Category: PM News

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has recounted how he narrowly escaped what he described as an assassination attempt in 2015, saying he believes divine intervention saved his life.

Otti shared the account on Thursday night during the ‘Abia Solemn Assembly and Covenant Renewal Service’ in Umuahia, organised by the state government with the theme, ‘Remembering the Covenant.’

The governor, while reflecting on his journey into politics, recalled an incident in July 2015 when he was challenging the outcome of the Abia State governorship election at the tribunal.

According to him, he was in Abuja at the time attempting to hold a meeting with an individual who repeatedly postponed their appointment until the meeting eventually failed to take place.

Otti said he later informed his friends that he planned to return from Abuja the following day despite their objections.

‘There was only one flight from Abuja to Owerri then.

‘All my friends objected. I said, well, I have received a message that I must leave Abuja.

‘So, to make it make sense, I told them I wanted to be at the tribunal on Friday, so they grudgingly accepted,’ he said.

The governor said that night, armed men allegedly attacked his Abuja residence, killing two policemen stationed there while searching for him.

‘That night, assassins attacked my residence in Abuja, shot two policemen dead, and they were looking for me.

‘Of course, God had taken me away,’ Otti said.

He claimed that after failing to find him inside the building, the attackers became convinced that he was still within the premises and moved into an adjoining compound.

‘When they finished and couldn’t find me. They were convinced I was there.

‘They had so much time. By the way, this was Maitama. They jumped into the next compound, and I learnt that they were up to 12. They jumped into the next compound, and stripped the whole building,’ he added.

Otti said there was no obvious reason at the time for him to leave Abuja but that he believed his decision to travel was divinely directed.

‘They thought I jumped first, but I left. There was no reason for me not to be there but God had taken me away from there,’ he said.

The governor also recalled how some people advised him against going into politics, while others suggested that he seek spiritual protection through traditional means.

‘A lot of friends, after trying to dissuade me, found I couldn’t be dissuaded. They said, okay, if you decided to do this thing, you can’t go in there empty-handed.

‘You can’t go there without belonging to some societies.

‘You can’t go there without going to some native doctors for protection and you will be shocked at the kind of people that are making these suggestions and some of them are leaders in churches,’ he said.

Otti said his decision remained anchored on his faith, citing the biblical passage in Joshua 24:15 about choosing whom to serve.

He said the experience strengthened his conviction about his political journey and his administration’s commitment to what he described as service anchored on faith.

Comrade Wasiu Adekunle Adejumo, a former aide to Senator Iyabo Obasanjo on Media and Publicity, has announced his plans to mobilise 100,000 votes for All Progressive Congress presidential candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Ogun State governorship candidate Senator Olamilekan Solomon popularly known as Yayi against 2027 election.

Comrade Adekunle who is also the Director of Yayi Ni Wura Alliance Movement (Y. A. M) declared this plan while Speaking at a meeting and press briefing in Okelewo Abeokuta on Thursday.

He described the movement as a socio-political organisation whose membership cuts across different political backgrounds, including former supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and APC.

Wasiu also known as Westo, said members from various political platforms had decided to work together in support of Tinubu and Adeola.

Adejumo said the movement was created as a platform for people who share its political objectives, irrespective of their previous party affiliations.

‘We were initially on the side of the opposition party, some of us from APC, PDP and some from ADC. But we have made our decision. We have chosen our direction, we are open to all, and we want everyone to support this movement’

According to him, some former members of a group associated with a serving PDP senatorial candidate had also joined the alliance.

He said their decision was driven by the desire to support Adeola’s governorship bid in Ogun and Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.

The State Coordinator of the movement, Comrade Akeem Shodiya, said Y.A.M. was established to mobilise support for Tinubu, Adeola and other APC candidates ahead of the elections.

Shodiya said the organisation remained open to members of other political parties who wished to join its mobilisation structure.

The group also claimed its activities would extend beyond political mobilisation to community engagement and empowerment initiatives.

Adejumo cited a medical outreach organised by the group at the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, as one of its community-based activities.

He also highlighted what the group described as Senator Adeola’s legislative and constituency interventions, particularly during his tenure in the Senate and as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

However, the claims concerning the scale and impact of the interventions were made by the alliance and were not independently quantified at the briefing.

