Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Cross River State Executive Council, presided over by the Deputy Governor, Peter Odey, on Tuesday, July 28, approved the construction of a state-of-the-art Administrative and Laboratory Complex, complete with staff accommodation, for the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Outstation at Mile 6, Obubra Local Government Area to boost food security, agricultural innovation and rural economic transformation.

The State Executive Council described the initiative as a bold investment that will reposition Cross River as Nigeria’s foremost hub for root and tuber research, seed technology and agribusiness development.

The approval followed consideration of a memorandum presented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, who informed Council that the initiative is fully aligned with the resolutions of the 47th National Council on Agriculture and the Federal Government’s strategic agenda to strengthen sub-national food security systems.

He emphasised that the project seeks to deepen agricultural research, promote localised seed production and accelerate the deployment of climate-smart farming technologies across the state.

‘This intervention is strategically designed to strengthen agricultural research, technology dissemination and localized seed production ecosystems in order to guarantee long-term food security and stimulate private-sector investment in agribusiness,’ the memorandum stated.

Council observed that Cross River’s enormous comparative advantage in cassava, yam and sweet potato production places it in a unique position to become the nation’s leading centre for root crop innovation. It noted that the Obubra-Ikom agricultural corridor possesses the ideal ecological conditions for varietal trials, certified seed multiplication and the rapid dissemination of improved technologies directly to farmers.

‘The Obubra-Ikom axis remains one of Nigeria’s most productive agricultural belts and provides the perfect environment for scientific research, innovation and commercialisation of improved root crop technologies,’ Council affirmed.

The Council further disclosed that the project would pave the way for the establishment of a cutting-edge seed production platform using Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) technology through a strategic collaboration involving the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the National Root Crops Research Institute.

According to Council, strengthening the physical infrastructure of the NRCRI Outstation is indispensable to unlocking the enormous opportunities embedded in the partnership.

‘The modernised facility will serve as the critical foundation for producing certified disease-free planting materials, high-yield varieties and improved technologies capable of transforming agricultural productivity across Cross River State and beyond,’ the memorandum explained.

Reaffirming Governor Bassey Otu’s vision of building a resilient, innovation-driven agricultural economy, Council described the project as far more than a physical infrastructure initiative. It said the complex would become an innovation ecosystem where scientific research meets enterprise, creating new opportunities for mechanisation, value addition, input development and commercial agriculture.

‘The facility will serve as a catalyst for private-sector investment, public-private partnerships and youth agripreneurship, while de-risking farming operations and positioning Cross River as one of Nigeria’s most attractive destinations for agricultural investment,’ Council declared.

The Council equally noted that because the NRCRI is a Federal Government institution, the state’s investment would strategically leverage substantial federal interventions and international donor support. It maintained that the project represents a prudent long-term investment capable of generating enduring economic dividends through improved food security, seed system independence, agricultural industrialization and enhanced internally generated revenue.

‘This strategic intervention places Cross River in an advantageous position to attract matching federal resources and global development partnerships, thereby multiplying the impact of the state’s investment,’ Ebokpo noted.

The project, which encompasses site preparation, an administrative complex, modern laboratories, staff accommodation, utilities, fittings and all essential support infrastructure, is expected to commence immediately following the release of funds.

The approval, the Council noted, reaffirmed Governor Otu’s conviction that sustainable development begins with strategic investments in agriculture. ‘This administration remains resolute in building enduring institutions that will outlive the present generation, strengthen food sovereignty, empower farmers, attract investment and secure the future of Cross River State as Nigeria’s agricultural powerhouse,’ Council declared.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has institutionalised a peaceful leadership succession process, following sweeping constitutional reforms designed to eliminate rancour, promote stability and ensure seamless transfer of power within the union.

President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Festus Osifo, said the reforms have transformed the union’s transition process, describing them as one of the defining legacies of his administration ahead of the union’s national leadership handover in August.

Osifo disclosed this in Abuja during a memorial service marking the seventh anniversary of the passing of former PENGASSAN president, Comrade Francis Olabode Johnson.

According to him, the reforms have delivered remarkable results, with the union witnessing unprecedented unity and stability, despite the impending leadership transition.

‘Our transition is going to be in August and usually, two years before transition you would begin to see trouble everywhere, but that is not the case now,’ Osifo said.

