Category: PM News

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.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the President Bola Tinubu-led administration of worsening Nigerians’ purchasing power, saying many households are increasingly struggling to afford homes, vehicles and basic assets.

Atiku, in a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the latest Central Bank of Nigeria Household Expectations Survey showed that families were facing difficulties acquiring major household assets.

The former vice president described the survey as a reflection of the economic pressure faced by Nigerians, arguing that it contradicted claims of improved economic wellbeing.

According to the CBN survey cited by Atiku, buying conditions stood at 28.7 points for motor vehicles, 28.9 points for consumer durables and 30.0 points for buildings and landed property.

He said the figures showed that the economic challenges facing Nigerians had gone beyond food prices and were now affecting their ability to save, invest and acquire assets.

‘These are not figures manufactured by the opposition. They are the verdict of Nigerian households captured by the Central Bank under President Tinubu’s own government,’ Atiku said.

Atiku further linked the survey findings to rising food costs, citing the SBM Jollof Index, which estimated that preparing a pot of jollof rice for a family of five costs an average of ?29,578.

He argued that the cost represented a significant portion of the ?70,000 minimum wage, leaving many workers with limited resources for other essential needs.

‘What the figures tell us is simple: Nigerians are being priced out of decent living. A home is becoming a fantasy. A car is becoming a luxury. Household appliances are increasingly beyond reach,’ Atiku said.

The ADC presidential candidate also criticised the government’s focus on economic indicators such as GDP growth and foreign reserves, arguing that such figures must translate into improved living conditions for citizens.

However, the Federal Government has continued to defend its economic reforms, including petrol subsidy removal and foreign exchange market reforms, saying the measures are necessary to stabilise the economy, attract investment and create sustainable growth.

The administration has acknowledged the challenges caused by the transition period but maintained that the reforms are aimed at achieving long-term economic stability and improving opportunities for Nigerians.

Atiku maintained that the success of any economic policy should ultimately be measured by its impact on ordinary citizens and their ability to afford basic needs and improve their standard of living.

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga has said that President Bola Tinubu deserves praise for expanding infrastructure across the country.

Onanuga stated this during an inspection tour of the Makurdi-Otukpo-Obolo-Affor-Enugu dual carriageway by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Presidential Media Team.

The team led by Onanuga is being conducted round completed and ongoing federal and state infrastructure projects across Benue State.

Speaking to newsmen along the corridor, Onanuga described the expressway as a landmark project that would strengthen connectivity, boost commerce and foster national integration.

‘From what we have seen so far, even though we have not even completed this road, it has shortened the travel time between Makurdi and Otukpo.

‘From what I gathered, the road was so bad that from Makurdi to Otukpo it used to take about three hours. But now, just about one and a half hours or so, we are in Otukpo.

‘So, this is a commendable project and I think President Bola Tinubu deserves a lot of applause for touching almost every part of Nigeria, giving them one road or bridge or one infrastructure or the other,’ he said.

Onanuga added: ‘This road is linking the North Central and the South East for you.

‘If you are able to link all parts of Nigeria, it shows you that we are improving the connectivity across our states.

‘This will no doubt boost, not just passenger traffic, also business as people will be able to move goods across all the borders, all the state borders’.

Speaking on the project, the Federal Controller of Works, Benue State, Mukaila Danladi, said the 258-kilometre dual carriageway had been divided into five sections to facilitate construction.

He explained that the project traverses Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi and Enugu states, forming a strategic transport corridor linking major economic and commercial centres across the regions.

According to the controller, about 178 kilometres of the highway fall within Benue, while the section under

inspection covers 50 kilometres on each carriageway, totalling 100 kilometres.

Danladi said construction had progressed to about 86 kilometres of binder course on both carriageways, describing the achievement as significant in spite of prevailing weather-related challenges.

He attributed the slower pace of work to the rainy season, noting that some earthworks could not be undertaken under unfavourable weather conditions common during construction.

