Category: PM News

Forty-six suspected criminals were arrested during operations conducted by the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, popularly known as the Taskforce on Friday as part of efforts to rid the city of criminal elements.

The operation began at 9 a.m. and covered several locations across Lagos Island, Victoria Island and the Lekki axis of the city.

The agency’s spokesperson, Mr Abdulraheem Gbadeyan, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos.

He listed other areas where the suspects were arrested to include Muri-Okunola Park, Victoria Island; Obalende Underbridge; Law School Junction; Maroko; Sandfill by Mobil Bus Stop; and Marwa Bus Stop.

Gbadeyan said the exercise was part of ongoing efforts to rid the state of street urchins, miscreants, drug addicts and other criminal elements.

He said the operation also targeted peddlers, illegal commercial motorcyclists, street traders and illegal ticket touts.

‘The operation led to the arrest of 46 suspects, while exhibits recovered included substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Colorado and cannabis,’ he said.

He added that a cutlass and a locally fabricated dane gun were also recovered during the operation.

According to the spokesperson, normalcy had been restored in all the areas visited by the enforcement team.

Gbadeyan said the Taskforce Chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele, reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to deny criminal elements any breathing space in Lagos State.

He quoted Akerele as saying that enforcement operations would be sustained across the state to ensure public safety and maintain order.

The spokesperson said the suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017.

He added that the suspects would also face prosecution under the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018. (NAN)

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed the application filed by the Sen. David Mark-led leadership of African Democratic Congress (ADC) challenging Nafiu-Bala Gombe’s plan to amend his suit.

The judge also awarded a fine of N500, 000 each against Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, the National Secretary of ADC to be paid to Gombe.

Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of ADC, had, in his suit, prayed the court to stop Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as leaders of the party.

Gombe, in a motion filed by his lawyer, Lukman Fagbemi, SAN, had sought to amend the reliefs in his originating summons but Mark and Aregbesola raised objections.

Justice Peter Lifu, in a ruling, held that the objections by Mark, the embattled ADC’s National Chairman, and Aregbesola, the National Secretary, were frivolous, baseless and without an iota of merit.

Justice Lifu held that the amendment sought by the plaintiff, which was to give life to his case, was a normal attempt in a civil litigation to ensure that miscarriage of justice is prevented.

Besides, the judge held that Gombe’s application was occasioned by a change of counsel adding that the apprehension exhibited by Mark-led leadership was unnecessary and uncalled for.

Justice Lifu said that Mark and other defendants in the matter were at liberty to file counter affidavit against the amended originating summons to indicate consequential amendment to the earlier one.

He said that after perusing the whole objections of the defendants, he was unable to see where they would be jeopardised if the amendment was granted.

Justice Lifu consequently dismissed the objections and allowed the amendment by the plaintiff.

Mark and Aregbesola had opposed the attempt by Gombe to amend claims in the leadership suit filed against them.

The duo had urged Justice Lifu not to allow the amendment to the allegations against them on the ground that doing so would lead to a miscarriage of justice.

Gombe, through his lawyer, had moved the application seeking amendment to the originating summons he filed against the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, and others, challenging the emergence of the defendants as new national officers of the party.

Gombe insisted that he had the right under the law to make any amendment necessary to ensure justice in his suit.

The plaintiff had predicted the proposed amendment on eight grounds and a six-paragraph affidavit, maintaining that the law backed his decision as long as judgment had not been delivered in the matter.

However, Mark, represented by Dr Suleiman Umar, SAN, had vehemently opposed the application on several grounds.

The lawyer had argued that the parties had already joined issues and that granting any amendment would give the plaintiff an undue and undeserved advantage after seeing the strength of the defence already filed and served on him.

He had urged the court to reject the application, describing it as detrimental to his client and contrary to the principles of natural justice.

On his own part, Aregbesola, through his counsel, Realwan Okpanachi, alleged that Gombe had changed the character of his case against the defendants through the sought amendment.

He faulted the plaintiff’s new claims, adding that, contrary to the allegations, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ADC changed the national leadership on July 29, 2025, during a duly convened NEC meeting.

He argued that a notice of the NEC meeting was served on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on July 1, as required by law, thereby ensuring the legality of their emergence as party’s national leaders.