‘I can tell you there is 100 percent stability within the union. The Central Working Committee (CWC) is intact; the transition is going smoothly and there is no issue whatsoever. That is one of the legacies we will bequeath to PENGASSAN.’

He explained that the breakthrough followed a constitutional amendment unanimously adopted by members in August last year after the union studied best practices for leadership succession.

The new arrangement, modelled after the succession system of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), makes the office of the Deputy President the only elective position in the succession chain, with the Deputy President automatically succeeding to the presidency at the expiration of the incumbent’s tenure.

‘Whoever is elected the Deputy President in PENGASSAN is going to automatically become the President, so there is no contestation again for the office of the President. Because that is known, it reduces the tension that normally comes with leadership transition,’ Osifo said.

He noted that the reform was informed by the unique character of PENGASSAN, whose members are professionals drawn from across the oil and gas industry.

‘PENGASSAN was created in 1978 and is one of the foremost trade unions in Nigeria, with some of the best brains in every professional calling as its members. When you have an assembly of intelligent people, everyone has his or her own ideas, and there will naturally be contestation of ideas.

‘Over the years, that created some teething issues during leadership transitions. We looked at how to handle succession in a way that would reduce acrimony and, by the grace of God, we have been able to address that sufficiently’, he stated.

Osifo said beyond ensuring peaceful succession, his administration would also be remembered for entrenching transparency, comradeship and unwavering commitment to members’ welfare.

‘The major focus in trade unionism is to protect the jobs of our members and enhance their pay and, by the grace of God, we have been able to do that,’ he stressed.

‘My prayer is that the leadership that comes after ours will outshine us in everything we have done. That gives me happiness. PENGASSAN is actually easy to lead because when members know you are doing the right thing, they will support you.’

Reflecting on the life of the late Francis Olabode Johnson, Osifo said the greatest tribute to departed leaders is to uphold the ideals they stood for.

‘When a leader passes on, what one should do is to look at the positive attributes of such a leader and try to imbibe them because that is the best way to immortalise such leaders. Today, we are here to celebrate the life and times of our past president, Comrade Francis Olabode Johnson.’

Also speaking at the memorial, former PENGASSAN General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, called on Nigerians to embrace selfless leadership, integrity and sacrifice, stressing that enduring leadership is measured by service and impact rather than position.

‘Great leaders are remembered not by the positions they occupied but by the values they upheld and the lives they transformed,’ he said.

According to him, leadership is a sacred responsibility that demands courage, humility and commitment to the common good.

‘The progress of every nation, institution or community is the product of men and women who placed collective interest above personal ambition. Sacrifice is not a sign of weakness; it is the highest expression of commitment.’

He urged leaders at all levels to focus on building lasting legacies through service, adding that history ultimately remembers those who positively transformed the lives of others.

‘Leadership is not measured by how many people follow you, but by how many people stand taller because you led them. Sacrifice is not about what you lose; it is about what others gain because you chose to serve.’

It was cheering to read of the delivery of two security surveillance aircraft to the Oyo State Government in Ibadan on Tuesday.

Beyond the excitement, however, the average villager in Saki, Kishi, Okeho and other high-risk parts of the state is likely to ask a simple question: How will these machines make us safer? It is a valid question.

Security and aviation experts believe the answer lies in what they describe as the aircraft serving as ‘eyes in the sky.’ They say the Diamond DA42 MNG, configured as a multipurpose Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform is designed to find criminals, follow them and feed security agencies with real-time intelligence before they disappear into forests or remote settlements.

According to the experts, the aircraft combines advanced electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors with onboard mission computers capable of processing and transmitting live video, thermal imagery and geospatial coordinates directly to command centres. This allows security commanders to monitor unfolding situations in real time and direct troops with far greater precision than is possible through ground and human intelligence alone.

They explained that one of the aircraft’s biggest strengths is its endurance. Unlike conventional aircraft designed mainly for transport, the DA42 MNG can remain airborne on surveillance patrols for between eight and 10 hours, quietly monitoring forests, highways, border communities and isolated settlements without interruption.

Its twin Austro AE300 engines, aviation experts noted, are not only fuel-efficient but also remarkably quiet, producing a relatively low acoustic signature that enables the aircraft to observe from the air without easily drawing attention. Combined with its ability to operate effectively at both high and low altitudes, the platform can detect, monitor and track suspicious human and vehicular movement across difficult terrain.

Security analysts say another of the aircraft’s greatest strength lies in shortening the time between detection, decision and deployment.

