Category: Nigerian Tribune

As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary, the Planter of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Adamimogo Grace of Mercy Prayer Mountain Worldwide, Prophet Sam Olu-Alo, has urged Nigerians to pray for the country’s leaders instead of condemning them.

At the same time, the Open Arms Children’s Development Centre, Millennium City, Kaduna State, has called for greater support for children with developmental disabilities through inclusive education, vocational training and improved access to opportunities.

Olu-Alo, who felicitated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, other South-West governors, traditional rulers and Nigerians, said sustained prayers could help the country overcome its challenges and encourage leaders to govern in accordance with the will of God.

In a statement issued by his Personal Assistant, Deji Ogunbusuyi, the cleric urged Tinubu to remain responsive to the concerns of Nigerians and continue to pursue measures aimed at improving the living conditions of citizens.

He also appealed to Oyebanji to sustain cooperation with his predecessors and extend a hand of fellowship to opposition figures willing to contribute to the development of Ekiti State.

Olu-Alo said the 66th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence provided an opportunity to appreciate God for the country’s journey and pray for its future.

He said: ‘We appreciate God for seeing us this far in our great country and my dear state. While Nigeria is 66 years old on October 1, 2026, my dear state, Ekiti State, is also 30 years old.

‘I therefore congratulate our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, my governor, Biodun Oyebanji, and all Nigerians on this occasion. May God bless Nigeria and Ekiti State.

‘We pray for the founding fathers of our country and the founding fathers of Ekiti State. It shall be well with them. God will continue to direct the path of our leaders, in Jesus’ name.’

The cleric said the welfare and stability of Nigeria had remained a major concern in his prayers and activities as a servant of God.

He added that his recent visits to Israel and other biblical sites had provided opportunities to pray for Nigeria.

Centre seeks greater support for children with disabilities

The Open Arms Children’s Development Centre, Millennium City, Kaduna State, has called on governments, private organisations and other stakeholders to provide greater support for children with developmental disabilities.

The centre made the appeal during an Independence Day funfair organised for children at the facility, which caters for children with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and learning disabilities.

The Centre’s Director, Sa’adatu Abdullahi, said the celebration provided an opportunity to recognise the potential of children with disabilities and promote their independence, self-reliance and ability to contribute meaningfully to society.

According to her, the centre, established in 2011, had recorded progress in helping children develop essential life skills, including personal hygiene, feeding, writing and other activities of daily living.

Abdullahi said some of the children had progressed to other schools, while others were benefiting from vocational training introduced by the centre.

She explained that the vocational programme began with sewing, with plans to introduce photography, computer skills and other practical training to enable the children to acquire skills for future employment and financial independence.

Abdullahi disclosed that her personal experience as the mother of a 24-year-old daughter living with cerebral palsy motivated her to take over the centre after its founder indicated plans to return to Lagos.

She said the difficulty of finding an appropriate school for her daughter inspired her commitment to providing educational opportunities for children with similar conditions.

The director, however, identified the shortage of competent special education teachers as one of the centre’s major challenges.

She noted that some graduates were reluctant to work with children with disabilities because of inadequate practical experience and the demands of the profession.

Abdullahi also expressed concern over the stigma and discrimination faced by children with disabilities, saying some parents had withdrawn their children from the centre’s preschool after discovering that children with disabilities were also enrolled there.

She called for increased public awareness to promote acceptance and inclusion, stressing that children with disabilities deserved equal respect, support and opportunities to develop their abilities.

She further appealed to government and private organisations to assist the centre in acquiring its own premises, explaining that a permanent facility would enable it to create a more suitable learning environment for the children.

A parent whose son attends the centre, Sa’adatu Haruna Gintso, expressed satisfaction with her child’s progress, saying the boy had improved in reading, writing and independence since enrolling at the school.

She advised families raising children with disabilities to exercise patience, provide the necessary support and recognise the children as a blessing, adding that their development required understanding, care and encouragement.

The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Dr Mukail Aremu Akinde, has said the next phase of his administration will focus on strengthening the ‘Engineering Identity’ of the Federal University of Technology, Ilaro (FUTI), with emphasis on hands-on technical skills, research and practical application of knowledge.

According to him, the objective is to create an environment where research can be replicated and applied to real-world industrial and societal needs.

