Category: PM News

President Bola Tinubu has authorised the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), with the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, directing the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and 12 Primary Lending Institutions (PLIs) to fast-track the process.

Oyetola said the directive was aimed at ending more than 20 years of delays in accessing the fund and unlocking investment, growth and job opportunities in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

The minister said this in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser, Dr Bolaji Akinola. He said NIMASA had received 92 funding applications under the CVFF, adding that 20 had been submitted to the PLIs, while one had been reviewed and forwarded for final approval.

Oyetola said the move to operationalise the CVFF marked a major milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen indigenous participation in coastal and offshore shipping.

He recalled that in April 2025, he directed NIMASA to begin the disbursement of the fund, ending years of administrative stagnation and paving the way for the repositioning of Nigeria’s indigenous shipping capacity.

He said the momentum continued with the launch of the CVFF Application Portal in Lagos on Jan. 22, to provide transparent and structured access to eligible shipowners.

According to him, the number of PLIs was subsequently increased from five to 12 to expand access and reduce bottlenecks in loan processing.

The minister said the CVFF had accumulated for more than two decades without being accessed and was designed to provide low-interest, long-term financing for vessel acquisition.

He said the fund would enable Nigerian shipowners to compete for coastal shipping contracts, reduce dependence on foreign vessels and retain more value within the Nigerian economy.

Oyetola projected that the initiative could generate more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs in shipyards, marine engineering firms and maritime logistics companies across the country.

He said the disbursement followed President Tinubu’s authorisation to address long-standing financing challenges and unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s blue economy.

Beyond financing, Oyetola said the ministry was also investing in seafarer development through NIMASA by expanding training, certification and welfare initiatives for maritime professionals.

He disclosed that 222 seafarers had received free training in basic and advanced courses, while 333 cadets had completed academic training and been awarded degrees.

‘Under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme, 135 cadets successfully completed the programme and obtained Certificates of Competency,’ he said.

Oyetola added that 7,059 Nigerian seafarers had been placed onboard vessels to gain the required sea-time experience for career progression.

He said the interventions reflected the government’s commitment to building a competitive maritime workforce and ensuring that Nigerians benefited directly from opportunities in the blue economy.

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has disengaged some street sweepers, their supervisors and the service provider responsible for their operations over alleged indiscriminate waste dumping in parts of the state.

The affected personnel were removed following investigations and surveillance by the Authority, which allegedly linked them to the dumping of waste on the median along the Oworonshoki-Berger axis, an area identified as a recurring waste hotspot.

LAWMA Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed the development in a statement shared on the Authority’s social media platforms on Saturday.

According to him, investigations revealed that the affected sweepers were involved in the act, with some of them reportedly admitting to the offence during questioning.

Gbadegesin said the decision to disengage the workers and the service provider was part of efforts to maintain accountability within the state’s waste management system.

‘The sweepers, their supervisors and the service provider were disengaged from the cleaning operation to underscore the Authority’s commitment to ensuring that all personnel and service providers engaged in waste management in the State upheld the standards expected of them and did not contribute to the environmental challenges they were engaged to address,’ he said.

The LAWMA boss warned that the Authority would continue investigations into recurring waste disposal locations across Lagos and take action against individuals or organisations found contributing to environmental problems.

‘Our responsibility is to keep Lagos clean, and everyone involved in that responsibility must play their part. Where our investigations establish that anyone is contributing to the problem, appropriate action will be taken. There will be no exceptions,’ Gbadegesin added.

Meanwhile, LAWMA enforcement officials have arrested two suspected illegal waste dumpers around the Berger-Oworonshoki axis.

One of the suspects, identified as Timileyin Ojo, a load carrier, was allegedly caught dumping waste on the road median with a wheelbarrow.

Another suspect, described as a cart pusher, was arrested for allegedly engaging in unauthorised waste collection in the area.

The suspects were taken to the Oshodi Task Force Office (Mobile Court) for further investigation and possible prosecution under Lagos State environmental laws.

LAWMA urged residents, businesses and waste collectors to dispose of waste through approved channels and patronise only authorised Private Sector Participants (PSPs).

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced a temporary traffic diversion along the Kaduna-Zaria axis of the A2 Highway on Sunday, September 6, 2026.

The diversion will take place at DK825, Kwaranza Village, near the intersection with the Kaduna-Kano Rail Line, between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

The Corps said the measure was to allow the inspection of railway bridge beams under the ongoing Kaduna-Kano Rail Modernisation Project.

