Category: PM News

Prof. Musa Maitafsir, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency, has inaugurated the rehabilitation of electricity supply lines in Yabo and Shagari Local Government Areas of Sokoto State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the power lines, which was vandalised and had remained out of service for about six years, are expected to be rehabilitated within one month.

Maitafsir, the immediate past Director-General of the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), disclosed this at the inauguration ceremony on Saturday.

He said he had paid N150 million to an indigenous contracting firm for the commencement of the project.

The APC candidate said the initiative was aimed at alleviating the prolonged hardship faced by residents of the two local government areas as a result of the power outage.

‘I have already paid N150 million to the contracting company and I will logically complete the project at whatever cost,’ Maitafsir said.

He urged residents to protect the rehabilitated power infrastructure and promptly report anyone attempting to vandalise the facilities to the appropriate authorities.

Maitafsir also appreciated residents of the two LGAs for their support for the APC, President Bola Tinubu and Sokoto State Gov. Ahmed Aliyu.

He assured them that more development projects would be delivered to improve their living conditions, if he was elected.

Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Jabbi Shagari, commended Maitafsir for the initiative, describing it as a significant intervention that would contribute to the socio-economic development of the two LGAs.

‘This project remains a great commitment to easing the burden on the state government and empowering the people for economic development,’ he said.

Shagari assured that the state government would continue to pursue the implementation of its nine-point SMART Agenda for the benefit of residents.

Some APC leaders, elders and stakeholders at the event also commended Maitafsir for the initiative, saying restoration of electricity supply would help boost economic and social activities in Yabo and Shagari LGAs.

Lagos State First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has acknowledged persistent challenges with refuse evacuation across the state, saying the government is working on new strategies to improve waste management and reduce delays in clearing collected waste.

Sanwo-Olu spoke on Saturday while monitoring the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Mafoluku, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area, alongside the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Oluremi Hamzat, Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Engr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, and members of the state’s Body of Permanent Secretaries.

The First Lady’s comments followed complaints from some residents that waste managers were not evacuating refuse from their neighbourhoods promptly.

She explained that one of the major challenges was the long turnaround time for waste trucks at disposal sites, which often results in delays before the trucks can return to collect more waste.

‘The turnaround time for the truck to evacuate their waste at the dumpsites takes quite a while. They can queue for like two to three days before they dump and depart from the landfill site,’ she said.

Sanwo-Olu said the state government was developing a new approach to waste disposal and management to address the situation.

‘I am aware that the state is working very hard to bring up a new strategy and approach to its present waste disposal and waste management strategies,’ she said.

She described the challenges as teething problems that would be addressed as the government improves the system, expressing optimism that Lagos would continue to make progress towards maintaining a cleaner environment.

The First Lady also urged residents to pay greater attention to waste separation at the point of generation, stressing that recyclable materials and other categories of waste should not be mixed.

She said the participation of schoolchildren in the monthly sanitation exercise was deliberate, aimed at developing environmental consciousness among them from an early age.

Also speaking, Rotimi-Akodu said the monthly sanitation exercise had recorded gradual improvement in public participation.

He said residents were increasingly coming out voluntarily to clean their homes and streets, describing the development as a departure from the situation when the exercise began.

‘Our first goal is awareness, which will bring about cultural change. We need to discard the whole culture of being lackadaisical towards our environment. People are beginning to pick up now, and for us, it’s a good measure of progress,’ he said.

The special adviser, however, urged residents to stop dumping refuse indiscriminately at unauthorised locations and embrace waste separation from the point of generation.

Meanwhile, the Head of Service, Mr Olabode Agoro, who led another monitoring team to Lagos Mainland Local Government, urged residents to take ownership of their surroundings and make environmental cleanliness a daily responsibility.

Agoro said the sanitation exercise, which had been ongoing for more than six months, was gradually attracting increased public participation.

He commended residents for their turnout but said more needed to be done, urging Lagosians to begin cleaning their surroundings before government monitoring officials arrive.

‘We are very impressed with the turnout, but it could be a lot better. It is not supposed to be that we call for the exercise before people come out to clean. By the time we arrive, residents should already have commenced cleaning their surroundings,’ he said.

Agoro also commended the chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Government for his advocacy and mobilisation efforts, which he said had contributed to improved participation in the exercise.

He said the mobilisation had helped bring more residents into the sanitation programme, although participation could still improve.

The Chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Government, Mayor Emilagba Kolawole, also commended residents who participated in the exercise, saying advocacy and sensitisation efforts were beginning to yield results.

Members of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), students and directors in the Ministry also participated in the monitoring exercise.