One of the major lessons from the Oriire school abduction, they argue, was how difficult it was to locate the kidnappers after they disappeared into the forests. An ISR platform can rapidly scan likely escape routes, identify possible hideouts, monitor movement patterns and relay precise coordinates to security operatives, allowing soldiers, police officers and Amotekun personnel to narrow the search area instead of conducting blind searches.

One retired security officer explained: ‘Its value lies in finding criminals quickly. Once suspicious activity is detected, commanders can deploy troops to the exact location instead of relying on guesswork.’

The experts say the aircraft’s usefulness extends well beyond anti-kidnapping operations. It can support operations against bandits, monitor illegal mining sites, track cattle rustlers, watch vulnerable border corridors, conduct aerial reconnaissance over forests, assist in search-and-rescue missions and provide rapid aerial assessment during natural disasters and other emergencies.

Still, they caution that the aircraft is not a silver bullet. They warn that the intelligence it generates is only as effective as the speed and coordination of the response it receives. For that reason, they insist its full potential will depend on seamless integration with the Nigerian Air Force, intelligence agencies, the police, Amotekun and rapid-response military units.

Governor Seyi Makinde shares that philosophy.

Explaining why his administration invested in the aircraft, he said the decision was informed by Oyo State’s vast landmass and the need to complement security personnel already operating on the ground.

‘When we took the decision to purchase these surveillance aircraft, it was because of the sheer landmass, the size of our state. We knew that we had to complement the boots on the ground.’

Makinde dismissed suggestions that the acquisition was prompted by the recent Oriire abduction, insisting it formed part of a long-term security strategy.

‘I’ve seen people criticise us and ask, ‘Where are the aircraft?’ But we planned for the aircraft so that we would be able to cover as much of the landmass of our state as possible within the shortest possible time.

‘I’m glad that now it’s here and I believe we will always do what is right in the interest of our people because, in an atmosphere of insecurity, you can hardly do anything.’

The governor described security as the bedrock of development, noting that no meaningful economic or social progress can thrive where lives and property are under constant threat. He also expressed relief over the rescue of the Oriire pupils and teachers.

‘People can say it is better now because our children are back, our teachers are back and we are moving on with the plan for Oyo State.’

He disclosed that the aircraft would become operational immediately through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Air Force.

‘We are hitting the ground running. You can see they were flown by Air Force pilots. We have negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Air Force and we will be working on this together.’

Analysts regard that partnership as crucial. Sophisticated ISR platforms require trained pilots, sensor operators and mission crews capable of interpreting surveillance data and integrating it with operations involving the military, police, the Department of State Services and Amotekun.

The overall objective is to have a maximally safe Oyo State. Whether that ambition is realised will depend not only on the technology in the air but also on the speed, coordination and professionalism of those who respond on the ground.

Tuesday’s formal handover of the two Diamond DA42 MNG surveillance aircraft at the newly upgraded Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan, therefore represented more than the delivery of aviation assets. It marked Oyo State’s pacesseting investment in intelligence-led policing-one aimed at ensuring that criminals can no longer rely on distance, darkness or difficult terrain to stay one step ahead of the law.

A self-acclaimed pastor, Prophet Apata Enoch, has advised people against marrying an ‘ugly person’ as he celebrated his wife, whom he described as beautiful, ahead of her 50th birthday.

The cleric made the remark in a Facebook post on Monday, where he praised his wife while counting down to her birthday.

He wrote, ‘5th of August, this my baby will be 50 years on earth, many years, my sweetheart.

‘I’m 54, my sweetheart 50. Don’t marry an ugly person because of old age. Open your heart and eyes.’

Enoch also recounted that he had planned to marry another woman in the past but abandoned the idea after what he described as divine direction.

He added, ‘The woman I wanted to marry before, God told me I wouldn’t like her in her old age.

‘Today, she looks like someone I can’t take pictures with. I bless God. I hear from this merciful God who knows I like a fine and beautiful wife.’

The post has attracted widespread attention on Facebook, drawing mixed reactions from users. While some supported his opinion, others faulted the comments, describing them as insensitive and demeaning.

UNIVERSITY lecturers, and other tertiary institution workers are increasingly embracing the Federal Government’s Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a zero-interest loan scheme they initially rejected, with many attributing the shift to worsening economic hardship, rather than support for government policy.