Referring to the earlier originating summons, Aregbesola said Gombe had attached an unsigned copy of the ADC constitution and, after seeing the defendants’ objections, had now introduced a signed copy in the amended process to strengthen his case.

Insisting that ‘he who comes to equity must come with clean hands,’ Aregbesola urged Justice Lifu to reject the application on the ground that ‘new claims, different documents and exhibits have been introduced through the amendments.’

He argued that the proposed amendments were made in bad faith and constituted an abuse of court process because they were filed after the Supreme Court judgment directing an accelerated hearing of the matter.

The defendant urged the judge to hold that the sought amendments lacked merit and should be dismissed.

The plaintiff also sued the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, INEC and the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.

Gombe argued that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as national leaders of the party violated the provisions of the ADC’s Constitution as well as the Electoral Act.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered 6,885,330 new prospective voters during the three phases of its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The exercise, which was extended by two weeks from the original closing date of July 10, is expected to end on Sunday, July 26, 2026.

INEC said the third phase marks the final stage of the registration exercise. The second phase was temporarily suspended on April 17, 2026, to allow the commission clean up the voters’ register after publishing it for claims and objections.

The commission is expected to display the provisional register in August to enable Nigerians verify their details and raise objections where necessary.

Although more than 6.8 million people have registered, an INEC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the commission had projected to add about 10 million new voters to the register.

According to the official, the current figure is only provisional because biometric verification and the removal of duplicate registrations are still ongoing.

‘We projected that about 10 million new voters could be added, but we cannot confirm the final number until registration closes and all verification processes are completed,’ the official said.

He explained that INEC would remove multiple registrations through biometric checks before publishing the register for public scrutiny. The final number of registered voters will only be announced after all claims and objections have been addressed.

Registration Figures

INEC data showed that:

3,631,488 people completed online pre-registration.

3,253,842 people completed physical registration.

The breakdown by phases showed:

Phase I (August to December 2025): 2,685,725 registrations.

Phase II (up to Week Six): 1,228,648 registrations.

Phase III (Week 10): 2,970,957 registrations.

States With Highest Registrations

Kano recorded the highest number of new registrations with 465,964, followed by:

Lagos – 350,337

Sokoto – 338,730

Imo – 251,309

Osun – 238,240

Borno – 201,724

Other states also recorded significant numbers of new registrants.

Women and Youth Dominate Registration

The latest figures showed that women accounted for 1,561,765 registrations, representing 52.57 per cent, while men accounted for 1,409,192, or 47.43 per cent.

Young people between 18 and 34 years formed the largest group of new registrants with 2,003,183 registrations.

Students made up the largest occupational group, followed by business owners, housewives, farmers, artisans, traders, civil servants and public servants.

INEC also recorded 32,361 persons with disabilities during the latest phase of registration.

North West Leads Registration

An analysis of the registration figures showed that the North West recorded the highest number of registrations among the six geopolitical zones with 1,560,531 new voters.

It was followed by:

South East – 830,774

North Central – 784,632

South South – 772,503

South West – 758,170

North East – 753,431

Expert Calls for Higher Voter Turnout

Political scientist Kamilu Sani Fage said the increase in registered voters would only strengthen Nigeria’s democracy if those registered actually vote during the 2027 elections.

He urged INEC to thoroughly clean the register by removing duplicate registrations and encouraged the commission and political parties to intensify voter education campaigns.

Fage also expressed concern over Nigeria’s low voter turnout in recent elections, noting that increasing the number of registered voters would have little impact unless more people participate on election day.

Nigerians Show Interest in Voting

An online opinion poll conducted by Weekend Trust showed that most respondents intend to vote in the 2027 elections despite concerns about the credibility of the electoral process.

Out of 28 respondents, 20 said they planned to vote, while four said they would not. The remaining respondents were undecided.

Many of those willing to vote described voting as a civic responsibility and an opportunity to bring positive change to the country.

Those unwilling to vote cited lack of confidence in the electoral process, saying they believed votes often do not count.

The poll also showed that 20 respondents already have Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), while eight do not.

Growth in Registered Voters

INEC data from previous elections showed a steady increase in registered voters.