Residents and businesses in Suleja, Zuba and neighbouring communities will experience a brief power outage on Saturday as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) carries out preventive maintenance on its transmission equipment.

TCN announced on Friday that electricity supply would be interrupted for about 20 minutes during maintenance work on the Gwarinpa-Suleja 132/33kV Line 2 bay switchgears and associated equipment.

The maintenance is scheduled to take place between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

Communities expected to be affected include Suleja Township, FCT College of Education, Field Base, Zuba, Sabon Wuse and surrounding areas supplied through the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

TCN explained that the temporary outage would allow engineers to transfer electrical load from the Gwarinpa-Suleja Line 2 to the Kubwa-Suleja Line 1 while maintenance is carried out.

The company said the arrangement was designed to prevent a prolonged power disruption during the exercise.

According to TCN, the work forms part of its annual preventive maintenance programme aimed at improving the reliability of transmission equipment.

The company apologised for the inconvenience and advised electricity consumers in the affected communities to take note of the scheduled interruption.

Yeye Moremi Olufunso Amosun and wife of former Ogun Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, has inaugurated an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Digital Training Hub in Ile-Ife to empower unemployed youths with digital skills.

The initiative is aimed at equipping young people with relevant digital skills and knowledge to enable them to participate meaningfully in the global digital economy.

Amosun said the hub was established out of the need to develop a generation of digitally skilled, innovative and responsible young people equipped to take advantage of opportunities in the digital space.

She said the training would provide accessible, practical and high-quality training in digital technology and artificial intelligence for youths.

According to her, the hub would expose learners to relevant digital tools, emerging technologies and practical opportunities that would enable them to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the digital economy.

She added that the opportunity would bridge the digital skills gap among young people and prepare them for the changing demands of the modern workplace.

Amosun urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity by acquiring skills that would enhance their employability and enable them to create opportunities for themselves and others.

Also, a statue of Moremi was also unveiled at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, to marked the silver jubilee of Moremi Hall, established in 2000.

The hub is expected to train Ife youths in coding and programming, graphic design and content creation, digital marketing and social media, among other programmes.

Responding, the wife of the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Mrs Afolashade Ogunwusi, appreciated Mrs Amosun for the opportunity to empower unemployed youths and give them reasons to be proud of themselves.

Ogunwusi said the hub would further create opportunities for thousands of youths to contribute to the digital economy in the state.

She urged the pioneer beneficiaries to take the opportunity seriously and do their best to become employers of labour.

Speaking with the beneficiaries, funmi Aduramigba and Abiodun Ojelusi, appreciated the wife of the former governor, Mrs Amosun , for the initiative which would help reduce self dependants and also create more jobs to the unemployed.

Former Chief of Staff to ex Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Alhaji Bashir Sa’idu, has vowed that he would demonstrate his political prowess by ensuring a total victory for the All Progressives Congress, APC in 11 Local Government Areas in Zazzau Emirate in the 2027 election.

Sa’idu, also a former Commissioner of Finance, recently defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the APC alongside thousands of his supporters.

Speaking when the Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs, Isa Lawal, visited him at his residence, Sa’Idu vowed that he would demonstrate his political influence and counter claims that he joined the APC without significant followers.

Sa’idu said the APC would record a different result in Zaria Local Government during the coming elections, promising to surpass previous electoral records.

He said the party would secure more votes in Zaria than those recorded for former President Muhammadu Buhari in previous elections.

According to him, about 3,091 ADC members in Lere Local Government, who share his political views, are preparing to join the APC.

He added that about 4,000 like-minded supporters were also present in some other local governments, saying their strength would become evident during elections.

‘I will not boast about my capacity in other areas, but in the 11 local governments of Zazzau Emirate, we will show our strength,’ he said.

Sa’idu said he was also politically grounded in Igabi and Kaduna South Local Government Areas, in addition to Zaria Local Government.

He described his supporters as committed political followers, saying about 10,000 of them had already joined the APC with him.

‘We will prove that Allah has endowed us with supporters and that these people believe in us politically,’ he said.

Sa’idu said his supporters had been meeting to develop strategies and modalities aimed at securing victory for the APC in the coming elections.

He, however, said their political activities would not prevent the Kaduna State Government from developing its own plans ahead of the elections.

‘When the time comes, if there is a need to blend with us, fine. If we plan concurrently and meet at the polls, it is also okay,’ he added.

Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has unveiled an ambitious development blueprint for Ogun State, promising reforms in governance, agriculture, industrialisation, security, healthcare, education and youth empowerment if elected governor in 2027.