When the TISSF was introduced, major university unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), described it as a ‘debt trap,’ insisting that lecturers needed better salaries and the payment of withheld wages instead of loans.

However, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, recently disclosed that more than 33,000 academic and non-academic staff applied for the facility, with over ?13 billion disbursed to 7,450 beneficiaries nationwide as of June 2026.

In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, Adelaja Odukoya, a Professor of Comparative Political Economy and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), said the increasing acceptance of the scheme reflects the worsening economic conditions facing university workers, rather than confidence in government policy.

He described the loan as a product of the ‘weaponisation of poverty,’ arguing that the government is replacing decent wages and adequate funding of public universities with debt-based interventions.

According to Odukoya, the focus should not be on why lecturers changed their minds, but on the economic realities that forced many to embrace a scheme they had previously opposed. He urged observers to look beyond surface-level decisions.

‘Nothing more than the loan scheme and the turnaround from the initial rejection depicts the economic and psychological suffocation Nigerian university workers are exposed to.

‘Rather than asking why lecturers changed their minds, the proper question to ask is: what political economy conditions compelled Nigerian university workers to ‘go back to their vomit,’ Odukoya said, adding that loans cannot solve the structural problems responsible for declining living standards.

He maintained that ASUU’s opposition was based on the belief that welfare programmes should not substitute government’s constitutional responsibility to adequately fund public universities and ensure competitive remuneration.

A lecturer, who spoke anonymously, also attributed the growing demand for the loan to the financial challenges confronting university staff.

Meanwhile, the national president of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Dr Niyi Sunmonu, reiterated the union’s call for a living wage and improved welfare for university workers, but maintained that CONUA members never rejected the TISSF scheme.

Sunmonu, expressed concern over the slow pace of disbursement, noting that only about 22.6 percent of applicants had received the interest-free loans. He urged the Federal Government to accelerate the release of funds to qualified beneficiaries.

In the context of section 11(5) and (6) of the Oil Pipelines Act, the words ‘damages’ and ‘compensation’ carry identical connotations and can be used interchangeably. In the instant case, the appellant contended that by section 11(5) and (6) of the Oil Pipelines Act, the respondents could only seek compensation and not damages which they sought in their writ of summons and statement of claim. The use of ‘damages’ in the respondents’ claim did not in any way affect the validity or competence of their claim. Hence, the respondents complied with the provisions of the Act and their claim was rightly entertained by the trial court. The argument of the appellant was rather pedestrian.

On Meaning and Application of Doctrine of Exhaustion of Local Remedies:

The doctrine of exhaustion of local remedies postulates that a party must exhaust all internal remedies donated to him by a statute, before approaching a court for redress. Where a party ignores them, his action would be declared premature and incapable of activating the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the action. The philosophical basis for the doctrine is, inter alia, to prune down the quantum of disputes that inundate the court for judicial determination. In essence, the doctrine is similar to an alternative dispute resolution mechanism which litigants are enjoined to embrace.

On Onus of Proof of Malicious Act of Third Party:

The defence of malicious act of a third party is provided in section 11 of the Oil Pipelines Act. B y virtue of sections 133(2), 136(1) and 140 of the Evidence Act 2011, the evidential burden of proof, vis-a-vis the malicious act of a third party, rests squarely on the shoulder of the person alleging the act; in this case, the appellant. This is because the appellant was the one who wished the court to believe in the existence of a particular fact, malicious act of a third party, which fact was within its knowledge.

On Onus and Standard of Proof of Malicious Act of Third Party:

The defence of malicious act of a third party, which translates to illegal oil bunkering, as typified and exemplified in DW2’s evidence-in-chief in the instant case, is a criminal act which the law demands must be proved beyond reasonable doubt by virtue of section 135(1) of the Evidence Act, 2011. In the instant case, the appellant claimed it reported the incident to the police, yet no police report of investigation pinned the cause of the spillage to a third party. The report was a causa sine qua non for proof of the hostile act of a third party. There was a drought of evidence to demonstrate that the leakage was occasioned by the malicious act of a third party to absolve the appellant from a liability. Thus, the onus probandi, which the law thrusts on the appellant alleging the defence of malicious act of a third party was not discharged, and therefore the defence remained unproved.

On Effect of Successful Proof of Malicious/Hostile Act of Third Party in Oil Spillage:

A party who pleads malicious/hostile act of a third party and proves it, is exculpated from any liability associated with injurious affection of oil leakage/breakage.

