Category: PM News

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency ( NiMet) has predicted cloudiness and thunderstorms from Wednesday to Friday across the country.

ýNiMet’s weather outlook released in Abuja envisaged patches of clouds over the region with prospects of thunderstorms accompanied by ýmoderate rains over parts of Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba and Adamawa States during the morning hours.

According to NiMet thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains are expected over parts of Kaduna and the entire North eastern region later in the day.

‘Patches of clouds are expected over the northern central region with chances of thunderstorms with light rains over parts ýof the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau and Nasarawa states during the morning hours.

‘By the afternoon or evening hours, thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains are expected over parts of Benue, Kogi, the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Niger, Nasarawa and Plateau states.

ý’ Cloudy skies are anticipated over the southern region, however, there are chances of light rains over parts of the South-South region during the morning hours,’ it said.

ýNiMet forecast moderate rains over parts of Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, the South-East and the South-South regions later in the day.

According to NiMet, patches of clouds are expected over the northern region with prospects of thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains over parts of Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe States during the morning hours on Thursday.

ý’ Later in the afternoon or evening hours, thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains are expected over most parts of the region.

ý’ Cloudy atmosphere is expected over the north central region with chances of thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains over the entire region throughout the forecast period.

ý’ Moderate rains are expected over parts of Ondo and the entire South – South region. Later in the day, moderate rains are expected over the South-East and the South-South regions,’ it said.

The agency envisaged patches of clouds over the northern region with prospects of thunderstorms accompanied by rain ýover parts of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Taraba States during the morning hours on Friday.

ýNiMet anticipated thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains over the entire northern region later in the day.

‘Cloudy atmosphere is expected over the north central region with chances of thunderstorms accompanied by light rains over parts of Nasarawa and Benue states during the morning time.

The afternoon or evening period holds prospects for thunderstorms with moderate rains over the region. Cloudy skies are anticipated over the southern region with prospects of light rains over the entire South -South States during the morning hours.

ýNiMet predicted moderate rains over parts of Ondo, Oyo, Enugu, Imo, the South-East and the South-South regions later in the day.

According to it, strong winds may precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur, the public should take adequate precaution and ensure that loose objects are fastened to avoid collision.

ýNiMet urged the public to – avoid driving under heavy rain, disconnect electrical appliances from electrical sockets and stay away from tall trees to avoid impact from falling branches and broken trees.

According to it, airline operators are advised to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.

ý’ Residents are advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet, visit our website www.nimet.gov.ng,’ it said.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has denied reports that it has suspended passport services in Kano.

The agency explained that its decision to move passport production from some centres to the Central Personalization Centre does not mean passport services have stopped.

The clarification came on Wednesday after concerns were raised that the planned migration of passport production could affect passport processing in Kano and other states.

Some Nigerians, including former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad and social media commentator Ahmad Loriman, had criticised the move and urged the NIS to review the decision.

Responding to the concerns, the NIS said the migration is only an administrative change aimed at improving passport production.

The agency said applicants can still visit their local passport offices to complete their biometric capture and other enrolment processes without any interruption.

According to the Service, passport capture centres remain fully operational, while passport booklets will now be produced at the Central Personalization Centre before being sent back to the affected passport offices within the normal processing period.

The controversy followed an internal circular dated August 3, 2026, which approved the transfer of passport production from 10 passport centres to the Central Personalization Centre. The new arrangement is expected to begin on August 10, 2026.

The affected centres are Farm Centre Kano, Dawakin Kudu Kano, Jalingo, Gombe, Yola, Bauchi, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Calabar and Yenagoa.

Under the new system, passport booklets for these centres will be produced centrally before they are delivered to the various passport offices for collection by applicants.

Critics argued that removing passport production from Kano could create unnecessary hardship for residents and businesses.

Bashir Ahmad said Kano deserves stronger immigration services because it is Nigeria’s most populous state and the commercial hub of Northern Nigeria.

Ahmad Loriman also criticised the decision, describing Kano as a major commercial centre and calling on lawmakers from the state to intervene.