The total number of registered voters increased from 84,004,084 before the 2019 general elections to 93,469,008 ahead of the 2023 elections, representing an increase of about 9.5 million voters.

With more than 6.8 million new registrations already recorded, Nigeria’s voter register is expected to move closer to the 100 million mark once the verification process is completed.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has secured the release of five Nigerian trucks loaded with onions that were detained at Kotoku Market in Ghana, bringing an end to a standoff that had threatened trade relations between the two countries.

The Regional Observatory of Onion in West and Central Africa (ORO/WCA) announced on Saturday that the trucks, which had been held since Tuesday, were released on Friday and allowed to offload their consignments after ECOWAS intervened.

According to the organisation, the vehicles were prevented from delivering their cargo by a traders’ group at the market, disrupting the movement of onions from Nigeria despite existing regional trade agreements.

President of ORO/WCA, Aliyu Maitasamu, described the intervention as timely, saying it prevented additional financial losses for traders and reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to promoting free movement of goods and regional economic cooperation.

He noted that while the immediate crisis had been resolved, more comprehensive measures were needed to prevent similar incidents in future.

Maitasamu urged ECOWAS to work with member states on a permanent framework for regional onion trade, anchored on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System. He said such a framework would help eliminate recurring barriers to cross-border commerce and strengthen confidence among traders.

The release of the trucks also eased concerns over a possible diplomatic dispute between Nigeria and Ghana, as exporters had earlier appealed for official intervention after the prolonged detention of the consignments.

Nigeria’s newly appointed High Commissioner to India, Ambassador Saidu Muhammad, has formally taken up his diplomatic assignment in New Delhi, promising an inclusive style of leadership and renewed efforts to deepen bilateral relations between both countries.

Muhammad officially assumed office on Thursday, shortly after arriving in India with his wife, Rukayya Muhammad.

A statement released on Saturday said the envoy was received at the Indira Gandhi International Airport by officials of the Nigerian High Commission, representatives of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, members of the Nigerian community and African ambassadors accredited to India.

Addressing staff of the High Commission and Nigerians resident in India after taking office, Muhammad reflected on his long association with the Asian nation, describing his appointment as the fulfilment of a journey that began two decades ago.

‘Twenty years ago I was here as a young officer writing for my first promotion exams overseas, which I am happy again to have come back for the second time in 2009 again for another promotion exam,’ he said.

The ambassador recalled making several official visits to India over the years for regional engagements, including the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System verification exercise and promotion examinations held in 2010, 2012 and 2015.

‘And today, by the special grace of Almighty Allah, I have assumed duty here as substantive Nigerian High Commissioner to the Republic of India,’ he said.

Muhammad assured officials of the Nigerian mission and members of the diaspora that his administration would encourage teamwork and broad participation.

‘The only thing I can say to you is that I can assure you that nobody is going to be left out in terms of working relationship,’ he said.

Drawing inspiration from a statement often made by former President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he described as a late mentor and father figure, the envoy said he belonged to everybody and to nobody, stressing that fairness and the demands of each situation would guide his decisions.

He also encouraged Nigerians living in India to remain optimistic and confident, noting that success is often shaped by one’s attitude and mindset.

Muhammad reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and India, with particular emphasis on expanding trade and investment opportunities in ways that would deliver greater benefits for Nigeria.

The President of the All India Nigeria-India Students and Community Association, Hilary Okeke, welcomed the ambassador on behalf of Nigerians in the country.

Okeke said the community had eagerly awaited the envoy’s arrival and expressed confidence that his tenure would be beneficial to Nigerians residing and studying in India.

He also praised officials of the Nigerian High Commission for their consistent support, saying the mission had remained accessible and responsive to the needs of Nigerians in the country.

The increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to as high as N1,400 per litre has sparked concerns among industry experts, who warn that the development will further deepen the economic hardship facing Nigerians.

Speaking on the latest price hike, an energy law expert at the University of Lagos, Prof. Dayo Ayoade, said the increase reflects the realities of Nigeria’s deregulated petroleum market, where domestic fuel prices are largely determined by international crude oil prices and foreign exchange movements.