The Meaning of Damages:

Damages have been defined as the pecuniary compensation which the law awards to a person for the injury he has sustained by reason of the act of default of another, whether that act or default is a breach of contract or tort.

The Meaning of Compensation and Whether it Amounts to Damages:

Compensation connotes payment of damages, or any other act that a court orders to be done by a person who has caused injury to another. Compensation and damages amount to the same thing in their significance. They are synonymous and co-extensive, and are not mutually exclusive. Thus, it is not an affront to the law to deploy the two terms interchangeably in the temple of justice. Section 11 of the Oil Pipelines Act employs the two words interchangeably. In the instant case, the respondents’ claim of damages, in lieu of compensation, was not contrary to the provision of section 11 of the Oil Pipelines Act as to defeat their case. The claim in damages was cognizable in law.

The Meaning of Special Damages:

Special or particular damages are those damages which are the actual, but not necessary, result of the injury complained of but follow it as a natural and proximate consequence in a particular case; that is, by reason of special circumstances or conditions. In the instant case, the respondents’ claim was rooted in special damages.

The Need for Special Damages to be Specially Pleaded and Strictly Proved:

Special damages must be specifically pleaded with particulars and strictly proved. By strict proof, the law means that a party claiming special damages should establish his entitlement to them by credible evidence of such a nature and character that would suggest he is entitled to them.

The Need for Special Damages to be Strictly Proved:

An admission by an opponent party of special damages does not relieve a claimant from strict proof thereof.

On When Court Will Award Both Special and General Damages:

Where a party is able to show, or where it is glaring from the surrounding circumstances of the case and the nature of the injury suffered by the party that special damages would not adequately compensate for all the loss, the court must go ahead to award both special and general damages and this cannot be termed double compensation. Within the concept of where there is a wrong, the court must provide a remedy. In the determination of disputes and in the consideration of the matter before the court, where the claimant occasioned incidental loss, injuries, costs and other consequences resulting from the misconduct of the defendant, the court is obliged to make an assessment in general damages with the standard of the reasonable man. By the pleadings and evidence in the instant case, both special and general damages were proved with preponderance of evidence.

What Amounts to Family Land:

By definition, family land is land which vests in a group of persons and their children. It could also refer to land which had vested upon individuals who have descended from a common ancestry or pedigree, and including those such as domestics and strangers who have been incorporated into the family by the founder. At the death of the founder, all the empty land, farm land and houses acquired by him in his lifetime become family property. In plain language, the land belongs to the family of the said founder as a corporate entity in which case they become inalienable or they become distributable to the members of the founder’s family as defined by him during his lifetime. Hence, a family land belongs to a ‘vast family of which many are dead, few are living and countless members unborn’.

The Connotation of Family and Right Thereof to Own Land as Such:

In the realm of etymology, a family connotes:

(a) a group of persons connected by blood, by affinity, or by law, especially within two or three generations;

(b) a group consisting of parents and children;

(c) group of people who live together and usually have a shared commitment to a domestic relationship.

A family is thus a conglomeration of individual citizens, and the law does not discriminate against a family of the right to own/hold land.

Who can Sue to Protect Family Property:

A family member is clothed with an unbridled licence to sue and protect a family land/property against any wrongful interference therewith, with or without the consent of other members of the family. In the instant case, the respondents exercised their legitimate right by approaching the court to ventilate their nursed grievances over the injuries suffered from the spill in the appellant’s oil pipeline. In that regard, the respondents disclosed categorically in paragraph 1 of the statement of claim that they ‘are bringing this action for themselves and as representatives of Okeh family members affected by the Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited Oil Spillage at Eneka.’ That averment clearly answered and doused the appellant’s query on the absence of members attached to Okeh Family. It was of no moment that the word ‘members’ was a prefix or suffix to Okeh Family. The bottom-line is its existence. It was part of the agitation of the appellant that there was no common interest and grievance between the representatives and the represented. The evidence on record demonstrated that the respondents’ occupation was farming and they did their farming and other economic activities in and around their large tract of land which was polluted by the oil spillage flowing from the pipeline of the appellant. There was an existential commonality of interest and grievance between the respondents on record, the representatives, and the Okeh Family members, the represented, which sustained a representative action.

There was jubilation in Ikole-Ekiti, headquarters of Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, as the Elekole of Ikole-Ekiti, Oba Adewumi Fasiku, returned to his palace after spending nearly five years abroad for medical treatment.