The controller, however, said work had not stopped, with contractors concentrating on hydraulic structures and drainage installations along the alignment pending improved weather conditions.

He reiterated the Federal Government’s assurance that the project would be delivered within the 48-month contract period, with completion expected by December 2027.

Danladi recalled that the highway is the second phase of the Abuja-Akwanga-Nasarawa-Makurdi corridor, extending the dualisation from Makurdi through Otukpo and Obollo-Afor to Enugu.

He said the project is funded through a combination of the China EXIM Bank loan and Federal Government counterpart funding, while China Harbour Engineering Company is executing the works.

The highway is expected to improve road safety, reduce travel time, ease movement of agricultural produce and strengthen trade and economic integration across the affected states.(NAN)

A 25-year-old Kano woman, Maimuna Idris, has been remanded in a correctional centre after she pleaded guilty to cutting off her boyfriend’s manhood.

The the victim is identified as Ashiru Sani.

Idris, who resides in Maigatari Local Government Area of Jigawa was arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court sitting in Kano on Friday on a two-count charge of attempted culpable homicide and causing grievous harm.

The Prosecution Counsel, H.A. Sani-Buhari, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on July 27 at Badawa Quarters, Kano.

Sani-Buhari said that on the same date at about 12:50 p.m., the Badawa Police Division received a report from the management of Durbar Hotel, Badawa, Kano, that the defendant allegedly attacked her boyfriend with a sharp knife.

She said earlier, at about 11:00 a.m., the defendant allegedly severed her boyfriend’s manhood after discovering his intention to marry another woman.

‘The victim was immediately rushed to Abubakar Imam Urology Hospital, Kano, for medical treatment,’ she said.

The defendant, however, pleaded guilty to the charges.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes the provisions of sections 229 and 248 of the Penal Code.

The Judge, Magistrate Sadiya Usman, ordered the remand of the defendant in a correctional centre and adjourned the matter until September 9, for further mention. (NAN)

Police operatives have killed one Ojiogu Elumah Martin, alias ‘Acid’ a suspected gang kingpin who allegedly masterminded the murder of Barrister Paulinus Ekwueme, a traditional ruler and five others in Ohaji/Egbema community of Imo State.

Police operatives had earlier arrested four suspects over the killing of the traditional ruler who was the Ochia I of Ochia Kingdom, and five others.

‘Acid’ was arrested following actionable intelligence by operatives of the Special Tactics Squad, Force Intelligence Department (STS-FID), CSP Ani Iniedu, Force Public Relations Officer said in a statement on Saturday.

He said the kidnap kingpin was arrested in a series of operations conducted between 2nd and 6th August, 2026, targeting members of the criminal syndicate linked to the incident by the operatives.

‘The operations culminated in the early hours of 6th August, 2026, when operatives located the hideout of a suspected gang kingpin, identified as Ojiogu Elumah Martin, alias ‘Acid’, in Ohaji/Egbema.

‘The suspect engaged the operatives in a gun duel and sustained injuries during the encounter, which subsequently led to his death. One AK-47 rifle, three magazines and 56 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered from the scene,’ Iniedu said.

The police spokesperson said that Acid was identified as the leader of the criminal syndicate linked to the attack of 10th April, 2026, in which the monarch and five others were killed along the Asa/Awara Road, Ohaji/Egbema, while returning to Owerri.

‘Four suspects had earlier been arrested in connection with the incident, while two others reportedly died during previous encounters with the Police,’ he said.

Iniedu added that efforts have been intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and establish the full extent of their involvement and recover further operational intelligence and exhibits.

‘The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to ensuring that all persons found to be connected with the crime are brought to justice and that every effort is made to bring the investigation to a logical conclusion,’ Iniedu concluded.

The Presidential Media Team, in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Ambassadors on Thursday inspected key Federal and Benue State governments’ infrastructure projects across the state, where residents commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for expanding connectivity through strategic road and bridge projects.