For Akinde, however, the progress recorded over the past four years is not an endpoint,c saying, ‘We haven’t done anything, other than that we have to do more,’ he said.

Despite the expansion recorded under his administration, Akinde has played down the achievements, saying the institution still has much more to accomplish.

Reflecting on his four-year tenure, he said: ‘We haven’t done anything, other than that we have to do more collectively with the council, principal officers, deans, directors, heads of department, heads of units, staff, students and the unions.’

Akinde’s connection with the institution predates his appointment as its head, noting that he started as a clerk in an institution where his late father was a vendor.

He began his career in 1987 as a clerk in the Bursary Department and later worked across several administrative areas before becoming an Instructor on February 11, 1999.

He also studied at the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, where he graduated with an ND in Accountancy in 1991 and an HND in Accountancy in 1994.

He added that he later became the pioneer head of the Taxation Department in 2015 and was elected dean in 2018 after a closely contested election in which he won by one vote, 28 to 27.

Recalling one of the individuals who supported his progression within the institution, Akinde said Alhaji Rilwan Egbeyemi, the then registrar, recognised his potential and allowed him to contribute more directly to the development of the institution.

He said the transition from the former Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, to the Federal University of Technology, Ilaro, was progressing, although the process was being handled strategically.

He said committees headed by Professor Rahman Bello, a former VC of the University of Lagos, and Dr Charlotte Bose Iro-Idoro, respectively, had made steady progress on the respective aspects of the transition.

‘Our people should know that the work of changing FPI to FUTI is progressing. Only that thing must be done strategically,’ he reiterated.

He added that the institution was targeting the 2027/28 academic session for the commencement of university education

He also attributed the continued relationship between the institution and its host community to cooperation with the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, HRM Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, MFR, Asade Agunloye IV, as well as the Polytechnic Ilaro Community Forum.

On the challenge of academic staff leaving the country for opportunities abroad, the Akinde-led administration intensified and ensured strict compliance with a policy requiring staff sponsored for international studies to return and serve the institution and the country.

Four years on, the institution is the best polytechnic in Nigeria before transitioning to a University of Technology.

The institution has also expanded from six schools to eight specialised schools, adding the School of Agriculture and the School of Art and Design and Printing Technology, alongside growth in student population, academic programmes, staffing, academic staff, an increase in the number of PhD holders, and non-teaching infrastructure and research activities by winning more Institutional Based Research (IBR) and National Research Fund (NRF) grants of TETFund.

The institution is currently fabricating 11 electric and solar-powered tricycles for transportation on campus to further support the clean energy initiatives of the Federal Government ably led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Schools of Engineering and of Pure and Applied Sciences have also fabricated equipment for the production line of gari processing, waste conversion for use in the farm and printing press, as well as other patented machines awaiting interest from entrepreneurs to use as commercial machines to help the host community.

According to Akinde, government and TETFund interventions have supported the institution’s development, with high-impact interventions, special interventions, agricultural farm grants, grants for Senate Building, Innovation Hubs, and capital expenditure rising from N400 million in 2022 to billions of naira presently.

The institution’s electricity supply is improving with the ongoing 1.56 megawatts of solar energy generation through TETFund intervention.

The acting deputy vice chancellor(Academics), Dr (Mrs) Charlotte Bose Iro-Idoro, said FUTI was preparing to commence with nine faculties, covering engineering technology, sciences, environmental technology, communication and information, administrative and management science, social science, computing, agriculture technology and visual arts.

She added that the institution would also operate a Centre for General Studies.

The Registrar, Mrs Aderonke Folasade Babatola, said the increase in student population and academic programmes had created additional demand for manpower.

She said FUTI currently had at least 80 PhD holders on its staff list, while 371 new staff members had been recruited in two batches of 146 and 225.

Babatola added that the institution was seeking waivers to enable it to recruit more professors.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), through its retail arm, NNPC Retail, has announced a ?66-per-litre discount on petrol purchases at its stations across Nigeria to mark the country’s 66th Independence anniversary.

The company disclosed this in a post on its verified social media page on Wednesday.

The promotion will run from October 1 to October 7, 2026, and customers can access the discount when they purchase Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) through the NNPC Fuel App.

Under the offer, motorists will receive ?66 off every litre of petrol purchased at NNPC Retail stations during the seven-day promotional period.

To qualify, customers are required to download and use the NNPC Fuel App when purchasing petrol.

