Category: PM News

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have foiled an ambush by suspected Boko Haram terrorists and dismantled several makeshift camps in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.

The Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Capt. Mohammed Goni, confirmed the operation in a statement on Monday.

Goni said troops of 27 Task Force Brigade, Sector 2, encountered the terrorists while conducting a routine patrol along the Buni Gari-Buratai axis on Monday.

He said the troops responded decisively to the ambush, forcing the terrorists to withdraw from the area in disarray.

According to him, reinforcements were subsequently deployed to clear the ambush site and search the surrounding area.

‘During the operation, troops discovered and dismantled several makeshift camps assessed to have been used by the terrorists as temporary staging and hideout locations,’ Goni said.

He disclosed that the troops recovered a motorcycle, bicycles, a magazine, ammunition and rocket-propelled grenade bombs during the operation.

Goni said no soldier was killed or injured in the encounter, although some military vehicles sustained damage.

‘Notwithstanding the damage, the troops remained operational and successfully completed the mission,’ he said.

The military spokesman said the operation demonstrated the troops’ determination to deny terrorist elements freedom of movement and disrupt their activities across the theatre.

He said the security situation in the area remained calm but unpredictable, as troops continued aggressive patrols and coordinated security operations.

Goni urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements or activities to security agencies.

He stressed that timely information from members of the public remained critical to efforts to detect, disrupt and neutralise terrorist activities in the North-East.

Governor Hyacinth Alia has described allegations by Mr Peter Obi that he was prevented from accessing victims of the 2025 attack on Yelewata as a desperate attempt to drag the governor and the Benue Government into what could be an internal political matter within the NDC.

Alia said this while dismissing claim by Obi who is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that he was blocked from accessing Yelewata by thugs working for the state government.

The chief press secretary to the governor, Mr Tersoo Kula, made the government’s position known in a statement issued on Tuesday in Makurdi.

Kula described Obi’s allegation as a desperate attempt to drag the governor and the Benue Government into what could be an internal political matter within the NDC.

He said the state government had no knowledge of the alleged incident and questioned whether Obi actually visited Makurdi, citing what he described as his antecedents of making untrue claims against the state.

The CPS said Obi was not a threat to Alia, adding that even if he were, security agencies were responsible for handling security concerns, rather than thugs.

According to him, Alia is a peace-loving clergyman who is opposed to thuggery and whose administration does not engage, patronise or deploy thugs as instruments of governance or security.

He said the administration remained committed to the rule of law and relied on recognised security agencies to maintain peace and order across the state.

Kula also questioned the failure to formally inform relevant security authorities about Obi’s movement, saying such a visit ordinarily required coordination with the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies.

He urged Obi to resolve any disagreement or internal political challenge within the NDC rather than attributing such issues to the state government.

‘The Alia administration will not be distracted by attempts to manufacture political controversies where none exists,’ Kula said.

He said the government’s attention remained focused on good governance, strengthening security and improving the welfare of Benue residents.

Kula urged the public to disregard allegations linking the state government to any incident involving Obi.

‘Benue remains open to legitimate visitors, political actors and all Nigerians who come in peace,’ he said.

The legal team representing the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has rejected a petition filed before the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal challenging Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the August 15 governorship election.

A senior member of the legal team, Adekunle Adegoke, said the petition was not authorised by the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, or the party.

Adegoke disclosed on Monday that the legal team had advised Oyebamiji against challenging the election outcome after reviewing the circumstances surrounding the poll.

He said the lawyers met with Oyebamiji and other party leaders shortly after the election to assess possible legal options but concluded that approaching the tribunal was not the best course of action.

‘Right from the second day after the election, the legal team, led by about four Senior Advocates of Nigeria, advised our client that, in the circumstances, the best course of action was not to go to the tribunal,’ Adegoke said.

He explained that the decision was taken despite the team’s knowledge of possible grounds that could have been used to challenge the result.

‘It is not that the election was entirely free or that there were no malpractices. There may have been valid grounds to challenge the result, but we decided to allow the populace to rest,’ he said.

Adegoke also questioned the legitimacy of any petition filed in Oyebamiji’s name, saying the APC candidate had already congratulated Adeleke after the election.

‘Our client willingly, without pressure or duress, congratulated Governor Adeleke. Do you now think it would be legitimate, or honourable, for Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji to turn around and authorise the filing of a petition?’ he asked.

The lawyer described the tribunal document as unauthorised and accused individuals behind it of presenting themselves as APC lawyers without approval from the party or its candidate.

‘I want it to be on record that the APC legal team has denounced the bundle of papers filed by some individuals masquerading as APC lawyers. It was not authorised by the APC as a party or by its candidate,’ he said.