Despite the criticism, the NIS insisted that the restructuring only affects passport production and not passport enrolment or biometric capture.

It assured Nigerians that passport offices in the affected states will continue to provide their normal services.

The agency said the latest change is part of its ongoing efforts to modernise and digitise Nigeria’s passport system.

It recalled that in February 2025 it introduced a contactless passport application system, allowing eligible Nigerians to apply, submit biometric information and make payments online with minimal physical contact.

The NIS also moved applications for the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) fully online from August 2025 as part of the Federal Government’s immigration reform programme.

According to the Service, centralising passport production is expected to improve security, increase efficiency and protect the integrity of the Nigerian passport.

The chairmen of Bagwai, Bebeji, and Rogo Local Government Areas of Kano have been suspended by the State House of Assembly over allegations bordering on corruption and financial misappropriation.

The suspended council chairmen were also accused of abuse of office and misconduct.

The adoption of a report from the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, presented during plenary by the Majority Leader, Lawan Hussaini Dala, triggered the political trauma of the trio.

Presenting the findings, Lawan Dala, said the investigation was prompted by separate petitions submitted against the three council chairmen.

The petitions, filed by the Legislative Councils of Bebeji and Rogo Local Government Areas, as well as concerned citizens of Bagwai Local Government Area, alleged financial misappropriation, abuse of office, breach of public trust and other administrative irregularities.

According to the Committee, it reviewed relevant documents, examined records obtained from the affected Local Government councils and held interactive sessions with members of the respective legislative councils, before arriving at its findings.

For Bagwai Local Government, the Committee said it observed evidence suggesting the misappropriation of public funds meant for developmental projects.

In Bebeji Local Government Area, the Committee reported credible allegations of abuse of office, persistent violations of due process in the award and execution of contracts, improper sale of local government land, diversion of public funds, unlawful deductions from contract payments and other procurement irregularities.

The Committee also alleged that some contractors were compelled to transfer contract payments into accounts allegedly nominated by the Executive Chairman, contrary to established financial and procurement regulations.

For Rogo Local Government Area, the Committee said the Executive Chairman was accused of undermining government policies and programmes, failing to comply with established laws and administrative procedures governing Local Government administration, and misappropriating funds earmarked for feeder road construction and rural electrification projects.

Following the findings, the Committee recommended the immediate suspension of the three Executive Chairmen for a period of three months to allow for a comprehensive investigation.

The recommendation was made pursuant to Sections 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which empower the State House of Assembly to conduct investigations and exercise oversight over public institutions.

The House adopted the committee’s report and directed the Clerk of the House to communicate its resolution to the Kano State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for immediate implementation.

The Assembly said the suspension is intended to facilitate a thorough investigation into the allegations while safeguarding public resources and promoting accountability in local government administration.

A leading All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Kwara State, Engr. Femi Sanni, popularly known as Araba, has appealed to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the party’s National Leader, to urgently intervene in the lingering disagreements among stakeholders in the Kwara APC ahead of the 2027 election.

Araba said on Wednesday via a press statement that the prevailing political atmosphere within the state chapter calls for sincere and decisive reconciliation to preserve the unity and electoral strength of the party.

He noted that while the APC remains the dominant political force in Kwara State, unresolved differences among critical stakeholders could weaken the party if not addressed promptly.

According to him, the time has come for the national leadership to facilitate a genuine reconciliation process that accommodates all interests and restores confidence across the party.

‘There is a need for all stakeholders to embrace true and sincere reconciliation built on mutual respect, understanding and a spirit of give-and-take. No meaningful peace can endure where there are perceived winners and losers. Every committed party member deserves to feel valued,’ he said.

Araba stressed that unity has always been one of the APC’s greatest strengths in Kwara, urging leaders and members to place the collective interest of the party above personal ambitions.

‘We are stronger together. APC remains the party to beat in Kwara State, but no individual or bloc should be taken for granted. Every stakeholder has a role to play in sustaining the party’s success and preparing it for victory in 2027,’ he added.

He expressed confidence that with timely intervention by the party’s national leadership, the APC would emerge more united, stronger and better positioned to retain Kwara State in the next governorship election.