The group also expressed support for the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, citing infrastructure development and economic reforms as reasons for its position.

Westo acknowledged that the administration still faced challenges but maintained that the government was addressing some of the country’s problems.

There are political careers built around the pursuit of office. There are others built around the accumulation of experience. And there are a select few in which successive offices become chapters in a larger story of service, institutional leadership and measurable impact.

The public career of Senator Wasiu Sanni Esinlokun belongs to the latter category.

From the grassroots as a two-term Local Government Chairman, through the Lagos State House of Assembly where he rose to become Deputy Speaker, and now as the Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Esinlokun’s journey has been one of progressive responsibility.

The offices have changed. The constituency has expanded. The responsibilities have become increasingly national. But the underlying philosophy has remained consistent: public office is a trust, representation is a responsibility, and leadership must ultimately produce impact.

A Grassroots Foundation

Senator Esinlokun’s understanding of governance did not begin in Abuja.

It was forged on the streets and communities of Lagos Island, where he served as Executive Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government for two terms between 2008 and 2014.

That experience was critical.

Local government is arguably the most intimate level of democratic governance. It is where citizens encounter government in its most immediate form and where leadership is judged by practical realities-community infrastructure, education, sanitation, social services, local economic activity and responsiveness to residents.

Esinlokun’s tenure therefore gave him something invaluable: an executive understanding of governance from the grassroots upward.

He was not merely learning how government works; he was directly responsible for running one.

That distinction would subsequently become important as he moved into legislative leadership.

From Executive Administration to Lawmaking

Senator Esinlokun’s political experience predates his chairmanship. He had already served in the Lagos political ecosystem and was involved in the emergence and development of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos. In an extensive interview in 2022, he recalled serving as a pioneer secretary of the Lagos State APC after earlier political involvement and public service engagements.

He subsequently returned to the Lagos State House of Assembly and, from January 2015 to February 2023, served as Deputy Speaker.

This was a significant transition.

The Local Government Chairman operates within the executive arm of government. The legislator operates within the lawmaking, representation and oversight functions of government. The Deputy Speaker adds another layer-institutional leadership and management of legislative business.

Esinlokun therefore experienced governance from both sides of the executive-legislative divide.

That breadth of experience matters because effective legislation is not produced in isolation from the realities of administration. A legislator who has previously had executive responsibility understands both the ambition of policy and the practical challenges of implementation.

The Deputy Speakership: Leadership Beyond the Gavel

As Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Esinlokun occupied one of the principal leadership positions in the legislature for eight years.

It was a period that required political maturity, consensus-building and institutional discipline.

In his own account of his legislative career, Esinlokun pointed to his involvement in issues including constituency development and financial autonomy for the legislature, as well as his role in stakeholder engagement around public hearings.

The significance of this period goes beyond individual bills or legislative motions.

It was an apprenticeship in institution-building.

It was also a period during which he developed the legislative networks, procedural knowledge and political relationships that would later become assets at the national level.

Lagos Central: From State Representation to National Representation

In 2023, Esinlokun moved from Alausa to the National Assembly, assuming the responsibility of representing Lagos Central Senatorial District.

This was not the beginning of his political career. It was the next logical chapter.

He came into the Senate having already served as:

A grassroots administrator.

A two-term Local Government Chairman.

A State Legislator.

A Deputy Speaker.

That accumulated experience gives his present mandate a distinctive foundation.

He understands the constituency from the grassroots.

He understands the legislature from the inside.

And he understands executive administration from personal experience.

The Senate consequently provides him with the broadest platform yet to deploy those accumulated competencies.

Representation That Comes Home

For Senator Esinlokun, representation does not end with speeches in the Senate chamber.

His office has undertaken a series of constituency interventions, particularly in education, empowerment and healthcare.

His official platform reported a 2026 scholarship programme supporting 300 tertiary students from Lagos Central, alongside other empowerment initiatives. It has also documented entrepreneurship training in areas including barbing, photography and confectionery, with participants receiving training certificates and financial support.

In January 2026, his office also reported the facilitation of an ultra-modern X-ray machine for General Hospital, Lagos, in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority.

These initiatives point to an important principle of constituency representation: the legislative mandate must eventually translate into something that citizens can see, touch and benefit from.