Adeola, the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress in Ogun State, while outlining his policy agenda at a meeting with journalists in Ogun State at the NUJ Secretariat in Abeokuta on Friday, pledged that his administration would fully comply with the Freedom of Information Act and maintain regular, substantive press briefings as part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability.

Adeola also promised to prioritise the welfare and safety of journalists, describing the media as a partner in governance rather than an inconvenience.

According to him, ‘a government that fears scrutiny has already told you what it intends to hide,’ while stressing that his administration would operate an open and accountable government.

Adeola said his proposed administration would be driven by six major catalysts: fiscal discipline and revenue mobilisation, legislative reform, civil service and justice reform, asset optimisation and commercialisation, and local government autonomy.

He also promised to translate his manifesto into measurable programmes, with heads of government agencies signing performance agreements and being subjected to public assessment.

‘From manifesto to action. A manifesto that stays on paper is a betrayal of the people who trusted it,’ he said.

On agriculture, Adeola promised to move Ogun from subsistence to mechanised farming, while developing a system that would enable farmers to produce throughout the year.

He said his administration would establish mechanisms for government to purchase farm produce from farmers, allowing them to receive payment and return to production without waiting until the next planting or harvest cycle.

Adeola said he had already distributed more than 40 tractors and other agricultural equipment to farmers, adding that mechanisation would receive greater attention under his proposed administration.

He also pledged to maximise the economic benefits of Ogun’s industrial base by encouraging companies operating in the state to establish regional offices in Abeokuta.

According to him, although Ogun is one of Nigeria’s major industrial hubs, the state does not receive commensurate revenue because many companies maintain their headquarters in Lagos, where senior executives pay their taxes on behalf of over 20 staffs.

He said his administration would seek stronger partnerships with industries to increase employment opportunities for Ogun residents and ensure that more economic value generated in the state remains within the state.

Adeola also promised to pursue greater state participation in the exploitation of Ogun’s mineral resources.

‘I will be the Chief Miner of this state. I will fight for every mining certificate in this state from the federal government, he declared, arguing that the state should have a greater role in determining how its natural resources are exploited.

On security, Adeola promised to strengthen the Ogun State Security Trust Fund, establish a cybersecurity and security operational centre, and create a Resident Identity Management Agency.

He said industries operating in Ogun should be brought into a structured security partnership with the government, similar to the model he referenced in Lagos State.

Adeola also proposed using part of revenue from gaming and lottery activities, alongside budgetary allocations and contributions from industries, to strengthen security infrastructure and equipment.

In healthcare, Adeola pledged to expand access to healthcare facilities, strengthen the state’s health insurance scheme, Ilera Dero, and target two million enrolled residents.

He said his administration would also invest in doctors, nurses and community health workers.

Adeola claimed that he had facilitated the construction of more than 100 primary healthcare centres across Ogun State over the past three years and supported ongoing projects involving general hospitals across the state.

He, however, promised to build on existing healthcare initiatives, including coverage for elderly residents, while improving the state’s health insurance system.

Adeola also promised to expand educational infrastructure, including classrooms, libraries, staff rooms and sanitary facilities.

He said his administration would focus on producing young people who are ‘work-ready, not just certificate-ready,’ with greater emphasis on skills and employability.

On sports, he pledged to revive football development in the state and establish an annual Governor’s Cup as a platform for identifying young talents.

He also promised to revive a state football club capable of representing Ogun at the national level.

Adeola said his administration would establish four major vocational centres across Ogun’s four divisions to provide young people with practical skills and improve their chances of employment.

He linked the initiative to his broader agenda of poverty reduction, youth empowerment and economic development.

On environmental sustainability and physical planning, Adeola promised greater attention to border communities and emerging estates, including areas around Arepo and the proposed Journalists Estate.

He said his administration would seek to address the growth of shanties and other informal settlements while demanding greater corporate social responsibility from companies operating along the state’s borders.

Adeola also welcomed the reported development of a $7 billion deep-sea port, describing it as an opportunity for Ogun to compete more effectively with Lagos in maritime and logistics activities.

He said the port’s proximity to the coastal road could create significant economic opportunities for the state and strengthen its position as an industrial and logistics hub.

Adeola urged journalists to hold him accountable to his proposed policies and programmes if given the opportunity to govern.

‘Gentlemen of the press, I do not come to you asking you to believe me. I come asking you to hold me to this manifesto, line by line, project by project,’ he said.

As part of the partnership he promised media, Adeola pledge to support the Nigeria Union of Journalist the sum of N50million its proposed permanent site.

Speaking on behalf of journalists, Comrade Wale Olanrewaju thanked the APC candidate for his continuous support for the union.

He also urged him to prioritize the media and hold the media as number one tools for information if he gets to government.

