exploitation upon hardship. NMDPRA is right to describe under-dispensing as a serious breach of consumer trust. But the Authority should go beyond directing filling stations to calibrate their own equipment. A regulatory system cannot principally depend upon operators suspected of wrongdoing certifying themselves as compliant. Independent verification is indispensable.

Indeed, under-dispensing is not a new phenomenon. Commercial drivers and motorists in many communities have for years exchanged information about filling stations reputed to give better or poorer value. NMDPRA itself has previously taken enforcement action. In February, 11 filling stations in Rivers State were sealed over infractions including under-dispensing and failed pumps under the Authority’s ‘Operation One Litre for One Litre’ surveillance exercise. In July, two stations in Ogun State were sealed following alleged regulatory violations, including under-dispensing. The question, therefore, is not whether the problem exists. It is whether enforcement can become sufficiently consistent to deter it. NMDPRA should institute continuous, unannounced inspections of filling stations across the country. Inspectors should arrive without prior notification, conduct standard volumetric tests on randomly selected pumps, and document the results electronically. Stations should not know when inspectors are coming or which pumps will be tested. Predictability defeats the purpose of surveillance.

There should also be graduated but consequential sanctions. An accidental calibration problem identified and promptly corrected need not be treated in exactly the same manner as deliberate pump manipulation or repeated under-dispensing. But stations found intentionally cheating consumers should face substantial penalties. Repeat offenders should be suspended, and persistent or egregious offenders should lose their licences, as the Authority has warned. That threat will have little deterrent value if no operator believes it will actually be carried out. Enforcement should also be transparent. NMDPRA should periodically publish the number of stations inspected, the number found compliant, the number found under-dispensing, the degree of measurement error detected and the sanctions imposed. Where a station is sanctioned for a proven violation, the public should be informed. Consumers deserve to know which businesses have been found taking their money without supplying the corresponding quantity of product.

There should equally be an accessible consumer-reporting mechanism. Motorists who suspect under-dispensing should be able to report a station quickly, preferably through a dedicated telephone line, mobile platform or online portal, providing the station’s location, pump number, time and receipt where available. Multiple complaints against the same outlet should automatically trigger an inspection. This would effectively turn millions of consumers into an additional layer of market surveillance. The wider context also matters. Government has promoted compressed natural gas (CNG) as a cheaper alternative to petrol, and there has been measurable expansion. Yet, with refuelling facilities spread across only part of the country, CNG is still not a practical substitute for petrol for millions of motorists. For the foreseeable future, therefore, Nigerians will remain heavily exposed to what happens at the petrol pump.

NMDPRA consequently has an obligation not merely to regulate the petroleum industry but to protect the people purchasing its products. The Petroleum Industry Act created the Authority as the regulator of Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sector. Consumer protection must be treated as a core part of that responsibility, not as an occasional enforcement campaign. The latest directive is therefore a useful beginning, but Nigerians should expect more than another circular. The Authority should make pump verification a permanent feature of downstream regulation, backed by surprise inspections, credible sanctions, transparent reporting and easy consumer complaints. Most importantly, it should make an example of operators deliberately cheating customers. Filling stations that systematically steal from consumers should not merely be warned and told to recalibrate their pumps. Where deliberate or repeated fraud is established, they should be shut down and, where appropriate, have their licences revoked.

At ?1,400 to ?1,500 per litre of petrol, Nigerians are already paying dearly enough. They should at least get the full litre they paid for.