Whether it is education, healthcare, skills acquisition or economic empowerment, representation becomes more meaningful when the constituency can identify tangible outcomes.

A Senator Thinking Beyond the Constituency

Perhaps equally important is the national dimension of Senator Esinlokun’s present responsibilities.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, he occupies a strategic position in an area of enormous importance to Lagos and Nigeria.

His committee’s work has included oversight of maritime institutions and engagement with stakeholders on the development of Nigeria’s marine economy.

In July 2026, Esinlokun called for clearer legal frameworks defining the respective responsibilities of federal, state and local governments in the marine and blue economy. He argued that existing legal frameworks must evolve to address emerging opportunities including marine biotechnology, ocean renewable energy and blue-carbon financing.

This is particularly relevant to Lagos Central.

Lagos is Nigeria’s commercial capital and an important maritime hub. Consequently, questions surrounding ports, inland waterways, marine transportation, logistics, maritime infrastructure and the blue economy are not remote national policy questions for Lagos-they have direct implications for employment, commerce, investment and economic growth.

His committee also engaged with the Lagos State Government on water transportation and the relationship between federal and state authorities responsible for waterways.

Here again, his Lagos experience intersects with his national responsibility.

Oversight With Purpose

Senatorial representation is not only about legislation.

It is also about oversight-ensuring that public institutions perform their mandates and that government policies translate into results.

During an oversight visit to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Esinlokun emphasised the constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly to conduct oversight of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, stressing the importance of transparency, accountability and efficiency in implementing government programmes.

This is an important dimension of his present stewardship.

The Senate is not merely a debating chamber. It is one of the institutions through which the constitutional checks and balances of the Nigerian state operate.

A Broader Role in Lagos and National Politics

Esinlokun’s accumulated experience has also continued to attract wider political responsibilities.

In April 2026, reports announced his appointment to the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council, placing him among the state’s senior political figures involved in strategic party and governance discussions.

In July 2026, he was also reported to have emerged as National Director-General of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Independent Campaign Group, another role drawing upon his grassroots mobilisation and political experience.

These additional responsibilities underline the breadth of his political journey-from ward and local government politics to state legislative leadership, and from there to national legislative and political assignments.

The Esinlokun Philosophy

The story of Senator Wasiu Esinlokun can ultimately be reduced to three words:

Passion. Impact. Excellence.

Passion, because public service requires a sustained commitment to people and institutions.

Impact, because political representation must produce tangible value beyond rhetoric.

Excellence, because every elevation in responsibility demands a corresponding elevation in performance.

His journey demonstrates a gradual accumulation of experience rather than a sudden arrival.

Local Government Chairman ? State Legislator ? Deputy Speaker ? Senator.

Each position provided another classroom.

Each mandate presented another test.

Each responsibility expanded the constituency he was expected to serve.

And each chapter contributed to the experience he now brings to the Senate.

A Stewardship Still in Progress

The most appropriate description of Senator Wasiu Sanni Esinlokun’s career is therefore not simply political advancement.

It is stewardship.

Stewardship recognises that public office is temporary but its consequences can be enduring.

A school project can affect generations.

A legislative reform can outlive the legislator who sponsored it.

A healthcare intervention can save lives.

An empowerment programme can change the trajectory of a family.

A policy decision can create opportunities for thousands.

That is why the true measure of political leadership should not be the noise surrounding an officeholder, but the value created through the office entrusted to him.

For Senator Esinlokun, the journey from Lagos Island Local Government to the Lagos State House of Assembly and ultimately to the Senate represents a continuing evolution of that responsibility.

His story is one of grassroots experience, legislative leadership, institutional responsibility and national service.

And the journey continues.

Passion has provided the drive.

Experience has provided the foundation.

Impact has provided the evidence.

Excellence remains the standard.

A new DNA analysis of the Shroud of Turin, the ancient linen cloth believed by many Christians to have wrapped the body of Jesus after his crucifixion, has uncovered fresh biological clues that researchers say add another layer to the centuries-old debate over the relic’s origins.

Scientists examining fibres taken from the mysterious 14-foot cloth detected a rare human genetic lineage associated with the Near East, the region where Jesus lived, while also identifying microorganisms linked to highly saline environments.

The findings have renewed discussions about whether the Shroud’s history connects to the Middle East and the biblical account surrounding Jesus’ burial.