According to a statement posted on its X handle on Saturday, only one lane of the dual carriageway will remain open to motorists during the exercise.

The FRSC said appropriate caution signs, cones and diversion markers would be placed at the location, while patrol teams would be deployed to manage traffic and ensure the safety of road users.

The Corps advised motorists using the route to reduce speed, avoid overtaking around the diversion point and consider alternative routes where possible to minimise delays.

It also urged drivers to comply with traffic control measures and instructions from FRSC personnel throughout the operation.

The Kano State Hisbah Board says it has arrested 22 suspects, including 10 women and 12 men, over an alleged attempt to organise an illegal event in the state.

The Deputy Commander-General of the board, Dr. Mujahedeen Aminudeen, disclosed this to newsmen on Saturday in his office in Kano.

Aminudeen said preliminary investigations indicated that most of the suspects were allegedly involved in drug abuse.

He said the 12 male suspects included some who were allegedly effeminate, while the 10 women were suspected to be sex workers.

The deputy commander-general said investigations into the matter were ongoing and that the suspects would be prosecuted before a court of competent jurisdiction.

He warned people planning to come to Kano to engage in illegal activities and immoral practices to desist, saying Hisbah officers were ready to arrest and prosecute offenders.

Aminudeen also urged parents to take proper responsibility for the upbringing of their children to ensure that they develop good character that would facilitate a better future.

Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady said the National Community Food Bank Programme would address food insecurity while improving nutrition and health outcomes among vulnerable Nigerians.

The First Lady spoke on Friday during the launching of the National Community Food Bank Programme for the South-South zone in Calabar.

The programme targets vulnerable households, particularly children under six, pregnant women and lactating mothers, with nutritious food support.

The launch marked the initiative’s fifth zonal rollout across Nigeria.

Speaking at the launch, Tinubu said the programme aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on food security, healthcare and citizens’ wellbeing.

Tinubu said three food banks had been established across Cross River’s Southern, Central and Northern Senatorial Districts to ensure wider access.

She said the programme would achieve nationwide coverage in 2027, with the sixth zonal launch scheduled for Anambra.

The First Lady also announced President Bola Tinubu’s approval of N25 million each for 18 victims of the Calabar Mall fire.

She said the intervention would help the affected business owners recover from losses suffered during the incident.

Tinubu also inaugurated an ICT Experience Centre at the University of Cross River, aimed at promoting digital skills and youth empowerment.

Welcoming the First Lady, Gov. Bassey Otu described the food bank initiative as one of her enduring interventions supporting vulnerable Nigerians.

Otu said the programme complemented the state government’s efforts to address hunger and improve the welfare of vulnerable residents.

He said Cross River had established functional food banks across its three senatorial districts to strengthen efforts against food insecurity.

According to him, his administration was also tackling food insecurity through agricultural investments, including a 50,000-hectare rice farming programme.

He said the initiatives also targeted farmers, fishermen and agribusiness operators across the state.

‘Cross River has established an agro-processing zone and is developing agricultural value chains covering rice, fisheries, livestock and other sectors,’ he said.

The governor pledged the state’s support for the food bank programme and urged sustained collaboration among governments, partners and communities.

He said such collaboration would help reduce poverty, strengthen livelihoods and improve food security across vulnerable communities.

Also speaking, Prof. Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, said the programme was critical to tackling malnutrition and stunting.

Pate said malnutrition and stunting posed serious threats to Nigeria’s human capital development and future prosperity.

He urged South-South governors to replicate the food bank model by leveraging existing primary healthcare infrastructure.

This, he said, would ensure vulnerable children and women received adequate food and essential micronutrients.

At the ICT centre inauguration, Alhaji Aminu Masari, TETFund Board of Trustees Chairman, commended Tinubu for supporting human capital development.

Masari said ICT Experience Centres and upgraded learning facilities would equip Nigerian youths with digital skills, innovation and technology.

He said the interventions would strengthen young Nigerians’ capacity to compete effectively in the global economy.

Three people have been confirmed dead while 20 others sustained injuries after a road crash involving a Toyota Hiace bus and a Volkswagen Golf in Osun State.

The accident occurred on Saturday at Tonkere town along the Ife-Ilesa Expressway, according to the Osun Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

The Sector Commander, Sunday Adebayo, who disclosed this in a statement in Osogbo, said preliminary investigations showed that speeding and dangerous driving contributed to the crash.

Adebayo said 23 people were involved in the accident, comprising 11 females, nine males and three children – two boys and a girl.