All kinds of perceptions about life in Russia can still be found online. But what happens when a young woman comes to the country not for a week as a tourist, but for several years – to work and grow professionally?

How much does a full shopping basket cost? Is it true that a taxi ride is cheaper than a cup of coffee in some countries? To answer these questions, we broke down everyday life in Yelabuga – a city near the Alabuga special economic zone, where participants of the international programme Alabuga Start work.

How much does a typical food basket cost?

For many young women arriving in Russia, one of the first discoveries is the price of food. Even with regular shopping, grocery expenses remain quite affordable.

No fewer than three persons on Wednesday lost their lives, while three others sustained injuries in a road crash along Sagamu-Benin Expressway.

The Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) spokesman, Mr. Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to newsmen in Abeokuta.

Akinbiyi said the crash occurred at about 5:00a.m. near Babcock Junction in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun.

He said the crash involved a white Mercedes-Benz truck with registration number LG 59 BLF and a yellow crane without a registration number.

He said that preliminary investigation indicated that the crane was travelling against traffic at excessive speed, which resulted to a head-on collision with the oncoming Benz truck.

According to him, six persons, comprising three males and three females, were involved in the crash.

‘A total of three persons, comprising two males and one female, lost their lives, while three male victims sustained varying degrees of injuries,’ he said.

Akinbiyi said TRACE operatives, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Police, with support from another rescue team ‘Papa Oscar’, responded promptly to the scene of the accident.

He said the injured victims have been taken to the Babcock University Teaching Hospital for treatment, while bodies of the deceased were deposited at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) morgue in Sagamu.

The TRACE spokesman added that traffic was diverted from Delabo Junction to the second carriageway to ease vehicular movement while efforts are ongoing to evacuate the crashed vehicles.

He commiserated with the families of the deceased and urged motorists to desist from driving against traffic and other traffic violations.

‘Motorists should avoid route violation and driving against traffic, considering the grave consequences associated with such dangerous acts,’ Akinbiyi said.

The vice presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has said the opposition party is prepared for whatever President Bola Tinubu brings during the 2027 general election campaign.

Amaechi made the statement on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s *Politics Today* ahead of the 2027 polls.

Reacting to Tinubu’s confidence about winning the election, the former Minister of Transportation said the president could continue to assure Nigerians of victory until they meet at the field.

‘Let the president continue to tell the public that he would win the election at all cost until we get to the field.

‘Whatever the president wants us to do at the field, we will do it. I’m not worried about what he wants to do. We will meet at the field,’ Amaechi said.

The ADC chieftain also criticised the Tinubu administration, saying Nigeria needed urgent intervention.

‘Nigeria has to be rescued. What the president and his men are doing is insulting my faith,’ he added.

Amaechi, who contested the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election with Tinubu in 2022, lost the party’s ticket to the former Lagos State governor.

He later defected to the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections and was selected as the running mate to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who will fly the party’s presidential ticket.

Troops of the 8 Division Garrison of the Nigerian Army have rescued 14 kidnapped victims and recovered 281 livestock from bandits who attacked Horo Birni Village in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

A credible security source in the army made this known on Wednesday in Sokoto.

The source said troops responded swiftly to distress calls on Tuesday and carried out the operation by confronting the terrorists who were moving with the kidnapped victims and the rustled livestock.

According to the source, troops made contact with the terrorists who were already in possession of the kidnapped civilians and livestock taken from the villagers.

‘Troops engaged the terrorists with superior firepower, forcing them to withdraw in disarray with gunshot wounds abandoning the kidnapped victims and rustled livestock.

‘Troops searched the area and successfully rescued 14 kidnapped victims. Recovered 195 cows, 84 sheep, two camels and two motorcycles,’ the source said.

The source explained that the troops’ quick response saved lives and property, adding that teamwork and synergy among agencies during the operation were worthy of commendation.

‘The troops are always battle-ready to tackle all forms of criminality in the country but need sustained community support and vigilance,’ the source said.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has denied claim that he has asked Nigerians to vote for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.