The monarch, who travelled overseas in August 2021 to receive specialised medical care, arrived in the town to a rousing welcome from traditional chiefs, community leaders, youths, market women and hundreds of jubilant residents who thronged major streets to receive him.

His convoy was accompanied by cheers, songs of praise and prayers as excited indigenes waved and celebrated the monarch’s safe return.

Oba Fasiku’s homecoming marks the end of a prolonged absence that generated concern among many indigenes.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that throughout the period, the traditional institution remained stable, as the affairs of the kingdom were overseen by the Elekole-in-Council, led by senior chiefs, who ensured continuity in the administration of the town.

Addressing the crowd shortly after arriving at the palace, the monarch expressed gratitude to God for preserving his life and granting him complete recovery.

He described his return as a testimony to divine mercy and the unwavering prayers of the people of Ikole-Ekiti.

‘I give all the glory to Almighty God, who has been faithful throughout this challenging period. It is by His grace that I am back home today in good health. I sincerely appreciate every indigene of Ikole-Ekiti, at home and in the diaspora, for standing by me with prayers, love and encouragement while I was away,’ the monarch said.

Oba Fasiku also commended members of the Elekole-in-Council, and other traditional rulers for their loyalty, wisdom and commitment in ensuring peace and stability in the community during his absence.

‘I must specially thank the chiefs and members of the Elekole-in-Council for the maturity, dedication and sense of responsibility they demonstrated. They protected the sanctity of the traditional institution and worked to preserve the peace, unity and dignity of our kingdom,’ he added.

The monarch pledged to devote himself to the progress of the kingdom, assuring residents that he will continue to promote peace, strengthen unity among the people, as well as collaborate with government, investors and development partners to attract more projects to the community.

He noted that his experience during the period of medical treatment has further reinforced the importance of quality healthcare and human development, promising to support initiatives that will improve healthcare delivery, education, youth empowerment and economic opportunities in Ikole-Ekiti.

‘I have returned with renewed strength and a greater determination to serve my people. Our collective aspiration must be to build a more peaceful, united and prosperous Ikole-Ekiti. I appeal to everyone to put aside our differences and work together for the development of our town. With unity, commitment and God’s guidance, we can achieve greater progress,’ the monarch said.

He further urged the indigenes to continue contributing to the development of the community, stressing that the growth of Ikole-Ekiti requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders.

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on Tuesday commissioned the newly dualised Akoda – Baptist High School – Oke Gada Road, a 9-kilometre project carried out by his administration.

Speaking at the commissioning programme, the governor said the installation of solar lighting along the road would also improve nightlife and security in the area.

According to him, the project was part of his administration’s agenda of infrastructure renewal across all zones of the state.

‘What we are doing in Osogbo, we are doing in Ila, in Iwo, Ile Ife, Ilesha and now in Ede,’ he said, and commended the Ministry of Works and the contractors for delivering quality work in line with best standards.

Governor Adeleke, who described the commissioning as another historical day for Osun State and for the good people of Ede, called it a ‘promise kept’ and ‘governance that touches the heart.’

‘This road is very strategic to Ede,’ the governor said. ‘It links major residential areas, schools, market, and connects to roads leading to Osogbo and Ibadan metropolis.’

He noted that for too long, residents of Ede, a town he described as one of ‘scholars, warriors and entrepreneurs,’ had suffered from poor road network and traffic congestion.

‘With this dualised road, movement within Ede will be faster and safer; business along Akoda, Cottage, Oke Gada will grow; students and workers will get to school and work on time,’ Adeleke stated.

Also speaking, the Director of Highways, Engr. Maruf Ojebode, provided technical details of the project, saying it was awarded in November 2023 for a one-year duration and was completed in December 2024.

‘Phase 1 is 5.4km from Akoda to Baptist High School, contracted to Messrs Great Enyork Technology Ltd. Phase 2 is 3.6km from Baptist High School to Oke Gada awarded to Messrs Engineec Integrated Engineering Ltd,’ Ojebode explained.

He disclosed that the dual carriageway is 9.3 metres on both sides, with a 1.5-metre walkway on either side and a 1.2-metre centre median that houses solar-powered streetlights for proper illumination.

The Director said geotechnical investigation, traffic counts and hydraulics studies were conducted before work began, and that the design meets Federal and Osun State highway standards.