The inspection covered the ongoing Buruku-Logo Bridge, the Wurukum Overhead Bridge in Makurdi, the 22-kilometre Makurdi-Gboko Road, and major state infrastructure projects, including the completed High-Level Roundabout Interchange in Makurdi and the Gboko Underpass and Interchange.

The Makurdi-Gboko Road forms part of Phase II of the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi Expressway, a strategic corridor linking North Central Nigeria with the South-East. It is expected to be completed by December 2027.

The Renewed Hope Ambassadors’ National Media Tour, which has over 40 editors and journalists in the delegation, is designed to independently assess, document and showcase the implementation and impact of key Federal and State governments’ projects under President Tinubu’s administration.

The delegation was led by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.

Speaking during the inspection, Onanuga said the Buruku-Logo Bridge is one of five Federal Government bridges under construction in Benue State and demonstrates the administration’s commitment to investing borrowed funds in productive infrastructure.

He said the project would reconnect previously isolated communities, reduce travel time, improve access to markets for farmers and strengthen economic integration across Benue, Taraba and Adamawa states.

According to him, the projects are being financed through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, assuring that funding remains adequate for timely completion.

‘This bridge in particular is the fifth bridge the Federal Government is building in Benue State. I think as Nigerians you see that the government has been accused of so many things including taking loans. You can now see where the money is going. It is to develop infrastructure, to link people who have been forgotten before, to make sure that at least commerce flows freely.

‘Farmers can get their products straight to the market, they can shorten the travel time between one community and the other, especially between the rural areas and the capital. You can see that this one where we are now, the one in Buruku is going to affect three states, Taraba, Adamawa and to link all of them together to Benue and of course it means to Nigeria,’ Onanuga said.

The team also inspected the ongoing 25.6-kilometre Captain Dan Road from Lubona Junction to the Tor Tiv Palace, the Food Basket Brewery Limited in Makurdi, and the Federal Government-funded rehabilitation of the Buruku-Gboko Water Treatment Plant at Ameladu Headworks, one of the state’s largest water infrastructure projects.

A major highlight of the tour was the inspection of the 1,754-metre Buruku-Logo Bridge. The project links agrarian communities across the River Benue, provides access to neighbouring Taraba State and is expected to boost agriculture, commerce and regional integration. The contractor also employs more than 50 workers from the host community.

Residents expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for prioritising infrastructure that addresses longstanding transportation challenges.

They described the bridge as a life-saving intervention that would end years of dangerous river crossings and improve the livelihoods of surrounding communities. They also expect the bridge, on completion, to eliminate frequent boat accidents experienced during the rainy season while creating employment opportunities for local youths engaged on the project.

Many residents also pledged continued support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying the visible impact of ongoing projects had renewed public confidence in the Federal Government.

Speaking with journalists, the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Dr Samuel Ode, said the state remained grateful for the Federal Government’s infrastructure investments and expressed confidence that the people would strongly support President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

He described the ongoing Wurukum Overhead Bridge as a critical intervention on the Abuja-Lafia-Makurdi-Enugu corridor, noting that the junction had for years been notorious for severe traffic congestion, particularly during festive periods.

According to him, President Tinubu approved the project following a request by Governor Hyacinth Alia, and construction is progressing rapidly.

The Deputy Governor also highlighted the state government’s investment in the Makurdi Central Interchange and Underpass, describing it as a transformative project that connects key routes linking Government House, the Central Business District, Wurukum and the Abuja-Enugu highway, while significantly improving traffic flow within the state capital.

‘Actually, this road serves as the gateway between the north of the country and the south. Before now we used to have a heavy gridlock here especially during festivities, so the governor of Benue State approached Mr. President for us to have an overhead bridge here.

‘The President in his magnanimity, graciously approved the construction of this overhead bridge. So work has commenced, moving at a very high speed and the people of Benue are happy because we used to experience quite a lot of difficulties at this point.’