The company announced the development as part of its activities to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence Day, with the initiative offering motorists a direct reduction in the cost of petrol during the anniversary period.

The statement reads, ‘In celebration of Nigeria’s Independence, we are giving out N66/litre on every PMS purchase across NNPC Retail stations via the NNPC Fuel App.

‘Download the NNPC Fuel App via this link https://onelink.to/nnpcfuelapp to qualify for the discount.

Promo lasts from Oct 1-Oct 7, 2026. Happy Independence Day Naija!’

About 18 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), along with other travellers, have reportedly been kidnapped along the Onitsha-Owerri Road in Imo State by suspected gunmen.

According to an eyewitness account, two commercial buses reportedly conveying passengers from Lagos to Owerri were intercepted by suspected kidnappers during the morning hours.

The attackers were said to have forced the occupants, including the drivers, out of the vehicles before taking them away.

The eyewitness further alleged that the incident was not limited to the two buses, as other vehicles plying the route were reportedly affected.

Some passengers travelling in other vehicles were also said to have been taken away during the attack.

Tribune Online learnt that the precise number of persons allegedly abducted remains unknown. However, the identities of the victims, the exact location where they were taken and their current whereabouts are still unknown.

Meanwhile, the reported incident has heightened concerns among road users, particularly travellers moving between Lagos, Onitsha and Owerri.

Motorists and passengers are urged to remain vigilant while relevant security authorities work to establish the facts surrounding the reported attack and determine the whereabouts of those allegedly taken.

Among the kidnapped victims were corps members from Oyo State travelling to their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Abia State through Imo State for their three-week orientation programme.

The incident occurred at around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. The source added that the corps members departed from Samonda, Ibadan, at about 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday and later stopped over in Imo State, where they spent the night.

The source said the corps members and other travellers were intercepted by the gunmen on Thursday morning while continuing their journey to Abia State.

The Imo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Okoye Henry, when contacted, said he was already working on a press statement by the Imo Police Command.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Nigeria has appointed Mr S.D. Kum as its new Head of National Office (HNO).

His appointment takes effect on Friday, 2 October 2026.

Until his appointment, Mr Kum served as the Senior Deputy Registrar and Head of Test Administration at WAEC Nigeria.

He succeeds Dr Amos Dangut, who was appointed Registrar of WAEC International in mid-June this year.

Dr Dangut, who served for nearly three years as the HNO of WAEC Nigeria and is now set to lead the council at the regional level, will also officially assume his new role on Friday, 2 October 2026, at the council’s international headquarters in Accra, Ghana.

Mr Kum steps into his new leadership role with extensive operational and field experience gathered across various Nigerian geopolitical zones.

He previously served as WAEC Branch Controller and Zonal Coordinator for several regional offices, notably overseeing operations in places including Rivers State.

While serving as Zonal Coordinator, Mr Kum was reported to have been the primary enforcer of the Nigeria Examinations Committee’s (NEC) anti-malpractice directives.

He gained significant prominence in 2022 when he officially issued de-recognition letters to 35 secondary schools in Rivers State indicted for mass cheating and examination malpractice.

Throughout his career, he has frequently collaborated with state ministries of education, secondary school principals and civil security outfits to design effective examination timetables, ensure smooth coordination and maintain secure testing environments.

Sokoto State Police Command has arrested a suspected bandit allegedly linked to the theft of livestock in Gidan Madi, Sokoto.

The suspect was reportedly arrested at a local market while in possession of a goat, which was later identified by its owner as one of the animals stolen during an incident in the area.

The spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the arrest while speaking with our correspondent on the telephone on Thursday.

Rufai said the suspect was identified by the owner of the stolen goat, who also identified other members of the group allegedly involved in the incident.

According to him, the suspect was among those who went to Jurelku, a village in Gidan Madi, where they allegedly took away livestock belonging to residents.

He said, ‘The suspect was arrested at the market with a goat. The owner identified the goat and also identified the suspect and his colleagues who came to Jurelku, one of the villages in Gidan Madi, where they took away his animals.

‘The suspect is currently in custody and he is giving us full information.’

Rufai added that the incident occurred on September 15, when the suspects allegedly stole the animals.

He said the arrest was significant because the victim was able to recognise the suspect as one of those involved in the incident.

The police spokesman said investigation was ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and identify other persons allegedly involved.