‘This project is clear evidence of the present administration’s commitment to infrastructure development in all parts of Osun,’ he said, while appealing to residents to protect the road by avoiding dumping refuse in drains and trading on walkways.

In his own remarks, Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal, used the occasion to address the August 15 governorship election, making a direct appeal to President Bola Tinubu.

‘We are using this opportunity to appeal to President Bola Tinubu not to rig the governorship election; he should leave us alone and allow each of us to vote where we so desire,’ the monarch said, declaring that ‘by the grace of God, the Accord Party will be victorious.’

Oba Lawal, however, stressed, ‘My people of Ede, this August 15 election, we must vote massively. We will use Ede’s vote to pay deficit from other local government areas of Osun state.’

Buying a piece of land in Nigeria without proper government documentation is like driving a brand-new car on a busy highway without a valid license. Many hardworking property owners across the country hold basic purchase receipts or local family agreements that lack true legal backing, leaving their valuable investments exposed to land grabbers, double allocation, and endless court battles.

According to official reports from the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, over 97 percent of land across Nigeria remains untitled and unregistered.

Furthermore, statistical data published by the National Bureau of Statistics reveals that over 71 percent of landlords across the nation operate without a genuine Certificate of Occupancy.

This massive legal gap means millions of citizens hold valuable assets that cannot be used as bank collateral or guaranteed in legal disputes.

Essential requirements needed during the window

To fix your land title flaws during this crucial verification window, you must gather your basic property documents and submit them for proper legal processing.

The government has simplified the registration steps to ensure every citizen can complete the process easily without falling victim to extortion or endless bureaucracy.

First, property owners must present a valid Deed of Assignment or Transfer Deed, which clearly proves that you bought the property legally from the original seller.

Second, an official survey plan prepared by a registered surveyor is required to confirm the precise coordinates and location of the land.

Lastly, applicants must attach proof of tax clearance and government-issued identification to finish the legal title perfection process.

How to protect your real estate assets for the future

Completing this title perfection process through the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development website gives your real estate complete immunity against future disputes.

Once your land details are officially indexed and registered, your ownership becomes a bulletproof public record that guarantees safety in any Nigerian court.

Landowners who ignore this three-month grace period risk facing severe financial losses, expensive litigation, or losing their property rights entirely.

Taking prompt action today is the smartest way to protect your hard-earned money and secure a lasting inheritance for your family.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, is expected to produce the self-styled Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council/Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PFIPC/PEAC), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, before the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the inclusion of the purported council in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

The committee is scheduled to continue its investigation on Wednesday.

The directive was issued on Monday by the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, at the close of an investigative hearing attended by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi.

Also expected to appear before the committee are 12 officials drawn from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other agencies linked to the alleged scandal.

Gagdi disclosed that the committee had received a security report identifying officials allegedly connected with the matter.

He acknowledged that the National Assembly also has questions to answer over how the controversial provision made its way into the 2026 budget.

According to him, the investigation is aimed at identifying institutional weaknesses and recommending measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

‘We are not out to witch-hunt anybody. Our objective is to identify the gaps in the various institutions and recommend measures that will block those leakages going forward,’ he said.

Gagdi added that officials of the National Assembly would also be summoned to explain how the budget passed through the legislative process without the alleged irregularities being detected.

‘So what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. As chairman of this committee, I will go to that extent,’ he stated.

The lawmaker said the committee had identified between 10 and 12 serving public officers who would be required to appear before it.

‘We have it in writing that members in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service were complacent in one way or another. We will officially write to you to grant approval for those officers to appear before this committee on Wednesday at 12 noon,’ he said.

He explained that all the affected officials would appear simultaneously to ensure fairness during the investigation.

Gagdi further disclosed that the Nigeria Police had submitted five exhibits to the committee, including what he described as a forged Act of the National Assembly and documents relating to the award of a contract for the supply of furniture.

According to him, other documents obtained from the Ministry of Finance were also being examined, while signatures on some of the documents had allegedly been found to be forged.

‘Some of the documents were said to be forged, including one purportedly signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who has expressly denied ownership of the signature.

‘If it is about forged documents, we are dealing with 29 forged documents, and we will get there,’ Gagdi said.

He noted that the committee’s final report would recommend further investigation by the police and other security agencies where necessary.

Among other stakeholders yet to appear before the panel are the Minister of Finance, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.