However, researchers stressed that the DNA evidence does not prove that the cloth belonged to Jesus Christ or confirm that it was the garment used after his crucifixion.

The Shroud of Turin, housed at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, has remained one of the most studied and controversial religious artefacts in history.

The linen carries the faint image of a man, which believers say represents Jesus after his resurrection, while sceptics have questioned its authenticity for decades.

The latest study, published in Scientific Reports, analysed separate fibre samples collected during a 1978 investigation using advanced DNA sequencing technology capable of detecting millions of genetic fragments.

Researchers led by Dr Gianni Barcaccia, professor of genetics and genomics at the University of Padua, examined biological traces left on the cloth during its long and disputed journey.

The team detected a human mitochondrial DNA lineage known as H33, which is found mainly among Near Eastern populations, including the Druze communities of the Holy Land, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Researchers said the discovery was consistent with previous findings suggesting the Shroud of Turin had passed through the Middle East, though they noted it cannot establish who originally touched or was wrapped in the cloth.

The analysis also identified salt-loving microorganisms known as archaea, which are associated with highly saline environments.

The researchers said the findings raised the possibility that the cloth had encountered salty conditions during storage or processing, although they could not determine exactly where or when those traces appeared.

Previous scientific examinations have produced conflicting conclusions about the Shroud’s age.

Radiocarbon testing carried out in the 1980s suggested the linen originated from the medieval period, but supporters of its authenticity have argued that contamination, repairs and handling may have affected those results.

The new DNA study also found evidence of centuries of human contact, including skin bacteria, fungi, plants and animal material from different parts of the world.

Researchers detected biological traces linked to Europe, Asia, the Mediterranean and other regions, showing that the cloth had been exposed to numerous environments throughout history.

Some plant material found on the Shroud was linked to species that became common in Europe centuries after the time of Jesus, further complicating efforts to determine its exact origin.

The scientists concluded that while the findings provide new information about the Shroud’s history and possible geographical connections, they cannot determine whether the linen dates back to the first century or whether it was connected to Jesus.

The discovery has nevertheless reignited one of history’s most enduring debates – whether the mysterious image preserved on the Shroud of Turin is linked to the crucifixion and resurrection story central to Christianity.

The Plateau Democratic Movement (PDM), has asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate alleged abuse of office in the removal of Mr Amos Azi as Chairman of the Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST).

The petition, signed by the group’s Chairman, Ishaya Turba and Secretary, Iliya Mangai, was addressed to the ICPC’s chairman and made available to newsmen on Fiday in Lokoja, Kogi, North CentralNigeria.

The PDM questioned the sudden coming in of Mr Aminu Junaidu as IST Chairman shortly after Azi secured a second tenure.

The group argued that Azi was appointed by President Bola Tinubu, while Junaidu allegedly got the directive to take over the position from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The PDM also copied the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the SGF, the Minister of Finance, Senate Committee on Capital Market, EFCC and Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

The group said it was moved to write the petition following ICPC’s recent uncovering of fictitious agencies operating under the office of the SGF.

It said the development at the IST, a statutory body for resolution of capital market disputes, has also generated public concerns.

‘We have been following and monitoring recent events concerning fake agencies and fake chief executives of those agencies by your commission.

‘We believe the issue of fake appointment and fake agencies is related to what recently happened at the IST.

‘At the IST, Azi, who was duly appointed by the presidency, found himself dragging his position with one junaidu who claimed to have been appointed by the office of the SGF.

‘We hereby submit this petition to you for an urgent and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the emergence of Barr. Aminu Junaidu as Chairman of the Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST) and the circumstances surrounding his reported assumption of control of the tribunal.’

The group said its concern was borne out of the conviction that the IST, with a mandate to resolve capital market disputes, must be headed and administered strictly in accordance with its enabling law.

According to PDM, any irregularity concerning its leadership has the potential to undermine public confidence, the rule of law, and confidence in Nigeria’s capital-market regulatory framework.

It, therefore, urged the commission to investigate how Junaidu assumed the office on Oct. 2, 2025 under alleged controversial circumstances.

‘This development immediately raised serious concerns because the statutory framework governing the appointment of the chairman of the tribunal is specifically prescribed in the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025,’ it said.