Another APC chieftain, Adebayo Adedamola, also denied involvement in any petition against Adeleke’s victory, saying he had already endorsed the governor.

The controversy followed the display of two petitions at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo on Monday.

One petition, marked EPT/OS/GOV/01/2026, listed Oyebamiji and the APC as petitioners against Adeleke, the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The second petition, marked EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026, was filed by Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola against Adeleke, INEC and the Accord Party.

Former Ekiti State Governor and ex-Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi, has accused African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar of using his fuel subsidy promise as a political strategy ahead of the 2027 election.

Fayemi made the claim during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he compared Atiku’s subsidy proposal to the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket strategy in the 2023 election.

According to him, the promise to restore subsidy was designed to appeal to Nigerians who have been affected by rising fuel prices and the cost-of-living crisis rather than being based on an economic framework.

‘My take on that is that Atiku’s proposal of subsidy is politically equivalent to our own Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023. It’s a political strategy. It’s not an economic construct,’ Fayemi said.

However, Fayemi admitted that the proposal could gain support among Nigerians struggling with the impact of subsidy removal, noting that many citizens are more concerned about survival than the technical arguments surrounding subsidy policy.

He said vulnerable Nigerians are focused on issues such as the cost of food, transportation, education and healthcare.

Fayemi maintained his support for fuel subsidy removal, saying he had advocated for the policy for years, including during his time as chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

‘I was and I remain an advocate of fuel subsidy removal. As chairman of the governors’ forum, I spent four years in this battle,’ he said.

The former governor also said President Bola Tinubu inherited groundwork on subsidy removal from the previous administration but criticised the manner in which the policy was implemented.

According to Fayemi, state governors had earlier worked with the Federal Government and the World Bank on a safety-net strategy aimed at protecting vulnerable Nigerians from the effects of subsidy removal.

He argued that Atiku was capitalising on the hardship Nigerians are currently facing.

‘I believe that’s what Vice President Atiku is taking advantage of. The vulnerable segment of the population is still hard done by,’ Fayemi said.

Fayemi added that poverty and inequality remain major drivers of insecurity, saying political leaders must focus on policies that improve the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has announced that, beginning next week, persons found buying goods from traders operating illegally on roads, medians, setbacks, walkways and other unauthorised public spaces will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with section 151 subsection 2 of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this at the Authority’s headquarters on Tuesday.

He said the measure formed part of a renewed enforcement strategy to curb illegal trading, indiscriminate waste disposal and the obstruction of public infrastructure across Lagos State.

Gbadegesin explained that enforcement would no longer focus only on illegal traders as people who sustain such activities by purchasing goods from them would also be held accountable under the relevant provisions of the Law.

‘The law does not only prohibit illegal street trading. It also makes it an offence to buy goods exposed or offered for sale in prohibited places. From next week, anyone found buying from traders operating on roadsides, medians, walkways, setbacks or other unauthorised spaces will be arrested, alongside the traders, and prosecuted in accordance with the law,’ he said.

He added that a person convicted of the offence could be liable to a fine of N90,000, imprisonment for six months, or both.

Gbadegesin said that illegal roadside and median markets frequently generate waste that is dumped in drains, on roads and in other public spaces, thereby obstructing drainage channels, worsening traffic conditions and creating risks to public health.

‘Our objective is to stop the cycle that allows illegal trading and indiscriminate waste disposal to return after enforcement operations. Traders occupy public spaces because people continue to patronise them. Buyers must understand that their actions sustain the problem and that they are also accountable under the law,’ he said.

The LAWMA boss noted that the Authority was simultaneously strengthening waste collection in inner streets and communities surrounding previously cleared dumping hotspots. He stressed that identified service gaps would be addressed, while deliberate dumping, redumping and patronage of illegal markets would attract enforcement.

He urged residents and businesses to patronise recognised markets and use approved waste collection channels, noting that personal convenience must not come at the expense of public health, environmental sanitation, road safety and the orderly use of the city’s shared spaces.

Gbadegesin reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to sustained enforcement, stakeholder engagement and improved waste collection services as part of the drive to eliminate open dumping and achieve a cleaner Lagos.

Thousands of Nigerians seeking routine United States visa services will now have to process their applications through Lagos after the US Embassy in Abuja stopped handling routine visa applications.

The change, which took effect on August 1, 2026, means that routine visa services are now available only at the US Consulate General in Lagos.

The US Embassy, in a fresh advisory, said applicants who already had appointments scheduled in Abuja would still be attended to, although some appointments could be moved to new dates.

Applicants affected by the adjustment have been advised to check their emails for updated appointment information.

The embassy stated that those with valid and unused Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee receipts can use them to schedule new appointments at the Lagos consulate.

The advisory read: ‘Routine visa services are only available at Consulate General Lagos. Effective August 1, 2026, U.S. Embassy Abuja no longer processes routine visa applications.’