According to Ayoade, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) limits government intervention in fuel pricing, while challenges surrounding the Federal Government’s naira-for-crude arrangement have also reduced the volume of crude available for domestic refining.

Reacting to the development, oil and gas analyst Abdullahi Shehu urged the Federal Government to ensure local refineries receive crude oil in naira at subsidised rates, arguing that such a move would help reduce the cost of petrol and cushion the impact on consumers.

Also commenting, economist and oil and gas expert Dr. Marcel Okeke warned that the continued rise in petrol prices would worsen the country’s cost of living crisis, with higher transportation costs expected to push up the prices of goods and services.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Borno State, Mohammed Kuluwu, said the frequent fluctuations in petrol prices have left many marketers reluctant to load products due to uncertainty in the market.

The latest increase comes after global crude oil prices surged, with Brent crude rising above $100 per barrel, prompting higher ex-depot and pump prices across Nigeria.

The development has pushed retail petrol prices to between N1,260 and N1,400 per litre in several parts of the country, forcing transport operators to review fares and adding further pressure on households already grappling with rising living costs.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has debunked an online publication alleging that corps members are being paid ?50,000 to influence the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.

The disclaimer was made this morning (24 July) in a press statement signed by the scheme’s Public Relations Officer, Catherine Otemuyiwa, on behalf of the Osun State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Ekeng Ita Kubiangha.

According to the NYSC, ‘the allegation is false, misleading, and entirely without factual basis.

‘At no time did the Scheme authorise, coordinate, supervise, or have knowledge of any such payment for political or unlawful purposes.

‘As a non-partisan institution, the NYSC remains committed to national unity, discipline, and selfless service. Corps Members are consistently reminded to remain apolitical and to comply with the NYSC Act, Byelaws, and all electoral guidelines.

‘The Osun State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Ekeng Ita Kubiangha, has also been sensitising Corps Members to remain neutral, reject inducements, safeguard electoral materials, and discharge their duties in accordance with the Electoral Act and INEC regulations.

‘The Scheme is working closely with security agencies to ensure the safety and welfare of Corps Members before, during, and after the election.’

It urged the public to disregard the report and called on media organisations to verify information with the appropriate authorities before publication.

The Oniru of Iruland, Oba Abdulwasiu Lawal, has urged members of the India business community to identify opportunities to expand their businesses, establish new ventures, share expertise and develop partnerships with Iru Kingdom, assuring them of a warm welcome at the Palace.

The Oniru made the call in Lagos when he hosted a delegation of the India Business Community in Nigeria under the auspices of the NRI Social and Cultural Association Nigeria (NRCAN) Business Forum.

‘The doors of this Palace will remain open to those who come in good faith, with ideas worth sharing and a genuine desire to build something of lasting value. History teaches us that great cities are not built by government alone, nor by business alone. They are built by people who choose to trust one another. Let us build a future defined not only by commerce, but by trust, collaboration and shared prosperity,’ Oba Lawal opined.

To drive the collaboration, he announced the establishment of the Iru Business Network to serve as a meeting point for ideas, enterprise and partnerships as well as provide opportunities for business leaders, professionals, innovators and public institutions to meet, exchange knowledge and explore practical collaborations.

The Monarch further explained that the Network was inspired by the philosophy that the combination of networking, relationships, trust, and collaboration would ultimately drive growth in a community.

‘Lasting partnerships are rarely built in boardrooms alone. They are built through conversations such as this, through mutual respect, shared experiences and the trust that develops over time. To bring together people of goodwill. To create an atmosphere in which trust can flourish, because once trust exists, opportunity usually follows.

‘Networking creates relationships, relationships build trust, trust creates collaboration and collaboration ultimately drives growth. Those four ideas capture the spirit of why we are gathered here. It is precisely this philosophy that inspired the establishment of the Iru Business Network’, he noted.

Oba Lawal reiterated that the role of the traditional institution was to build relationships, bring together people of goodwill and create an atmosphere in which trust could flourish because once trust exists, opportunity would follow.

The Oniru also asserted that the Palace would gladly use its convening role to introduce the right people, encourage meaningful dialogue and support relationships that contribute to the prosperity of Iru Kingdom, Lagos State and Nigeria.