He confirmed that the three fatalities included two females and one male, while the injured victims were rescued and taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

‘Three people died. We have about 20 others who were injured in the accident,’ he said.

The FRSC commander said patrol teams from Ife and Ilesa were deployed to the scene to carry out rescue operations and manage the situation.

He urged motorists to avoid excessive speed and dangerous driving, stressing that responsible driving could reduce the severity of road crashes and prevent avoidable deaths.

Adebayo added that the command would continue its road safety awareness campaigns across the state to reduce accidents and protect lives on the highways.

The Federal Government has announced that repair work on the damaged expansion joints at the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will begin on September 8 and is expected to last two weeks.

The Federal Ministry of Works made this known on Saturday during an inspection of the affected section of the expressway.

The Acting Controller of the Federal Ministry of Works in Ogun State, Engr. Richard Adeleye, said the repair was necessary because the expansion joints had exceeded their service life and had become a danger to motorists.

He explained that the work would be carried out in phases to reduce the impact on traffic.

According to him, one half of the affected section would initially be closed while vehicles use the other half under controlled traffic conditions. After one week, the repair would move to the other side.

‘There will be traffic control here from the 8th of this month, which will last for two weeks, precisely because of the curing that is expected before it is opened to traffic,’ Adeleye said.

He added that traffic would be allowed to move slowly through the available section while the repairs were being carried out.

Personnel from the Federal Road Safety Corps, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority will be deployed to control traffic and ensure the safety of motorists and workers.

Adeleye explained that expansion joints allow bridges to expand and contract naturally as temperatures change.

He warned that leaving damaged expansion joints unrepaired could cause serious damage to the bridge, including cracking and buckling.

He said the damaged joint had also contributed to several accidents in the area, making the repair urgent.

‘It is better done now because it has been causing a lot of accidents. We have witnessed it, even the last time we came here. It happened right here in our presence,’ he said.

Adeleye assured motorists that the repair would be completed within two weeks, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

He advised motorists travelling towards Ibadan to consider alternative routes such as the Ikorodu-Ogijo Road and roads around Sango and Abeokuta where suitable.

However, motorists who choose to use the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will still be allowed to pass through the construction area under controlled traffic conditions.

The affected construction zone will cover about 100 metres, meaning motorists will leave the restricted area shortly after crossing the bridge.

Adeleye described the repair as an important project aimed at protecting the bridge and said the new expansion joints were expected to last between 10 and 20 years.

The Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Kehinde Hamzat, also said traffic control would be maintained throughout the repair period.

Hamzat said the FRSC would increase its presence around the construction area and divert traffic when necessary to reduce congestion and prevent accidents.

He described the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as an important route for the Nigerian economy and urged motorists to be patient, obey traffic rules and exercise caution around the construction zone.

He also advised motorists whose journeys were not urgent to consider avoiding the road during the repair.

Hamzat said the repair had been postponed several times because of concerns about traffic management and appeals from members of the public. He expressed hope that there would be no further delay this time.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation, Gbenga Dairo, represented by the Director of Transportation Services, Engr. Hassan Ibrahim, also advised motorists to plan their journeys ahead of the September 8 commencement date.

He recommended the Ikorodu-Ogijo Road, Shimawa Bridge and the old road to Abeokuta as alternative routes for motorists travelling from Lagos.

He also urged motorists to obey warning signs and follow instructions from traffic management officials around the construction area.

The price of diesel, also known as Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), has risen above N2,000 per litre in Nigeria, raising concerns among businesses and other diesel users.

A market survey showed that the retail price of diesel increased on Friday to between N2,000 and N2,020 per litre in Abuja and surrounding areas.

Before the latest increase, diesel was selling for between N1,700 and N1,800 per litre at several filling stations.

The new price represents an increase of between N220 and N300 per litre, depending on the filling station and location.

The increase came after diesel depot owners raised their selling prices to about N1,900 per litre.

Some of the depot operators that implemented the new prices include Ranoil Delta, Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO) Warri, Prudent Oghara and Zamson, among others.

The increase in depot prices has now been reflected in the retail market, with consumers paying more for diesel at filling stations.

Diesel remains an important source of energy for many businesses and households in Nigeria, particularly those that depend on generators because of unreliable electricity supply.

The latest price increase could therefore put additional pressure on businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises that rely heavily on diesel-powered generators and equipment.

Transport operators and companies that use diesel-powered vehicles and machinery may also face higher operating costs as a result of the development.

The increase could also affect the cost of goods and services if businesses pass the additional energy costs on to consumers.