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over a suspicious credit into his private bank account, alleging that unknown persons may have compromised his confidential banking details ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said an unidentified individual transferred money into the account with the narration, ‘Contribution Electioneering Campaign’, despite neither him nor his campaign team authorising or having knowledge of the payment.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president described the transaction as disturbing, questioning how the details of a private account could have been obtained by unknown persons.

‘Neither His Excellency nor his campaign solicited, authorised or has any knowledge of the individual or entity behind the unauthorised payment,’ the statement said.

Atiku said the account was strictly private and its details were not publicly available, raising concerns over possible access by individuals with privileged information.

‘The account is a strictly private one whose details are not in the public domain. This raises a fundamental question: How did unknown persons obtain the confidential banking details of a private citizen?’ the statement added.

The ADC candidate warned that the development raised wider concerns about the protection of Nigerians’ financial privacy, arguing that if the banking information of a former vice president and presidential candidate could allegedly be accessed, ordinary citizens could also be vulnerable.

‘If the private banking information of a former Vice President and a leading presidential candidate can be accessed and deployed for reasons yet unknown, then no Nigerian’s financial privacy is safe,’ Atiku said.

He further expressed concern that the alleged access to his banking information may have involved persons with privileged access.

According to him, any unauthorised exposure of private financial details could create serious security risks for account holders.

‘If established, this would amount to a grave abuse of power capable of exposing the account holder to kidnappers, terrorists, bandits, fraudsters and other criminal elements,’ the statement read.

Atiku said security agencies and Nigerians had been notified of the development, describing it as part of what he called a series of suspicious activities as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) had urged the Kogi State Government to consider the immediate recruitment of teachers and restoration of 27.5 pee cent Teachers Special Allowance, TSA, to save the educational sector in the state from total collapse.

The union, however, praised Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administration for sustaining industrial harmony, strengthening security across the state and maintaining what it described as a cordial relationship with the workforce, even as it appealed for urgent intervention in critical issues affecting teachers and public schools.

The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting of the union and presented by its State Chairman, Comrade Emejeh Ogwu Sunday, during a press briefing on Thursday in Lokoja.

While acknowledging the government’s commitment to workers’ welfare, ASUSS said more decisive actions were needed to address longstanding concerns confronting the education sector.

The union expressed deep concerns over recurring attacks on schools and educational communities, describing the trend as a direct threat to learning and the safety of both teachers and students.

‘Schools are centres of learning and should never become targets of criminal activities. We call on the government and all security agencies to strengthen security around schools through proactive intelligence gathering, community participation, and rapid security response,’ the union stated.

ASUSS also renewed its demand for the restoration of the 27.5 per cent Teachers’ Special Allowance, insisting that the allowance was negotiated under a valid Collective Bargaining Agreement and was designed to recognise the unique demands of the teaching profession.

According to the union, ‘Its restoration will greatly improve teachers’ morale and further demonstrate Government’s commitment to quality education.’

On healthcare, the union commended the introduction of the Kogi State Health Insurance Scheme, describing it as a major initiative capable of improving access to quality medical care for workers and their families. It, however, urged members who were yet to enrol to do so without delay in order to benefit from the programme.

The teachers’ body also appealed to the government to review the current pattern of gratuity payments to retired workers, noting that although efforts to clear outstanding liabilities were commendable, retirees deserved more substantial and regular payments.

The union further lamented the acute shortage of teachers in public secondary schools across the state, warning that the increasing workload on available personnel was already affecting effective teaching and learning.

ASUSS therefore called for the immediate recruitment of qualified teachers to fill existing vacancies, while also urging the state government to introduce a motorcycle loan scheme for teachers posted to rural communities to ease transportation challenges and improve productivity.

Despite the challenges, the union commended teachers across the State for remaining dedicated and committed to their responsibilities under difficult economic conditions and assured the government of its continued readiness to engage constructively in advancing secondary education through dialogue and mutual respect.