Lagos State Deputy governor/Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, have called on Lagosians, particularly residents of Surulere Federal Constituency, to re-elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and vote for all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections in the State.

The duo, who spoke at the Constituency Outreach tagged 2026 Gbaja Mega Empowerment, held at the National Stadium, Surulere on Saturday, appealed to residents to participate actively in the electoral process and ensure they vote for the party at all levels in the forthcoming election to sustain the various people-oriented programmes already in place in the country.

In his address, the Deputy Governor said the APC had grown into the dominant political party in the country through sustained engagement with the people and its grassroots structures, emphasizing that the party’s strength lies in its ability to connect directly with citizens and respond to their needs through various initiatives and empowerment programmes.

According to him, ‘We must thank Hon. Gbaja for this initiative. What we are doing here today is what our party understands: that our service as political leaders is to serve and empower our citizens. It is about relating with our citizens. So how do we say thank you to him for this? It is by voting massively for the candidates of our party.’

Speaking on the empowerment, Hamzat described it as part of efforts by political leaders and elected representatives to bring government closer to the people, noting that political parties should not only seek electoral support from the people but also remain connected to the communities they represent.

Also in his remarks, the Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed that the empowerment is deliberately designed as part of efforts to give back to society and create sustainable opportunities for beneficiaries.

While reeling out the various heartwarming and people-oriented programmes initiated and executed by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration since inception, the Chief of Staff called on the constituents to ensure that they return the President to power in 2027 and also vote for all APC Candidates in the State for continuity and sustainable development.

Hon. Gbajabiamila disclosed that about 5000 residents benefitted from the 2026 Gbaja Mega Empowerment, with 4018 beneficiaries receiving cash gifts of N250,000 each; another 348 beneficiaries received N500,000 each as cash support. ‘This programme provides 61 electric vehicles, 50 electric tricycles, 60 mini-buses, 100 laptops, four 18-seater Toyota Hiace buses, two security patrol vehicles and a medical ambulance, among other items for the beneficiaries whom we select based on merit in all the wards across Surulere,’ he said.

The Chief of Staff assured Surulere residents that as long as he remains in public service, he would continue to support and empower the people of his constituency through various initiatives. He therefore urged the beneficiaries of the empowerment to take ownership of the items and ensure that they use them for the betterment of themselves and their community, and should not sell them.

In his goodwill message, the Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Wasiu Esinlokun-Sanni, commended the Gbaja empowerment initiative, noting that the benefits being provided to the people of Surulere through the empowerment programme are part of efforts being made to improve the welfare of residents and create opportunities that could support individuals and small businesses.

Also in his goodwill message, the Lagos State All Progressives Congress, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, who was represented by the Director-General PBAT-KOH 2027 Campaign Council, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, urged beneficiaries of the empowerment programme to ensure that the items and support received are put to productive use and translated into meaningful benefits for their families and the wider community.

While describing the empowerment programme as laudable, he described the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, as an uncommon talent whose passion for the welfare and wellbeing of the people is immeasurable, adding that such contributions should be recognised and supported.

In his welcome address, the Executive Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Hon. Suliaman Bamidele Yusuf, described the initiative as a demonstration of the Chief of Staff’s commitment to reducing poverty, creating wealth and improving the livelihoods of residents.

While appreciating the Hon. Gbajabiamila for the support and initiatives that had continued to impact positively on residents of the local government, Yusuf said the presentation of NELA electric cars, mini-buses, tricycles, cash support for small businesses, security vehicles, laptops and other empowerment items to beneficiaries is a practical demonstration of the government’s commitment to poverty reduction and wealth creation.

The chairman reaffirmed the local government’s commitment to effective governance and service delivery, stressing the importance of informed participation and the exercise of their civic responsibilities, urging residents to support the government committed to delivering democratic dividends and advancing the interests of the people.

President Bola Tinubu has urged newly commissioned military officers to make constitutional responsibility, discipline and selfless service the foundation of their careers in the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Tinubu, who serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, gave the charge on Saturday at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, where the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, represented him at the Combined Passing Out Parade.

The ceremony witnessed the commissioning of cadets from the 73 Regular Course, Short Service Course 49 of the Nigerian Army, Direct Short Service Course 34 of the Nigerian Air Force and Branch Commission Course 3 of the Nigerian Air Force.

Addressing the officers, Tinubu said their training at the Academy had equipped them for the demands and responsibilities of military service.

‘The Nation is counting on you,’ the President told the newly commissioned officers, urging them to uphold discipline, professionalism, courage and integrity in the performance of their duties.

He also charged them to protect the Nigerian people and defend the Constitution, while adhering to the professional standards and traditions of the Armed Forces.