The Village Head of Aujarawar Alkali in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State, Alhaji Ahmad Yakubu, has reportedly been killed by his abductors.

Ahmad was abducted on Tuesday night, September 17, 2026, when gunmen reportedly stormed the community and took him away.

His body was later recovered from a shallow grave in Danladin Gezawa, where his abductors were said to have buried him after killing him.

Musa Garba, a resident of Gezawa, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with News Point Nigeria.

Garba said the abductors subjected the village head to severe torture before his death, alleging that one of his legs was cut off and his hands were tied behind his back.

‘I attended the funeral prayers today (Wednesday) at around 3pm. The assailants tortured the village head to death by cutting off one of his legs and tying his hands behind him. He was brutalised until he died,’ Garba said.

He added that the abductors subsequently buried the remains in a shallow grave in Danladin Gezawa.

‘Four days later, some villagers discovered the grave and raised the alarm,’ he said.

According to Garba, the deceased’s wife identified the remains, which were taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

He said the remains were subsequently buried after the hospital authorities reportedly determined that they had begun decomposing.

Police authorities in Kano State have yet to issue an official statement on the reported abduction and killing.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has acknowledged the economic hardship confronting Nigerians, saying rising food, transportation and other living costs have placed pressure on households across the country.

Sanwo-Olu spoke on Thursday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, during the state’s 66th National Independence Day Parade, where he reflected on Nigeria’s journey since independence, including the civil war, years of military rule, economic difficulties and political upheavals.

The governor said Nigeria’s ability to overcome decades of challenges and sustain 27 consecutive years of constitutional democracy demonstrated the resilience of its people. He stressed that despite the difficulties, the country had remained united under one flag.

Sanwo-Olu, who took the salute during a parade involving the Nigeria Police Force, paramilitary agencies and students, also highlighted the historical significance of Onikan to Nigeria’s independence. He recalled that the Union Jack was lowered and the Nigerian flag raised nearby at midnight on October 1, 1960, marking the country’s independence from British colonial rule.

The governor said the priority now should be to ensure that the gains expected from ongoing economic reforms translate into improved living conditions for citizens. While acknowledging the difficulties faced by households, he urged Nigerians to remain committed to building a stronger and more prosperous country.

Turning to Lagos, Sanwo-Olu described the state as a microcosm of Nigeria and highlighted his administration’s investments in transportation, healthcare, education and digital governance. He cited the Blue and Red rail lines, road and bridge projects, as well as the expansion of tertiary institutions, among the initiatives undertaken by his administration.

As his tenure approaches its end, the governor said his administration’s priority was to leave behind institutions capable of functioning beyond individual administrations.

He also urged young Nigerians to play an active role in shaping the country’s future through democratic participation, technology, entrepreneurship and other productive endeavours.

Sanwo-Olu called for peaceful participation in the 2027 elections, urging Nigerians to protect the country’s unity and build on the legacy of previous generations. Despite the challenges Nigeria has faced since independence, he said, ‘the flag has never come down.’

Meanwhile, as Nigeria looks ahead to the elections in January 2027, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has said no political contest is worth the loss of human life.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the ACF Chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman, to commemorate the nation’s 66th anniversary of nationhood.

He cautioned that the period leading to the elections, as well as the period immediately after them, could be tense and potentially hazardous.

‘I therefore urge all citizens, particularly our youths, to exercise restraint and avoid locations, gatherings and incidents that are known or reasonably suspected to be trouble-prone.

‘No political contest is worth the loss of a human life. Let us reject violence, inflammatory rhetoric, provocation and the destruction of lives and property.’

The ACF leader noted that differences of political opinion should never become reasons for hatred, violence or the destruction of communities.

According to him, ‘The strength of any society lies not merely in its numbers or resources, but in the quality of its unity, its shared values, its commitment to justice and its willingness to place the common good above narrow personal interests.’

The statement averred that the North must continually remind itself that its diversity should be a source of strength and not a justification for division.

‘Parents, elders and teachers have a profound responsibility in shaping the character and future of our young people.

‘As we commemorate the 66th Anniversary of our nation’s Independence, it is appropriate that we pause to reflect on the state of our nation and, particularly the experiences of our people across the various geographical locations of Nigeria.

‘Many of our people continue to suffer from natural disasters, insecurity, displacement, economic hardship, poverty and multifaceted forms of deprivation.

