Category: PM News

The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has called on the Lagos State Government to provide stronger institutional and logistical support for traditional rulers, while condemning land grabbing among some traditional leaders in the state.

Akiolu made the call on Sunday during a prayer session held at his palace on Lagos Island to mark the 23rd anniversary of his ascension to the throne.

The monarch said adequate support for traditional institutions would enable traditional rulers to discharge their responsibilities effectively and contribute more meaningfully to the development and stability of Lagos State.

He, however, expressed concern that while the majority of traditional rulers and chiefs remained committed to maintaining order and contributing to the progress of the state, some had allegedly turned to land grabbing.

‘Majority of the traditional rulers and reasonable chiefs in this state always ensure that things go in order.

‘But some of the incurably bad ones, for one reason or the other, best known to them, have chosen to turn themselves into land grabbers, which I didn’t like at all,’ Akiolu said.

The monarch urged the government to strengthen traditional institutions by providing the necessary logistical support to those occupying traditional offices.

‘I have pleaded and advised the government that you upgrade all these people, give them the logistic support to hold that office,’ he said.

According to him, inadequate institutional support could contribute to some traditional rulers resorting to activities such as land grabbing, which he described as contrary to responsible leadership and not in the interest of society.

‘It was in the absence of that they resort to land grabbing, which is not in the best interest of any human behaviour,’ he added.

Reflecting on his 23 years on the throne, Akiolu expressed gratitude to God for sustaining his reign and recalled his coronation 23 years ago at Enu Owa in Lagos.

He recalled that the late Chief Tajudeen Gbadamosi placed the traditional crown on his head during the coronation ceremony.

The monarch described his reign as one marked by ‘progress upon progress upon progress’, attributing the achievements to God’s blessings and the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was the Lagos State Governor at the time of his coronation.

Akiolu also stressed the importance of responsible leadership, urging traditional rulers to consider the consequences of their actions and seek divine guidance in the discharge of their responsibilities.

He said traditional institutions had an important role to play in maintaining peace, order and the cultural heritage of Lagos and should therefore be strengthened to perform those responsibilities effectively.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Head of Service, Bode Agoro, described Akiolu as a father figure to all and commended his discipline, compassion and commitment to preserving the traditions and heritage of Lagos.

Agoro described the monarch as a firm but compassionate leader who supported people who did what was right and corrected those who deviated from established standards.

‘Kabiesi doesn’t suffer fools gladly. He stays on the path of the righteous. If you do well, he will support you. If you don’t do well, he will tell you off,’ Agoro said.

According to him, Akiolu’s background as a former police officer had contributed to his disciplined approach to leadership, while his deep knowledge of Lagos history and traditions had made him an important voice in the affairs of the state.

Agoro said the monarch had consistently reminded the government of the need to preserve Lagos’ traditional heritage, particularly during the celebration of Isese Day.

He disclosed that Akiolu had regularly written to the government advocating public recognition of Isese Day, noting that the monarch had remained firm in his commitment to tradition and religion.

Describing Akiolu as an institution in his own right with extensive knowledge of Lagos history, Agoro said the monarch possessed an exceptional ability to recall historical facts and events.

‘He has all the facts and figures in his head. Kabiesi will recite and quote dates, times, lawsuits, everything. It’s amazing,’ he said.

Agoro prayed for the Oba to enjoy many more years in good health and happiness, expressing optimism that Akiolu’s anniversary celebrations would continue for decades to come.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sends his warm felicitations to Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, on his birthday, August 8.

The President describes him as a distinguished academic, technocrat and committed party leader whose experience and intellectual depth have continued to enrich the administration of the party and its efforts to provide effective political leadership.

President Tinubu also acknowledges the celebrant’s contributions to strengthening the party’s organisational structures, fostering unity among party members and promoting the shared vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The President commends Professor Yilwatda for his dedication, discipline and steadfast commitment to the ideals of the APC, particularly at a time when the party continues to consolidate its position as a strong platform for national development, democratic governance and progressive politics.

President Tinubu remarks: ‘Professor Yilwatda is a passionate advocate for the underserved. I particularly commend his initiatives in advancing policies that drive sustainable development and social impact.