Tinubu praised the NDA for continually reviewing its training programmes to prepare cadets for the changing nature of warfare and contemporary security challenges.

According to him, the Academy’s growing emphasis on counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, technological innovation and international partnerships has strengthened its capacity to produce officers capable of operating in a complex securit environment.

He urged the NDA to maintain its pursuit of excellence and continue developing officers who can effectively respond to emerging threats facing the country.

The President further reminded the officers that their commissioning marked the beginning of a new responsibility to the nation, requiring them to demonstrate courage, integrity and dedication in their service.

The event was attended by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; the Minister of Defence; the Minister of State for Defence; the Chief of Defence Staff; other Service Chiefs; and senior government and military officials.

Presidents and Coordinators of various Officers’ Wives Associations were also present at the ceremony.

The newly commissioned officers are expected to begin their careers by upholding the traditions of the Nigerian Armed Forces and putting their training into practice in the service of the country.

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, has warned naval and other military personnel to remain apolitical, non-partisan and professional in the discharge of their duty in the upcoming 2027 election.

The CNS gave the charge on Saturday while addressing personnel at the Third Quarter Route March 2026.

Abbas, represented by the Director of Manning, Naval Headquarters, Rear Adm. Kolawole Oguntuga, said that the Armed Forces retained the solemn responsibility to support the democratic process.

He emphasised that the support provided by military personnel during elections must remain within the limits of the law and the duly authorised directives as provided by the constitution.

He demanded utmost professionalism from the personnel, tasking them to avoid statements, associations and any other activity that could negate the service’s core values and bring the Navy to disrepute.

According to him, unity and discipline displayed during the route march is timely and significant, and the results should be evident during the discharge of duty in the upcoming elections.

‘Physical fitness is all the more important as naval service has grown beyond traditional responsibilities at sea.

‘Personnel continue to serve alongside sister services and other security agencies in joint theatres, contributing significantly to ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

‘Personnel, in most cases whether at sea or ashore, operating singly or jointly, would operate for prolonged periods in demanding terrain, under intense pressure, and in rapidly changing tactical conditions.

‘Success in such deployments therefore depends not only on weapons, platforms and training, but also on the physical fitness, mental resilience and adaptability of the individual officer or rating.’

According to him, today’s Route March reminds us that operational effectiveness begins with individual readiness and I urge every personnel to make physical fitness a continuous habit, and an integral part of professional military life.

Abbas reiterated the need for personnel to renew commitment to the service of the nation.

He said personnel must maintain physical fitness to meet the demands of the profession, uphold institutional standards in fulfilling our constitutional responsibilities and remain operationally prepared to respond whenever duty calls.

‘At all times, we must remember that our sacred oath to uphold our professional standards in all aspects of operations is vital to keeping faith with our responsibility to defend our territorial integrity,’ he said

A middle-aged Uber and InDrive driver, Joseph Adeyemi, was allegedly beaten to coma by a mob in Magboro community, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, after he was mistaken for a kidnapper.

Adeyemi, who was driving his two children, aged three and five, was heading towards the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway after picking them up from school when the incident occurred.

According to the driver, the trouble started after his vehicle had a minor collision with a commercial motorcyclist, popularly known as an okada rider.

Adeyemi said the accident was minor and that he immediately apologised to the motorcyclist before continuing his journey.

He, however, said the motorcyclist and some of his colleagues began chasing his vehicle.

According to him, the situation took a frightening turn when one of the men allegedly raised an alarm and accused him of being a kidnapper.

Adeyemi said the allegation attracted other people in the area, including commercial motorcyclists, who reportedly accosted him and began beating him.

He said he was attacked and pelted with objects while his two young children remained inside the vehicle.

The driver explained that the mob continued the attack until his wife, Anuoluwapo, arrived at the scene and intervened.

By the time the attack stopped, Adeyemi had sustained serious injuries and was reportedly unconscious.

He was subsequently rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment and is currently recuperating at Lavenda Hospital in Magboro.

His Honda car was also badly damaged during the attack.

Speaking about the incident, Adeyemi expressed concern over what he described as an unjustified act of jungle justice.

He called on the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the incident, identify those involved and ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice.

Adeyemi said the attack was particularly disturbing because it happened in the presence of his young children, who witnessed their father being beaten after he was allegedly wrongly accused of kidnapping.

He urged the police and relevant authorities to take action to prevent similar incidents and discourage residents from taking the law into their own hands.

The incident has again raised concerns about mob action and the dangers of acting on unverified allegations, particularly in communities where suspicion of criminal activity can quickly escalate into violence.