‘These challenges have disrupted economic activities, closed schools, separated families and, in many instances, broken homes and destroyed livelihoods,’ the statement lamented.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that Nigeria’s ’emergency treatment’ is over, saying his administration’s next priority is to bring down the cost of living by reducing the cost of producing and transporting goods.

Tinubu made the declaration in his Independence Day address to Nigerians on Thursday, as the country marked its 66th anniversary, saying the government had moved from correcting the economy’s fundamental weaknesses to pursuing ‘shared and widespread prosperity.’

According to the president, the reforms implemented by his administration over the past three years were necessary to correct economic distortions that had accumulated over generations.

‘My fellow Nigerians, we have reached a turning point. The emergency treatment is over. The foundation has been repaired. The central economic task before us has changed,’ Tinubu said.

He said the government’s focus would now shift from correcting the country’s economic direction to improving living standards and making essential goods and services more affordable.

‘Our priority is to bring down the cost of living. We will achieve this by lowering the cost of producing and moving the things Nigerians consume,’ he said.

Tinubu said the government would pursue the objective through increased agricultural production, mechanised irrigation and dry-season farming, improved access to seeds and fertiliser, and greater investment in mechanisation, storage and transportation.

He also pointed to ongoing investments in roads, railways and ports as part of efforts to improve the movement of goods from farms and factories to markets.

The president explained that reducing production and transportation costs would eventually affect the prices consumers pay.

‘When a farmer produces more cheaply, when fewer crops are lost between the farm and the market, when a manufacturer spends less on electricity, when a truck reaches its destination faster, and when the business environment fosters fair competition, all those savings will ultimately find their way into the price of goods in the market,’ he said.

Tinubu also said the government was prioritising jobs, enterprise and industrial growth, with plans to use gas to power new industries, support businesses, expand digital connectivity and invest in skills required by employers.

He acknowledged that millions of Nigerians continue to struggle with food, school fees, medical bills and transportation costs.

However, he argued that the hardship predates his administration and is the accumulated result of decades of low productivity, inadequate infrastructure, limited opportunities and institutional weaknesses.

‘We cannot erase in four years what accumulated over generations. But we can change its course,’ Tinubu said.

The president said his administration would continue strengthening support for vulnerable households, improving the National Social Register and expanding access to education through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.

He also highlighted the role of CREDICORP in providing consumer credit for working Nigerians seeking to acquire vehicles, solar systems, digital devices and other essential assets.

Tinubu said the government would continue working with state and local governments to strengthen primary healthcare, basic education and other essential public services.

He maintained that the programmes were intended to support Nigerians while the economy moves towards broader prosperity.

‘These programmes are not substitutes for prosperity. They are a bridge to aid our nation’s citizens on their path towards it. Our objective is not to manage poverty more efficiently. We will defeat it,’ he said.

Tinubu said achieving that goal would require sustained economic growth, discipline and the creation of millions of productive opportunities.

He declared that the government had laid the foundation for what he described as an ‘age of prosperity’ after the difficult period of economic reforms.

‘The age of reform has done its work. Now begins the age of prosperity,’ the president said.

The Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, has urged Nigerians to strengthen national unity, promote inclusivity, and remain committed to nation-building as the country marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.

Sulaiman made the call in a goodwill message issued on Thursday to commemorate Nigeria’s independence anniversary, reflecting on the country’s journey since 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 of the nation’s founding fathers.

Aligning with the theme of this year’s celebration, ‘From Reforms to Stability: Consolidating Nigeria’s Renewed Hope for Shared Prosperity,’ the NILDS director-general said the country’s diversity should be harnessed for national development rather than allowed to fuel division.

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

Sulaiman called for greater public participation in nation-building, urging citizens to contribute to efforts to address the country’s security and developmental challenges.

He said national cohesion, gender inclusivity, unity, economic development, and legislative governance remained central to NILDS’ mandate of strengthening democratic institutions, promoting good governance, and advancing sustainable national development.

The former Minister of National Planning also congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, on the occasion.

While acknowledging that Nigeria had yet to achieve all its aspirations, Sulaiman noted that the country had continued to evolve and strengthen its democratic institutions.

He urged Nigerians to maintain 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.

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

He wished Nigerians a peaceful Independence Day celebration and prayed for continued peace, stability, and progress in the country.