The development means Nigerians outside Lagos who previously relied on the Abuja embassy for routine visa interviews may now have to make additional travel arrangements to complete their applications.

However, the embassy clarified that existing appointments would be honoured, although some applicants may receive revised appointment dates.

The move affects routine visa categories, while applicants have been directed to consult the official US visa appointment platform for updated information on services, locations and operating hours.

The US Consulate General in Lagos now becomes the primary centre for routine US visa processing in Nigeria.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Osun Sector Command, has sought collaboration with traditional rulers and community leaders in the state to reduce road accidents.

The Sector Commander, Mr Sunday Adebayo, stated this during his visit to the Olufi of Gbonganland, Oba Adetoyese Oyeniyi, on Monday in Gbongan.

Adebayo, who was accompanied by the Gbongan Unit Commander, Dr Jude Odinfono, said traditional rulers have a significant role to play in influencing public behaviour and promoting safety within their communities.

He said that 220 road traffic accidents were recorded in the state last year involving 300 vehicles, with 60 persons killed and several others injured.

The FRSC commander attributed many of the accidents to dangerous driving, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, distracted driving, route violation and overloading.

‘We are appealing to traditional chiefs and members of the Olufi-in-Council to use their influence to discourage dangerous driving practices and promote a culture of safety among road users.

‘We are equally advising passengers to speak up when drivers conveying them drive recklessly, speeding excessively or suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

‘Passengers should insist that such drivers discontinue the journey and promptly report the matter to the nearest FRSC patrol team or the police for appropriate intervention,’ Adebayo said.

He reiterated the corps’ warning that ‘speeding thrills but kills faster,’ while urging motorists to prioritise safety over speed and convenience.

Adebayo, however, said collective responsibility and community-based intervention were critical to reducing road traffic crashes and saving lives on the roads.

In his response, Oba Adetoyese Oyeniyi, the Olufi of Gbongan, acknowledged the importance of the corps’ road safety mandate, pledging the institution’s support towards promoting road safety and protecting lives within Gbonganland and its environs.

Oyeniyi, represented by the Balogun of Gbonganland, Chief Quasim Onikepe, noted that the visit would further provide opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the corps and traditional institution.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a mini library was inaugurated by the sector command for officers in Gbongan Unit Command, an initiative of Dr Jude Odinfono, Gbongan Unit Commander.

The Federal Ministry of Works has begun moves to restore the Benin-Asaba Highway and ease the hardship faced by motorists on the 125-kilometre road linking Edo and Delta states.

The Federal Controller of Works in Edo State, Engr. Babatunde Tajudeen, disclosed this at a press briefing in Benin City on Monday, September 7, 2026.

Tajudeen said the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, had directed that urgent measures be taken to address the deteriorating condition of the highway.

The road, which stretches from the Ring Road Roundabout in Benin City to Summit Junction in Asaba, connects the South-South, South-East and parts of the South-West, making it a major route for passengers, freight and commercial activities.

The project is being executed under Phase I of the Highway Development and Management Initiative, a public-private partnership scheme designed to attract private investment into federal road infrastructure.

The Federal Executive Council approved the concession of the Benin-Asaba Expressway to Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited (BAECC) on January 16, 2023. The 25-year concession operates under a Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer model, with the agreement signed on May 23, 2023.

Tajudeen said the project had suffered major setbacks, leading to a worsening of the highway’s condition in recent months.

The situation culminated in protests by residents on August 16 over the poor state of the road and the slow pace of work.

Umahi and Edo State Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, subsequently inspected the highway on August 25 to assess the situation.

During the inspection, the minister accused BAECC of gross default, alleging that the company had scarified sections of stable asphalt without promptly reconstructing them, engaged unqualified personnel, lacked the capacity to execute the project effectively and carried out substandard work.

He also blamed the company for poor traffic management, which he said contributed to severe gridlocks in December 2025 and from August 19, 2026.

According to Tajudeen, the removal of asphalt without prompt reconstruction exposed the road base to rainfall and further deterioration. He added that some sections might now require continuous reinforced concrete pavement instead of the planned asphalt overlay.

He clarified that the concession had not been terminated because of the legal processes involved but said Umahi had proposed a mutual termination and called for another competent federal works contractor to intervene.

BAECC was also directed to restore the scarified sections to the condition they were in before work commenced about 16 months ago.

‘Two weeks after the Minister’s engagement, no meaningful intervention has been recorded,’ Tajudeen said.

He added that the ministry was intensifying efforts to bring in an alternative contractor within its legal powers to resume work immediately.

Tajudeen appealed to motorists, residents and transport operators to remain patient, stressing the strategic importance of the highway.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for his infrastructure drive and praised Umahi for personally monitoring federal road projects, including several visits to Edo State in the past six months.