‘We remain committed to constructive engagement, mutual respect and dialogue as the best means of addressing issues affecting teachers and the education sector,’ the union said, expressing confidence that the government would give urgent attention to its demands in the interest of teachers, students and the future of education in Kogi State.

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has defended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) decision to freeze an account belonging to the Osun State Government, insisting that the anti-graft agency acted within the powers granted to it by law.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Falana said the legality of the EFCC’s authority to place restrictions on government accounts had long been settled by both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

According to him, the commission is empowered to impose a Post No Debit (PND) restriction on the account of any federal, state or local government for up to 72 hours, after which it must obtain a court order to sustain the restriction.

‘As far as the law is concerned, the EFCC has not acted illegally,’ Falana said, noting that the commission’s powers had been affirmed in several judicial pronouncements.

The senior lawyer cited a 2022 Court of Appeal judgment arising from a suit filed by the Benue State Government, which overturned an earlier Federal High Court ruling and confirmed the EFCC’s authority to temporarily freeze government accounts pending judicial approval.

He also referenced a 2024 Supreme Court judgment involving the Kogi State Government and other states, which upheld the powers of the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to investigate the accounts of government institutions at all levels.

‘That remains the law in Nigeria today,’ Falana maintained.

He argued that anyone dissatisfied with the existing legal framework should seek legislative amendments through the National Assembly rather than question the powers already conferred on anti-corruption agencies by the courts.

Addressing the controversy surrounding the EFCC’s restriction on Osun State’s statutory allocation account, Falana noted that the commission followed due process by obtaining a court order after initiating its investigation.

He explained that the Osun State Government had challenged the validity of the court order itself, rather than merely objecting to its timing.

The controversy stems from the EFCC’s investigation into the alleged movement of about ?11 billion from the state’s Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.

The commission has maintained that the restriction was temporary, affected only one account and was carried out under the provisions of the EFCC Act and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

President Bola Tinubu had subsequently directed the EFCC to approach the court to vacate the order and discontinue the restriction, citing concerns over its timing, coming days before the August 15 Osun governorship election.

Falana, however, cautioned against creating the impression that anti-corruption agencies should suspend investigations whenever elections are imminent.

He warned that shielding financial transactions from scrutiny simply because of approaching elections could weaken Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts and undermine accountability in public finance.

‘It is a dangerous impression to suggest that anti-graft agencies should look away whenever elections are around the corner,’ he said.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned corps members and members of the public against a fake redeployment notice circulating online, describing it as an attempt to mislead unsuspecting Nigerians.

The scheme, in a disclaimer issued on its verified X handle on Friday, disowned the viral message claiming that a special redeployment window had been opened for corps members.

The fraudulent notice, titled ‘URGENT NOTICE: NYSC REDEPLOYMENT,’ claimed that redeployment applications were available due to ‘issues of National Security, Health, and State of the Nation.’

It urged corps members with ‘genuine grounds’ to apply quickly for redeployment, while providing phone numbers for those seeking assistance and requesting supporting documents.

However, the NYSC dismissed the notice as fake, warning corps members and their families not to fall victim to individuals attempting to exploit the redeployment process.

The scheme labelled the circulating message ‘FAKE NEWS’ in a disclaimer shared through its official communication channels.

NYSC said it does not authorise individuals or agents to process deployment or redeployment requests through phone calls, unofficial platforms or personal arrangements.

The scheme also reminded corps members that all legitimate deployment and redeployment matters are handled only through its official portal and designated NYSC offices.

The latest warning comes amid repeated attempts by fraudsters to exploit the redeployment process by promising preferential placements or special approvals in exchange for payments.

The NYSC urged members of the public to verify any information concerning the scheme through its official website and verified social media platforms before taking action.

The identity of those behind the fake notice had not been disclosed as of the time of filing this report.