The Sultan said this while dismissing viral claims on some social media platforms that he had asked Nigerians to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in a statement signed by Prince Bashir Adefaka on behalf of his media team on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the Sultan, as the father of all, cannot make such a statement either publicly or in any other forum.

The media team therefore urged Nigerians to disregard and condemn the claim which it described as ‘a malicious and unpatriotic attempt to drag the revered personality of the Sultan into partisan politics for selfish interests.’

The media team asserted that the Sultan’s position as a traditional and religious leader requires him to remain impartial and accessible to all Nigerians, irrespective of their political affiliations.

‘Let it be made clear once again that the institutions of monarchy and religion led by the Sultan are institutions of a father figure. As such, His Eminence cannot but remain within the purview of that role by offering fatherly, royal and spiritual blessings, as well as guidance, to Nigerian politicians who seek his counsel and blessings.

‘The Sultan’s doors cannot be shut against anyone who comes to him, regardless of political affiliation or persuasion. His Eminence has consistently demonstrated that he is the father of all and will continue to relate with all Nigerians without discrimination.’

The media team added that attempts to portray the Sultan as supporting the political ambition or campaign of any individual ahead of the 2027 general elections should be rejected.

It added that the Sultan remains committed to promoting peace, unity, stability and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians, regardless of ethnic, religious or political differences.

The media team also urged journalists and social media users to verify information before sharing reports capable of misleading the public or drawing traditional and religious institutions into partisan political disputes.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared May 16 as Lagos Boy Child Day, while throwing his weight behind the review of the Lagos State Child’s Rights Law 2015 to ensure greater protection and equal opportunities for every child.

The governor made the announcement on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ engagement on the review of the Child’s Rights Law and the launch of the Lagos Boy Child Initiative (LBCI), an initiative of the Office of the First Lady, held under the theme: ‘The Child Development Framework in Lagos State: Addressing the Boy Child Gap.’

Sanwo-Olu said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that while significant progress had been made in promoting the rights of girls, the welfare and protection of boys were not overlooked.

According to him, the state government is committed to bridging the gap in child development by giving equal attention to the needs and rights of both boys and girls.

He described the review of the Child’s Rights Law as timely, pledging the government’s full support for the proposed amendments and the Lagos Boy Child Initiative.

Commending the First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, for championing the cause, the governor said the initiative had grown beyond an advocacy campaign into a movement that deserved institutional backing.

‘The First Lady has ensured that the initiative grows into a movement where the progress made in advancing the rights of the girl child does not result in the boy child being inadvertently neglected,’ he said.

Sanwo-Olu also called on parents, guardians and community leaders to pay greater attention to the challenges confronting boys, including sexual abuse, substance abuse and other social vices.

‘As leaders and parents, we must protect our boys just as we protect our girls. We must address the imbalance and build a society we can all be proud of. The Lagos State Government will support this initiative to whatever extent necessary,’ he assured.

In her address, the convener of the Lagos Boy Child Initiative and First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, said the programme was inspired by the conviction that boys deserve intentional guidance, support and opportunities to thrive.

She expressed appreciation to Governor Sanwo-Olu for endorsing the initiative and officially designating May 16 as Lagos Boy Child Day, describing the decision as a strong demonstration of the administration’s commitment to inclusive child development and gender-responsive governance.

‘This singular decision goes beyond policy. It sends a powerful message that every child matters and that true gender equality is achieved by ensuring that every child-boy or girl-is given the opportunity to realise his or her God-given potential,’ she said.

The First Lady explained that the proposed review of the Child’s Rights Law 2015 would strengthen the state’s legal and institutional framework to address emerging issues such as technology-facilitated violence, online exploitation, mental health, changing family structures, juvenile justice reforms and inclusive child development.

She noted that the amendment would also provide legal backing for the Lagos Boy Child Initiative without diminishing the gains already recorded in promoting the rights of girls.

‘Nurturing boys intentionally today is an investment in safer families, stronger communities and a more prosperous Lagos tomorrow. Every child deserves an equal opportunity to thrive,’ she said.

Dr. Sanwo-Olu expressed hope that other states and development partners would adopt similar initiatives to promote balanced child development and ensure that no child is left behind.