It would be recalled that Azi was first appointed as IST boss on July 17, 2020, and reappointed on Aug.13, 2025 by the president.

Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo, on Thursday, inaugurated 6,030 newly recruited teachers and 345 non-teaching staff into the state civil service.

In a speech at the ceremony in Owerri, Uzodimma described the inauguration as a ‘major step towards revitalising the education sector’.

He said the recruitment was designed to address acute teacher shortage and restore dignity to the teaching profession in the state.

He said, ‘I want to make Imo teachers the most important civil servants in the state,’ and promised that their salary payments would be top priority to the government.

The governor disclosed that the new teachers had been deployed to public schools within their native communities to ensure equitable distribution of personnel and bridge the rural-urban staffing gap.

He announced plans to distribute digital teaching devices to the teachers, while charging them to protect school infrastructure, maintain hygienic learning environments, and foster close ties with parents and community leaders.

Earlier in a remark, the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, described the mass recruitment as a ‘historic milestone’, stemming from a comprehensive needs assessment across all the 27 LGAs.

Ikegwuoha said the initiative was built on the broader educational reforms in the state, including the recovery and renaming of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, as well as the establishment of new tertiary institutions.

Responding on behalf of the new teachers, Mrs Philomena Maduako thanked the governor for creating the job opportunity and pledged their commitment to raising educational standards, in line with the state policies.

The event featured the symbolic presentation of computer tablets to selected teachers, while others were directed to receive theirs after their biometric enrollment.

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has ruled out any return to the governorship, saying he has no disagreement with his successor, Chukwuma Soludo.

Obi made the position known on Friday while responding to the controversy surrounding external development financing linked to projects executed during his administration in Anambra.

He also urged political leaders to allow candidates from different parties to campaign freely in their states, saying Nigerians should be allowed to decide who they want to govern them.

Obi said his recent silence on the debt controversy was largely because he was mourning his late elder brother and friend, Chief Okey Ezeibe.

‘I wish to assure the public that I have no disagreement with my dear elder brother, Governor Soludo, or with any governor in Nigeria. I am not seeking the office of governor in any state, and I will not seek that position again, even if the Constitution is amended’, he stated.

He appealed to state governors not to restrict political opponents from campaigning in their jurisdictions.

‘Accordingly, I appeal to governors to support whichever presidential candidate they choose while also permitting and assisting other presidential candidates and contenders for other offices to campaign freely and without interruption in their states. Ultimately, voters should be allowed to determine whom they wish to serve them.’

The former governor also called for greater attention to the difficulties facing Nigerians, rather than what he described as political distractions.

‘On the Anambra debt question, I have remained silent over the past few days because I have been grieving the loss of my very dear elder brother and friend, Chief Okey Ezeibe. However, the time has come for me to address some of the matters that have occupied public discussion in recent days. I respectfully urge everyone to concentrate on the existential challenges confronting Nigeria and the hardships endured by its citizens, rather than on the needless distractions that have become widespread in our politics.’

The debt controversy followed claims by the Anambra State Government concerning eight external facilities connected with development projects undertaken during Obi’s administration.

According to the state government, the facilities had a combined contracted value of $123.77m, while $92.35m was outstanding as of June 30, 2026, citing figures from the Debt Management Office.

Obi, however, disputed the description of the facilities as ‘debt owed by Peter Obi’.

He argued that most of the funding came from development programmes involving the World Bank and International Fund for Agricultural Development, which were negotiated by the Federal Government and made available to participating states through subsidiary arrangements.

He also accused the state government of conflating different financial figures.

‘The government has combined these distinct categories, added them together, and described the resulting US$123.77 million as ‘loans left by Peter Obi.’ That is an incorrect application of public-sector accounting’, he argued.

Obi insisted that he did not personally obtain loans from financial institutions or issue bonds on behalf of Anambra State during his tenure.

‘Regarding the multilateral funding inaccurately described as ‘debt owed by Peter Obi’ in Anambra State, I wish to state unequivocally, as Governor of Anambra State, I did not approach any financial institution to borrow funds or issue a bond on behalf of the state.

‘Indeed, at his farewell ceremony, the then Director-General of the DMO, Abraham Nwankwo, appointed me chairman and declared that, during his 10 years in office, I was the only state governor who had not approached him for a loan facility.’