‘As you celebrate today, I commend your services to our great party and our nation. Your contributions to the growth of the All Progressives Congress and your commitment to democratic values are worthy of recognition and commendation.

‘I pray that Almighty God grant you more years in good health, wisdom and renewed strength to continue to serve humanity,’ the President says.

An 85-year-old community leader, Mr Reuben Owie, has been shot dead by unidentified gunmen at his residence in Iguosa, near Okhunhun, Benin City.

Owie, who was the Secretary of Iyowa Community, was reportedly attacked at about 8:15 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2, by two men, according to the police command in Edo.

Eno Ikoedem, Public Relations Officer of the command confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Benin.

Ikoedem said the police received a report from Osayomwanbo Owie, son of deceased, following the attack at the victim’s residence at No. 2 Abu Street, Iguosa, off Okhunhun Road, Benin City.

‘On Aug. 2, 2026, at about 2015hrs, one Osayomwanbo Owie reported that his father, Reuben Owie, 85 years old, and Secretary of Iyowa community, was attacked by two unidentified gunmen at his residence.

‘One of the assailants reportedly shot the victim in the head, resulting in his death.’

The police spokesperson said officers visited the scene, documented the incident and recovered the deceased.

The body of the deceased, she said, was subsequently conveyed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

Ikoedem said investigation into the incident is ongoing, while efforts were being intensified to identify and arrest the suspects.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okhunhun axis is between the University of Benin and Oluku, on the outskirts of Benin.

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has called for a long-term development master plan, modelled after Lagos’ blueprint, to drive sustainable development in the state.

Alia made the call during a media chat with the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Presidential Media Team, led by Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy on Friday in Makurdi.

The team is in Benue to inspect completed and ongoing Federal Government and state infrastructure projects across the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

President Bola Tinubu developed Lagos’ long-term development blueprint during his tenure as governor from 1999 to 2007, laying the foundation for successive administrations to sustain Lagos’ transformation.

Alia said Benue needed a development blueprint that would provide clear direction for successive governments, citing Lagos State, where a master plan had guided development over decades.

According to him, Lagos’ transformation over the past 25 years demonstrated the importance of a consistent development plan that successive administrations could faithfully implement.

‘Each administration that comes in now takes a look at this one, two, three, four taken care of, so I’m going to take care of one, two, three, four,’ Alia said.

He stressed that the absence of a long-term development master plan had hampered continuity and slowed development in the state.

The governor said Benue’s large geographical size, comprising 23 Local Government Areas and a population of about seven million, made coordinated long-term planning particularly important.

He said his administration had introduced reforms because the previous approach of doing things repeatedly without achieving different results could no longer deliver the development desired by residents.

Alia acknowledged that reforms often attracted resistance, particularly from beneficiaries of the status quo, but said his administration remained committed to changes capable of producing tangible improvements across the state.

He said the reforms had enabled the government to expand infrastructure, improve primary healthcare and education, while ensuring that workers’ salaries and pension obligations were paid consistently.

The governor said his administration had removed school fees for pupils from Basic One to Basic Nine in public schools, describing the policy as an investment in families and human capital.

He also cited improvements in healthcare delivery, saying residents should no longer travel long distances to access treatment for common ailments when functional primary and secondary facilities could serve them locally.

According to him, the government’s road projects were equally important because roads connected farms to markets, allowing farmers to move produce efficiently and strengthening economic activity within communities.

Alia attributed the administration’s ability to execute projects to prudent financial management.

‘My administration adopts a policy of pinching the pennies to ensure available resources served public interests,’ he said.

He said increased federal allocations following the removal of fuel subsidy had provided states with additional resources, but stressed that such funds must be deployed according to their intended purposes.

The governor said Benue was also working to increase internally generated revenue, adding that the state had significant economic potential in agriculture, oil and gas, and solid minerals.

He disclosed that Benue had deposits of 43 different solid minerals, several of which were commercially viable, while efforts were underway to develop the state’s emerging oil and gas opportunities.

Alia said better exploitation of the state’s natural resources would improve its revenue base and reduce dependence on allocations from the Federation Account, thereby creating more resources for development.

On his administration’s relationship with the Federal Government, the governor described it as ‘superb,’ saying improved cooperation had helped the state attract greater attention and opportunities from the centre.