Earlier, Dangote Refinery increased its gantry price for diesel by N100, taking it to N1,850 per litre.

The increase came amid a rise in international crude oil prices, which had recently moved above $95 per barrel.

However, Brent crude had slightly dropped to $94.74 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) stood at $90.34 per barrel as of Friday.

The latest development adds to the recent changes in fuel prices in Nigeria and could further increase pressure on businesses already dealing with high operating costs.

Industry players and consumers will be watching the market closely to see whether diesel prices remain above the N2,000 per litre mark or fall if international crude prices decline.

One Salim Abubakar, also known as ‘Shekare,’ was on Friday convicted by a Shari’a court in Kebbi after he pleaded guilty to falsely asserting that a commissioner in the state is a member of the opposition African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Abubakar was arraigned before an Upper Shari’a Court III, Takalau presided over by Kadi Samaila Alhaji-Noma on charges of forgery, defamation, and causing a breach of public peace.

The case followed a petition by the Kebbi Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Abba Sani-Kalgo, requesting the police to investigate the alleged conduct of the accused.

According to the charge read before the court, the offences contravened Sections 373, 374, 348, and 79(1) of the Kebbi Penal Code Law, 2021.

The prosecuting officer, Cpl. Faruk Abdullahi, told the court that the accused allegedly created and published a political graphic on his Facebook account bearing the commissioner’s name and photograph alongside the logo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

He said the publication allegedly created the impression that Sani-Kalgo belonged to the ADC.

The prosecutor further alleged that the accused uploaded the material on his personal Facebook page and subsequently circulated it across other social media platforms.

When the charges were read to him, Abubakar pleaded guilty to all the counts.

Following a plea, the court convicted him accordingly.

Alhaji-Noma said: ‘Having found you, Salim Abubakar, guilty of all the charges brought against you, you are hereby convicted accordingly.’

Mudashiru Sale appeared for the complainant in a watching-brief capacity.

Following the conviction, the prosecution applied for an adjournment to enable it to prepare its submissions on the appropriate sentence.

‘We submit that the accused has pleaded guilty and has been convicted. We, therefore, apply that judgment be reserved for two weeks to enable us to address the court on sentencing,’ the prosecutor told the court.

Sale supported the application, saying the complainant was not ready to proceed with sentencing on Friday.

‘We are not ready for judgment today. We pray the court to grant an adjournment so we can make our submissions on the appropriate sentence,’ he pleaded.

In his ruling, Alhaji-Noma granted the application, saying the adjournment would enable the prosecution to prepare adequately and allow the court to deliver a well-considered judgment.

‘The court, pursuant to Section 305 of the Kebbi Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2021, hereby reserves judgment.

‘This will afford the prosecution adequate time to prepare and also allow the court to deliver a well-considered judgment,’ he said.

The judge adjourned the matter until Sept. 18, for judgment.

He further ordered that the convict be remanded in a correctional facility pending the date of judgment.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has sought the assistance of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on biometric verification technology to enhance the integrity of its examination.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina made the request when he led his management team on a courtesy visit to INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan Friday in Abuja.

Aina said JAMB approached INEC as a sister agency with proven experience in biometric verification technology.

He said the board sought to strengthen the integrity of its examination processes through improved biometric verification systems.

Aina said JAMB understood that INEC had biometric verification machines that might no longer be actively deployed.

He appealed to the commission to consider making the equipment available to support JAMB’s efforts to enhance its verification systems.

Aina appreciated the INEC chairman and management for the warm reception accorded his delegation.

Speaking after, Amupitan commended JAMB’s statutory responsibilities, describing the board as central to national development and the advancement of Nigerian youths.

He said INEC’s recent elections demonstrated its growing technological capacity and cited the Anambra and Ekiti governorship polls.

He also mentioned the Osun governorship election, FCT Area Council election and various by-elections conducted across the country.

According to him, observers, including the Office of the National Security Adviser and UK High Commission, commended the elections’ credibility and peaceful conduct.

Amupitan directed INEC’s Director of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to review JAMB’s request through a proof-of-concept assessment.

He said the assessment would determine the availability and suitability of INEC’s biometric verification equipment for possible deployment by JAMB.

The INEC chairman described the visit as evidence of growing synergy among government agencies and stressed collaboration for national development.

He assured the delegation that the commission would explore further areas of cooperation with JAMB.

INEC National Commissioner for Outreach and Partnerships, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu-Zuru, INEC Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, and other officials also attended the meeting.