‘The Benin-Asaba Highway will not be left in its present state. The Federal Ministry of Works is committed to a lasting solution and restoring the road to a safe, motorable condition,’ he assured.

He urged road users to remain calm as the processes for engaging a credible intervention contractor are finalised.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday affirmed the conviction and sentence of a former Managing Director of Nigeria Export Import Bank, NEXIM, Robert Orya to 490 years’ imprisonment for fraud.

Justice F.E. Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja had on Thursday, February 5, 2026, convicted and sentenced Orya to 490 years’ imprisonment.

This was after the court convicted Orya on the 49-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud to the tune of N2.4 billion filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Justice Messiri has affirmed that the prosecution proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt and found the former boss of NEXIM bank guilty as charged on all the 49 counts and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each, totaling 490 years.

The sentences, however, are to run concurrently.

But Orya, who was first arraigned by the EFCC in 2021 appealed the judgment.

However, in a unanimous judgment delivered on Tuesday, a three-man panel of Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court’s judgement.

Leading two other Justices, Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche, Justice Muhammed Danjuma stated that, ‘I have considered all briefs filed by counsel and have gone through the record of the trial court and adopted it and the issues as formulated by this appellate court in resolving this appeal. I looked at each and every issue and in my final analysis, all the issues formulated for the determination of this appeal are resolved in favor of the respondent and against the appellant. This appeal is devoid of any merit and is hereby dismissed. The judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory delivered on February 5, 2026, in charge number FSC/SC/CS/487/2021 is hereby affirmed.’

Orya served as the Managing Director of NEXIM Bank between 2009 and 2016.

He was appointed to the position on August 14, 2009, by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.

A Nigerian artificial intelligence, GenScan AI, developed by Mary-Brenda Akoda has won the $100,000 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation (NPSI).

Dr Sophia Horsfall, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, announced this at the prize conference in Lagos on Tuesday.

Horsfall said the innovation, GenScan AI, is capable of cutting MRI scan time by up to 90 per cent, hence improving scanner utilisation, reduce patient waiting times and expand MRI access without new hardware.

She said GenScan AI was developed by Akoda and emerged winner from a record 237 entries submitted for the competition.

The innovation uses C-MORE, an artificial intelligence algorithm designed to reconstruct MRI images through a one-step consistency-model framework.

Horsfall said the technology demonstrated how artificial intelligence could tackle practical healthcare challenges while improving existing medical infrastructure.

She said the return of a winner after the 2025 competition produced a ‘no winner’ verdict demonstrated the Prize’s uncompromising standards.

‘If an entry is declared worthy of the Prize today, we can be confident that it has earned that distinction,’ Horsfall said.

She said the 237 entries represented the highest number received since the Prize began, reflecting growing interest in Nigerian science and innovation.

According to her, the Panel of Judges, chaired by Dr Omobola Johnson, independently assessed the entries before the Advisory Board endorsed its recommendation.

Horsfall said the evaluation considered scientific innovation, technical soundness, developmental impact and the potential for commercial scalability.

Prof. Barth Nnaji, Chairman of the NPSI Advisory Board, said GenScan AI stood out by combining advanced artificial intelligence with practical healthcare applications.

Nnaji said the assessment focused not only on scientific novelty, but also measurable impact and prospects for real-world application.

He said GenScan AI could improve medical imaging by making MRI examinations faster, enabling hospitals to serve more patients using existing equipment.

‘The development is particularly significant for healthcare systems where MRI machines are limited, expensive to operate and often associated with long patient waiting times,’ he said.

Nnaji said C-MORE was designed to reconstruct MRI images while maintaining or improving image quality despite substantially reducing acquisition time.

He said Akoda’s innovation emerged after judges compared it with two other shortlisted submissions during the 2026 adjudication process.

Nnaji said Akoda was the first millennial and woman to win the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation as an individual recipient.

He added that her victory represented the 12th occasion a winning work had been recognised during the Prize’s 22-year history.

Akoda will receive the 100,000-dollar prize at the Grand Award Night scheduled for Oct. 9, in recognition of the innovation.

Akoda is a first-class Computer Science graduate of Goldsmiths University of London, with a Master of Research in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

She obtained the master’s degree with Distinction from Imperial College London as a Google DeepMind Scholar.

Akoda previously worked as a software engineer and AI research scientist at Microsoft.

The 2026 competition retained the theme, ‘Innovations in Artificial Intelligence, ICT and Digital Technologies for Development.’

The Prize is one of NLNG’s flagship initiatives supporting scientific excellence, research and innovation.

The 2026 competition attracted the highest number of entries since inception, following the ‘no winner’ outcome recorded in 2025.