He said the renewed relationship had also enabled Benue to host major national engagements, including a planned security summit, which would bring stakeholders together to discuss ways of addressing insecurity.

Alia said his administration would continue to pursue reforms, infrastructure development and prudent financial management.

The governor, however, stressed that a comprehensive master plan remained essential to preserve the gains beyond his tenure.

The Police Command in Benue has arrested five Pakistani nationals with 35 mobile phones during separate intelligence-led operations in Otukpo and Ugbokolo.

The command’s spokesperson, Aondongu Orchia, made the disclosure in a statement on Saturday in Makurdi.

Orchia said three of the suspects were arrested on Aug. 4 at Adoka Motor Park, Otukpo Local Government Area, while attempting to board a vehicle to Adoka village.

He identified them as Younas Mohammad, 36; Ahmad Nunil, 38; and Aslam Muhammad, 46.

According to him, the suspects claimed they were in Otukpo to market cosmetics and mobile gadgets, but none of the items was found in their possession.

He said their explanation and movements within the area were suspicious and required further clarification.

Orchia said two other Pakistani nationals, Juma Sharif, 30, and Muhammed Sharif, 25, were arrested on Aug. 5 at a local hotel in Ugbokolo.

He said the two suspects claimed to be dealers in android phones, adding that a search of their belongings led to the recovery of 11 Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones.

‘Further investigation and operational follow-up resulted in the recovery of an additional 23 Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones and one Infinix Hot 60 phone,’ he said.

Orchia said the five suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Makurdi, for further investigations.

The police spokesperson said the command suspected that the possession of the phones could be a decoy for clandestine activities in rural areas of the state.

He added that the suspects had difficulty speaking or understanding English, which further necessitated detailed investigation.

Orchia said the operations formed part of the command’s proactive, intelligence-led policing strategy to identify potential security threats, prevent criminal activities and safeguard lives and property.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, has commended the officers for their professionalism and members of the public whose timely information contributed to the arrests.

Nwadiogbu urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements or activities to the police.

He assured the public that the command would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to maintain peace and security across the state.

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has argued that persistent electricity shortages in rural communities are having consequences beyond economic hardship, linking the absence of power to early nights, limited social activities and population growth.

Fayose made the remarks in Abuja on Friday shortly after his inauguration as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Rural Electrification Agency, the Federal Government agency charged with expanding electricity access to underserved and unserved communities.

Speaking on the need to tackle Nigeria’s rural electricity deficit, Fayose suggested that the lack of power had significantly altered the social lives of people living in communities without reliable electricity.

According to him, darkness sets in early in many rural areas, leaving residents with few opportunities for recreation or social engagement outside their homes.

He argued that the situation encourages people to retire early and spend more time indoors, with limited alternatives for entertainment after nightfall.

‘After 7 o’clock, it gets dark there,’ Fayose said, stressing that residents in such communities often have little else to occupy their time.

The former governor went further to draw a link between the lack of evening recreational activities and population growth, arguing that when residents have limited alternatives at night, they are more likely to remain at home with their spouses.

‘Everybody is engaging their wives. And the population simply becomes double,’ he said.

Fayose maintained that expanding electricity access could transform the social environment in rural communities by extending productive and recreational activities beyond daylight hours.

He said improved electricity supply would make it possible for businesses, entertainment centres and other social activities to operate at night, giving residents alternatives to staying indoors.

‘When we address this electricity, there will be nightlife. There will be recreation outside your wife,’ he added.

Beyond the unusual social dimension of his argument, Fayose’s comments underscored the broader implications of Nigeria’s rural electrification challenge, particularly for communities where the absence of power affects economic activity, education, security and quality of life.

His remarks came as he assumed leadership of the REA governing board at a time when the Federal Government is pursuing wider electricity access for communities that remain disconnected from the national grid or receive inadequate power supply.

The new board was inaugurated by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, alongside other newly appointed officials.

Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Makinta were inaugurated as board members, while three other non-executive directors also joined the governing board.

Abba Aliyu was formally installed as the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency.

With Fayose now at the helm of the REA board, the agency is expected to intensify efforts to expand electricity infrastructure and improve access in rural and underserved communities across the country.

National leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has stepped up consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections, meeting the party’s state chairmen from the North-West and declaring that victory remains achievable.