Oba Lawal stated that the establishment of the Iru Business Network reflected the Palace’s commitment to cultural and economic diplomacy and its belief that great cities are built by people who choose to trust one another, asserting that the Network would further strengthen partnerships that advance trust, collaboration and shared prosperity for Iru Kingdom, Lagos State and Nigeria.

The Oba emphasised that the gathering was about more than hospitality; it was about friendship, partnership and building bridges between peoples that will outlive the present generation and benefit generations to come.

In a message obviously directed at former vice president Atiku Abubakar and the presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress, ADC in the 2027 election, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has urged opposition politicians to refrain from actions capable of inciting Nigerians against President Tinubu’s constitutionally elected government.

Matawalle said this in a statement issued to newsmen on Friday in Kaduna by Ahmad Dan-Wudil, his Personal Assistant on Media.

Matawalle described as unfortunate, reports from a Atiku that he had engaged a foreign lobbying firm to circulate decades-old documents relating to President Tinubu in the United States.

According to the minister, such actions neither strengthen Nigeria’s democracy nor address the country’s pressing challenges.

Matawalle described the Presidency as a national institution and symbol of Nigeria’s sovereignty that deserves respect regardless of political differences.

He said no foreign government or lobbying firm could determine Nigeria’s democratic choices or overturn the mandate freely given by Nigerians.

The minister stressed that political disagreements should never be pursued at the expense of Nigeria’s image, unity and collective interest.

He noted that U.S. President Donald Trump recently commended President Tinubu’s leadership and acknowledged Nigeria’s progress in strengthening security cooperation and combating terrorism.

According to him, the recognition reflects growing international confidence in Nigeria’s efforts and should encourage citizens to promote unity instead of divisive narratives abroad.

Matawalle said propaganda and hatred against the government would neither weaken its progress nor survival but would instead politically and morally discredit those behind such campaigns.

He maintained that falsehood and mischief would not bring down the Tinubu administration because Nigerians freely entrusted it with the mandate to govern.

The minister called on opposition politicians to embrace constructive engagement by offering credible alternatives and supporting efforts to combat insecurity, promote peaceful coexistence and accelerate national development.

He also urged political actors to avoid actions capable of overheating the polity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Matawalle said every political actor had a responsibility to protect Nigeria’s unity, stability and international reputation.

The United States (US) has denounced the killing of members of the family of Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo in Plateau State, describing the attack as a shocking act of violence and urging the Nigerian government to ensure those responsible face justice.

In a statement published on its official X account on Thursday, the US State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs expressed sympathy to the bereaved families and called for stronger efforts to safeguard vulnerable communities from further attacks.

‘The United States strongly condemns the horrific killing of members of Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo’s family in Plateau State, Nigeria.

‘The continued violence targeting Christian communities and other vulnerable populations in Nigeria’s Middle Belt is deeply alarming,’ the statement read.

The bureau disclosed that the issue had already featured in discussions with Nigerian officials, stressing that preventing future attacks must become an immediate priority.

‘As I discussed last week with Nigerian officials, we must do more to prevent violent acts like those yesterday.

‘The perpetrators must be held accountable, and urgent action is needed to strengthen security and protect Christians and other vulnerable communities,’ the statement added.

Washington reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside Nigeria in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, while maintaining that every Nigerian should be free to practise his or her faith without intimidation or fear.

The victims were among nine members of Reverend Dachomo’s extended family killed during a night-time assault on Kum community in Riyom Local Government Area on 12 July. A two-month-old baby was also among those murdered.

According to Dachomo, who serves as Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, the attackers asked for him by name before turning their guns on his relatives. He believes the attack was connected to his outspoken criticism of the sustained violence in Plateau State, which he has repeatedly described as genocide.

The cleric revealed that the tragedy was not the first to hit his family. He said his grandmother and an uncle had previously been killed in separate attacks by extremists.

He also disclosed that shortly after the burial of his relatives, he received a written death threat from the same militia, warning that he would be their next target after killing nine members of his family.

Plateau State has continued to experience recurring violence fuelled by farmer-herder conflicts, communal disputes and attacks by armed groups. Despite repeated security operations, the unrest has claimed thousands of lives and forced many residents from their homes.