The former governor further maintained that his administration left the state without outstanding obligations to workers, pensioners, contractors or suppliers whose completed jobs had been verified.

‘When I left office, the Anambra State Government owed no unpaid salaries, gratuities, or pensions. Neither did it owe any contractor or supplier who had completed work that the government had verified and certified.’

According to Obi, the facilities should be assessed individually by examining when they were approved, when they became effective, the amount actually drawn and the repayments made.

‘The eight facilities identified were primarily World Bank and IFAD development programs negotiated by the Federal Government, with participating states receiving access to the funds through subsidiary arrangements. They were not conventional commercial loans that I personally secured during my tenure. This does not suggest that Anambra had no repayment responsibilities; rather, each facility must be examined in light of its approval, effectiveness, drawdown, and repayment record’, he explained.

He also questioned the basis for attributing the entire $123.77m contracted value of the facilities to his administration, citing DMO records on Anambra’s external debt at different periods.

‘The clearest contradiction appears in the government’s own figures. It states that the original facilities amounted to approximately US$123.77 million and that US$92.35 million remained outstanding in June 2026. However, the DMO’s published records showed Anambra’s total external debt at approximately US$18 million when I began my tenure in March 2006, about US$30 million in March 2014, when I left office, and approximately US$45.15 million as of 31 December 2014, nine months after my departure.

‘The Anambra State Government must therefore clarify how a state whose recorded external debt was about US$30 million in March 2014 and US$45.15 million in December 2014 could supposedly have inherited US$123.77 million from Peter Obi, who left office in March of that same year’, he concluded.

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) says anyone who drops refuse, including a recharge card, on the ground risks a minimum of six months imprisonment or a N20,000 fine.

Mr Hena Emmanuel-Dangari, NESREA State Coordinator, Kaduna, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

He said the penalty was contained in the agency’s sanitation and waste control regulation, adding that organisations could face higher penalties for environmental violations.

He, however, said NESREA’s priority was to encourage Nigerians to voluntarily comply with environmental regulations rather than wait for enforcement and penalties.

‘What NESREA is trying to tell us is that we need to have a change in attitude. It is not just about paying penalties.

‘NESREA prefers you to be self-compliant. If all Nigerians can change our attitude and behaviour, that will make our environment a better place for everyone,’ he said.

He said NESREA had 36 gazetted regulations covering various sectors of the economy, with specific penalties prescribed for different violations.

According to him, the agency has been operating in Kaduna since 2013, regulating environmental activities and promoting compliance with environmental standards.

He said the Kaduna Field Office had undertaken sensitisation, enforcement and sealing of facilities belonging to defaulters who violated environmental regulations.

Emmanuel -Dangari said NESREA collaborated with faith-based organisations, markets, civil society groups, sister agencies and other stakeholders to promote proper waste disposal.

He said the agency regularly visited mosques, churches and markets to sensitise residents on environmental regulations.

According to him, Thursdays had also been designated for sensitisation activities by NESREA field offices and the headquarters.

He said NESREA had collaborated with the Kaduna Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) on several occasions to sensitise residents on environmental cleanliness and proper waste disposal.

The coordinator appealed to Nigerians to cooperate with government and promote environmental awareness among children, youths and adults.

He said collective compliance with environmental regulations would contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment across the country.

Nigeria has demanded at least two permanent seats for Africa on the UN Security Council, with veto powers for as long as the privilege exists.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima made the demand while delivering President Bola Tinubu’s national statement at the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.

He also demanded five non-permanent seats for Africa, in line with the continent’s longstanding common position on reforming the Security Council.

Shettima said the Council’s present configuration no longer reflected contemporary geopolitical realities and weakened the legitimacy of global decision-making.

‘The world of 2026 cannot remain captive to the distribution of power in 1945,’ he said.

He said Africa could no longer remain outside permanent membership while issues concerning the continent continued to occupy substantial attention of the Council.

According to him, Nigeria’s position is consistent with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, adopted as the Common African Position.

Under the position, Africa seeks at least two permanent seats with all existing privileges, alongside five non-permanent seats on the Council.

The African Union reaffirmed the demand in May, saying Africa’s exclusion from permanent representation constituted a historical imbalance requiring correction.

Shettima argued that institutions claiming authority to act for humanity must adequately reflect the people on whose behalf decisions are taken.

He linked Security Council reform to efforts to restore confidence in multilateralism amid widening geopolitical divisions.

The Vice-President also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the UN Charter and international cooperation.

He said Nigeria supported an international system where diplomacy takes precedence over coercion and international law guides relations among states.

Shettima recalled Nigeria’s contributions to international and regional peace operations in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia.

He said Nigeria also continues to work through ECOWAS, the African Union and Gulf of Guinea mechanisms.

According to him, these efforts cover mediation, counter-terrorism, democratic governance and maritime security.

Shettima said persistent conflicts across different regions underscored the need to return to dialogue, collective responsibility and peaceful settlement of disputes.

He identified the conflict in Sudan and other theatres as requiring urgent diplomacy because of their humanitarian, economic and geopolitical consequences.

The Vice-President also warned against a global environment where propaganda blurred distinctions between victims and aggressors and complicated accountability.

He maintained that an inclusive and effective UN remained indispensable to global peace and sustainable development.

Nigeria’s demand comes amid renewed calls by African leaders for reforms to an institution whose permanent membership remains unchanged since its creation.

The Security Council has five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the UK and the US, each possessing veto power.

Africa currently has no permanent representative on the Council.

The African Union’s preferred reform model provides for at least two permanent African seats, including veto privileges while existing members retain them.

The reform model also seeks five non-permanent seats for Africa.

Shettima said Nigeria remained committed to a multilateral order capable of responding more credibly to 21st-century realities.

According to him, differences among nations must not obscure their common humanity or responsibility to preserve peace for future generations.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, CON has charged the Forum of CEOs of Federal Parastatals to cascade government reforms down to the grassroots to counter disinformation and project the true impact of the administration’s policies.

Senator Akume made this call while receiving a delegation of the Forum of CEOs of Federal Parastatals, led by its Convener/Chairman and the CEO of National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Kazeem Kolawale Raji, on Friday, 25th September, 2026 in Abuja.

The SGF, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office, Bekearedebo Augusta Warrens thanked the Forum for conferring on him the Grand Patron of Forum of CEOS of Federal Parastatals and for organizing themselves into a cohesive body with a shared vision, noting that the structures on the ground and mathematical projections make their proposed target of mobilizing 10 million votes for Mr. President achievable.

He emphasized the critical need for effective grassroots communication to correct false narratives surrounding current economic reforms.

‘In your various domains where your power is operative, ensure that people become aware of these achievements. Push this message down to the grassroots, because one thing I’ve observed in the policy right now is a lot of disinformation. This reform policy is not meant to imprison or impoverish Nigerians, and that is the narrative that has been spread down to the grassroots. Push this message to help promote the image of this administration,’ Senator Akume stated.

He commended the Forum for actively promoting and pursuing the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu within their respective agencies and domains. He assured the CEOs that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) will provide all necessary institutional support required to achieve their strategic goals.

Furthermore, the SGF urged the leadership to maintain momentum and establish a structured framework for ongoing collaboration. He stressed the importance of purposeful and effective communication between the Forum and the OSGF to ensure proper tracking of their objectives and strategic initiatives moving forward.

Speaking earlier, the Convener/Chairman of the Forum of CEOs of Federal Parastatals and the CEO of National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Kazeem Kolawale Raji, conferred the distinguished position of Patron upon the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in recognition of his exemplary leadership, institutional stewardship, and vital role in coordinating the machinery of government under the current administration.

Dr. Raji said that the Forum is poised to help in mobilizing 10 million votes for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in the 2027 general election. He added that this could be achieved by relying on lawful, ethical, peaceful, and issue-based grassroots engagement, utilizing the extensive professional and community networks inherent to federal agencies across the country.

He pointed out that one of the key objectives of the Forum is to bridge the communication gap between government policies and the public. He emphasized that the achievements, reforms, and measurable outcomes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration must be accurately documented and communicated to Nigerians with absolute fidelity to facts.

In his closing remarks the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office, Dr. Chidiebere John Ezeamama urged the Forum to serve as a work-related communication network between the Forum and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in order to ensure that their achievements are communicated in real time to the Office for documentation.

To achieve this, he said there is need to create a centralized digital platform to streamline real-time information sharing, coordinate inter-agency participation, and track their developmental milestones.