The former Bayelsa State governor said the meeting reviewed preparations for the campaigns and the strategy required to deliver the party’s candidates across the zone.

In a post on his verified X handle, Dickson described the North-West as a critical region in Nigeria’s political calculations and urged party leaders, members and supporters to close ranks ahead of the elections.

‘It was a pleasure to host a strategic meeting of the national leadership of our party with the State chairmen of the North-West Zone, a very critical region in the politics of our country,’ he said.

Dickson also praised the party’s leaders in the zone, particularly its vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for what he described as their readiness to work for the success of the NDC.

‘I commend the leaders of the zone led by our Vice Presidential candidate, His Excellency Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for their commitment and readiness to work for the success of our party,’ he said.

According to him, the discussions were productive and strengthened the party’s confidence ahead of the polls.

‘The discussions were fruitful, and we remain confident that victory is achievable,’ Dickson added.

The NDC is fielding former Anambra State governor Peter Obi as its presidential candidate, with Kwankwaso as his running mate for the 2027 election.

A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Buba Galadima, has claimed that 34 and a half governors are already backing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Galadima made the claim during the inauguration of the party’s national reconciliation committee, where he assessed the political alignment of governors ahead of the presidential contest.

According to him, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is the only governor who has openly distanced himself from both Tinubu’s camp and the opposition coalition.

The Senate has explained why the Federal Capital Territory will not be included in the proposed state police structure, saying Abuja lacks the constitutional institutions required to operate one.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, said the FCT has no governor or State House of Assembly and remains directly under the control of the Federal Government.

Adaramodu said the territory is administered by a minister who takes directives from the Federal Executive Council, while the National Assembly performs legislative functions for the FCT.

‘I have heard many people raise a lot of questions on why the Federal Capital Territory is not among the plan for state police. The FCT issue is different. It is under the Federal Government,’ he said.

He added that because Abuja does not have a governor or state legislature, it cannot operate under the same policing arrangement being proposed for the 36 states.

‘The federal capital does not have an assembly. It is the National Assembly that legislates for the FCT. This is why it can’t be different from what the Federal Government does. Therefore, the federal police are in charge,’ Adaramodu said.

The clarification comes as the Federal Government pushes ahead with plans for a new policing structure amid mounting calls for decentralised security across the country.

President Bola Tinubu is expected to receive the draft Executive National Policing Bill on September 3 as part of efforts to provide an operational framework for the proposed system.

Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, had also unveiled a public information portal through which Nigerians can submit memoranda and position papers on the proposal.

Under the constitutional amendments being considered, state Houses of Assembly would have powers to legislate on the establishment, administration, funding and oversight of state police.

States would bear the primary responsibility for funding their police formations, although the Federal Government could provide grants or assistance on the recommendation of the National Police Council and subject to approval by the National Assembly.

The FCT, however, would remain under the federal policing structure because of its unique constitutional status and direct administration by the Federal Government.

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has linked the lack of electricity in rural communities to early nights and increased population growth.

Fayose made the statement on Friday in Abuja after he was inaugurated as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency board.

In a video shared by ARISE News on Saturday, Fayose said many people in rural communities had few recreational activities at night because of the lack of electricity.

According to him, most residents go to bed early because their communities become dark after 7pm.

He said, ‘Why don’t you address this issue of electricity? The people at that level have no alternative attraction. Nothing else matters to them. After 7 o’clock, it gets dark there.

‘Everybody is engaging their wives. And the population simply becomes double. The simple problem is because there is lack of electricity.’

Fayose said providing electricity in rural areas would give residents more options for entertainment and recreation outside their homes.

He added that improved electricity supply would encourage nightlife and allow people to spend more time outside their homes.

‘People go to bed early. Their mind is simply prepared that, well, if this is the only available recreation, let me remain here.

‘But when we address this electricity, there will be nightlife. There will be recreation outside your wife,’ he said.

Fayose spoke as he assumed leadership of the REA board, which is responsible for improving electricity access in communities that are not adequately served by the national power grid.

He was sworn in alongside other members of the REA governing board by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe.

Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Makinta were also inaugurated as board members, alongside three other non-executive directors.

Abba Aliyu was formally installed as the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency.