Category: PM News

Former Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has urged President Bola Tinubu to decentralise Nigeria’s electricity system, arguing that the country cannot solve its power crisis by relying almost entirely on the national grid.

Murray-Bruce made the call in an open letter to Tinubu in which he examined persistent problems in electricity generation, transmission, distribution, metering and financing.

He cited data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), saying the gap between Nigeria’s installed generation capacity and the electricity actually available for dispatch remained enormous.

According to him, Nigeria had 13,625 megawatts of installed generation capacity in April, but only about 4,286MW was available for dispatch.

He also pointed to a sharp fall in grid generation on 22 August, saying output dropped to about 1,132MW in the evening from more than 4,000MW earlier in the day.

‘These figures should make it clear that Nigeria’s electricity challenge is not simply about building more generating capacity.

‘We need to examine the entire structure of the sector, including how power is generated, transmitted, distributed, metered and paid for,’ he said.

The former senator also criticised the outcome of the 2013 electricity-sector privatisation, arguing that the reform failed to deliver the transformation Nigerians had expected.

‘The 2013 privatisation was not the transformation Nigerians expected.

‘In my view, it largely amounted to a transfer of custody without ensuring that the new owners had the financial strength and technical capacity required to make the system work at the scale Nigeria needs,’ he said.

Murray-Bruce identified Nigeria’s metering deficit as another major problem, saying millions of active electricity customers remained without meters.

He argued that estimated billing makes it difficult for consumers to know how much electricity they are actually using and what they are paying for.

‘A meter is a machine that tells the truth. An estimated bill is a machine that does not.

‘If we want consumers to trust the electricity market, metering has to become a priority,’ he said.

The former senator proposed a decentralised model in which estates, communities and other local areas could develop electricity systems suited to their needs, particularly through solar power, subject to proper regulation and financing.

‘Every village, every estate and every community in Nigeria should have the opportunity to develop an electricity solution suited to its own circumstances,’ he said.

According to him, greater community participation could attract fresh investment into the power sector while reducing pressure on the national grid.

Murray-Bruce also called on state governments to take greater responsibility for powering public facilities under their control, including streetlights, schools and primary healthcare centres.

He said the Federal Government should focus on federal infrastructure while states develop solutions for facilities within their jurisdictions.

The former senator noted that the Electricity Act 2023 had created greater opportunities for states to participate in electricity regulation and development.

He cited Aba as an example of how localised generation and distribution could complement the national electricity system.

Murray-Bruce urged the Federal Government to coordinate reforms that would promote decentralised power generation, attract private investment and strengthen accountability across the electricity value chain.

He expressed optimism that a combination of government reforms, private investment and community participation could improve electricity reliability and reduce the economic burden caused by persistent power shortages.

Former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has commended Materdei High School, Imiringi in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, for producing ‘prominent and quality leaders.’

Jonathan made the remark during the funeral mass for his classmate and sister, late Mrs. Keturah Koweletam Ominabo, at Christ the King Catholic Church, Imiringi on Friday, August 28, 2026.

The former President described Materdei as a missionary and co-educational institution that nurtured leadership early.

‘Materdei High School, being a missionary and co-educational school, was complex at that time. So, you could identify young men and women who had leadership qualities and character, and those who did not, even at that age, because it was a co-educational school,’ he said.

Jonathan singled out the deceased as one of the school’s outstanding products.

‘At that time, various things happened, but you would never associate Keturah with anything negative. She served, she lived a decent life, and that is why we are all here to celebrate her departure. One of her sons, Mr. Wealth Ominabo, is working presently with me as media aide in charge of my foundation,’ he stated.

Jonathan said funeral ceremonies should be a time for reflection on life and mortality.

‘A funeral ceremony, to me, is not about the deceased. From the Scriptures, the deceased is already with God. So, the funeral ceremony is for us who are still alive.

‘We look at the life of the deceased, compare it with our own lives, and also reflect on the fact that if Keturah is gone today, any of us could be next. So, what do we have to do to make sure that we have something to recall?’ he said.

The former President also noted his personal connection to the deceased.

‘I am also here because the deceased is a family member. We are from the same family, from the Obua side. When we were younger, we did not know, but much later, we got to know the relationship,’ he explained.

He called on members of the 1975 graduating class of Materdei High School present at the service to come forward, adding: ‘let us honour our own.’

He then asked classmates present to bow in honour of their late classmate, Mrs. Keturah Ominabo.

Jonathan commiserated with the Ominabo family and assured them of continued support.

‘For the family, you are not alone. We will mourn with you, and we will continue to be with you. For the clergymen, we thank you for coming to preside over this ceremony and for standing with us as our colleagues,’ he said.

The O’odua People’s Congress (OPC) has endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.

The endorsement was made on Saturday in Lagos during activities marking the organisation’s 32nd Founders Day and the inauguration of its new National Executive Council (NEC).

The OPC also pledged to mobilise support for Tinubu in 2027, recalling its contribution to his emergence as President in the 2023 election.

The group’s re-elected President, Mr Wasiu Afolabi, said the organisation would remain committed to supporting a Yoruba person occupying the nation’s highest political office.

‘We contributed our quota to ensuring the victory of Tinubu in 2023. One lesson from Fasehun is that the organisation should regard any Yoruba man in office as OPC’s corporate project.

‘As a result of this orientation that our founder gave us, and if the right atmosphere is created, we shall still queue behind President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.

‘We also urge the other regions to support the President’s second-term bid to help him perfect the visionary reforms he has embarked upon.

‘The North especially, should realise that it is payback time for the backing that Tinubu gave to late president Muhammadu Buhari’s two tenures of eight years.’

Afolabi also used the occasion to reflect on the circumstances surrounding the establishment of the OPC on Aug. 29, 1994.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the organisation was founded by a group of Yoruba nationalists and activists led by Fasehun, a medical doctor and human rights campaigner.

Recalling the organisation’s origins, Afolabi said the OPC emerged during a period of severe political tension in the country.

‘Some 32 years ago when Dr. Frederick Fasehun took the initiative to establish OPC, it was to fulfil a divine assignment.

‘OPC was born as a child of necessity.’

He said the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola, had fuelled anger among Nigerians, particularly in the South-West.

According to him, the military government’s action amounted to an affront to millions of voters who had backed Abiola at the polls.

Afolabi called on the Federal Government, state governors and legislators at both national and federal levels to treat the country’s challenges as a national emergency by implementing policies and programmes capable of improving the welfare and security of citizens.

‘The leaders must remember that the Nigerian Constitution they all swore to uphold says in Section 14(2)(b) that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.’

On insecurity, he offered the organisation’s support to government security agencies in tackling the problem, particularly in the South-West.

‘We are ready to partner with relevant government agencies to secure the South-West from enemies within and enemies from outside.’

Afolabi also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to remain impartial during the 2027 elections and ensure that every legitimate vote was counted.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the occasion and Chairman of the OPC Board of Trustees, Mr Wale Oshun, described the organisation as an important part of Nigeria’s democratic struggle following the annulment of the June 12 election.

Oshun said the continued existence of the organisation, eight years after the death of Fasehun, represented a strong testament to the founder’s vision.

NAN reports that hundreds of OPC members attended the anniversary celebration, which also featured the inauguration of the new NEC and the endorsement of Tinubu for a second presidential term.

Lagos State is set to deploy 220 newly acquired compactor trucks as part of efforts to strengthen waste collection and improve environmental management across the state, Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Hamzat has said.

Hamzat disclosed this on Saturday during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Festac, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, saying the additional trucks would complement the existing Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste collection system.

He said the move became necessary as the state grapples with rising volumes of waste generated by its rapidly growing population.

According to him, the new vehicles would expand the state’s capacity to evacuate refuse and address areas where existing waste collection arrangements have struggled to cope with demand.

‘The state government will be bringing in another 220 trucks to make sure that we supplement our PSP,’ Hamzat said.

The deputy governor also urged residents to patronise accredited PSP operators rather than cart pushers, warning that the latter often operate outside the regulated waste management system.

‘What we need our people to also do is to make sure that they patronise their PSP, not the cart pushers, because they are not organised. You don’t know where the waste is ending up,’ he said.

Hamzat linked the growing waste challenge to Lagos’ expanding population, noting that the influx of people into the state inevitably increases the volume of refuse generated daily.

‘A lot of people are coming to Lagos, and therefore they generate waste. So part of what you can see that we are doing is that we are getting many more trucks to actually go and evacuate,’ he said.

He stressed, however, that government investment alone would not solve the waste problem without residents taking responsibility for proper disposal.

Hamzat warned residents against dumping refuse in canals and drainage channels, saying blocked waterways could restrict the flow of stormwater and aggravate flooding during heavy rainfall.

He called on communities to sustain regular environmental sanitation exercises, with the government encouraging residents to clean their surroundings at least once every month.

‘We cannot be a people without a healthy environment. It doesn’t matter what we do, a cleaner environment is what makes a city or a state sustainable,’ he said.

The deputy governor said the state’s community engagement efforts were designed to encourage residents to make environmental cleanliness a routine responsibility rather than an occasional exercise.

He also addressed environmental management concerns in Festac, noting that the Federal Housing Authority had specific responsibilities in the area but stressing that residents and property managers remained subject to Lagos State’s environmental regulations.

Hamzat commended the local government chairman and residents for participating in the sanitation exercise, saying community involvement remained critical to achieving a cleaner and healthier Lagos.

Also speaking, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the state was recording improvements in waste evacuation following the deployment of 24-hour emergency response teams and interventions aimed at resolving challenges at landfills and dumpsites.

Wahab said the government had intensified discussions with PSP operators to improve their performance and ensure more efficient collection of household waste across the state.

He explained that the state had also intervened in areas where the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) would ordinarily not operate, as part of efforts to close gaps in waste evacuation.

According to the commissioner, government was supporting PSP operators to strengthen their operations, while residents were expected to pay for waste collection services in accordance with the polluter-pays principle.

He said the arrangement was intended to ensure that operators had the resources required to deliver effective services while residents received value for the payments they made.

Wahab further disclosed that Lagos was moving away from the conventional linear waste management model of ‘collect and dump’ towards a circular system that prioritises waste recovery and conversion into useful resources.

He said the transition had already resulted in the development of material recovery facilities in Badagry and Epe, alongside transfer stations at Solus and Olusosun.

On the activities of cart pushers, Wahab said the government was engaging with them but would not pursue policies that could create additional environmental or security risks.

He said investigations had shown that some cart pushers dumped collected waste indiscriminately, including in drainage channels and road medians, thereby contributing to environmental degradation and increasing the risk of flooding.

The commissioner said the government’s broader objective was to establish a more organised and sustainable waste management system in which residents, operators and government agencies would each play clearly defined roles.

Also, the Head of Service, Bode Agoro, monitored the exercise in Bariga Local Council Development Area, LCDA, alongside other Permanent Secretaries, including the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Omobolaji Gaji.

The officials inspected Ewenla, Adetoke and Emmanuel Church streets, through Omobokun to New Garage, as part of efforts to assess compliance and encourage residents to maintain clean surroundings.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, Sunkanmi Oyegbola, Agoro expressed concern over the attitude of some residents towards environmental cleanliness and urged Lagosians to take ownership of their immediate environment.

Agoro stressed that environmental cleanliness should not be left entirely to government, noting that residents have a responsibility to complement the state’s efforts by keeping their homes, streets and communities clean.

He added that while the government continues to provide infrastructure and other facilities to support the development of Lagos, residents are expected to reciprocate by protecting and maintaining those facilities and ensuring a clean environment.

A police corporal identified as Alfred Louis and some of his colleagues have been detained over the alleged shooting and killing of a commercial driver identified as Anthony Obodo, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Rivers Police command’s spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday.

Agabe said the incident occurred on Thursday after an altercation between the driver, identified as Anthony Obodo, and a police officer.

According to her, the altercation degenerated into a scuffle, during which one of the officers allegedly fired a shot.

She said the bullet struck Obodo, killing him, while two other passers-by sustained injuries during the incident.

‘Preliminary information indicates that an altercation occurred between the occupant and the officers, leading to a scuffle and subsequent gunshot,’ she said.

Agabe identified the alleged shooter as Cpl. Alfred Louis, who was subsequently attacked and assaulted by an angry mob.

She said Louis sustained multiple injuries during the attack and was receiving attention while investigations continued.

The spokesperson said Louis and members of his team had been detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of Rivers Police Command.

‘The investigation will establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the law,’ she said.

Agabe condemned Obodo’s killing, saying the alleged shooting did not reflect professionalism expected in policing.

She said the command would not relent in taking disciplinary action against officers found culpable of unethical or unlawful conduct.

‘The command will not shield any officer engaging in unethical and unlawful conduct that brings the Nigeria Police Force into disrepute,’ she said.

The spokesperson assured the public that the investigation would be conducted in accordance with the law and relevant disciplinary procedures.

The incident sparked widespread protests across Rivers on Friday.

Police operatives were subsequently deployed across affected areas to restore law and order and prevent further breakdown of public peace.

Founder of Zoom36 Dental Care, Elias Joshua Okwuchukwu, has said Nigeria is witnessing a gradual but significant shift from reactive dental visits to a more preventive and experience-driven approach to oral healthcare.

According to him, the organisation, established in 2021, was designed to rethink how dental services are delivered in response to evolving patient expectations and increased health awareness.

‘We are seeing a transition from fear-driven, emergency visits to more informed and proactive care, where patients are actively engaged in maintaining their oral health,’ he said.

Okwuchukwu noted that dental care in Nigeria has historically been largely reactive, with most patients seeking treatment only during emergencies. This pattern, he explained, has contributed to low awareness of preventive practices and heightened anxiety around dental visits.

Operating across Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt, Zoom36 Dental Care integrates clinical expertise with a strong focus on patient experience, emphasising comfort, communication, and modern treatment standards.

The clinic offers a range of services including preventive and general dentistry, restorative procedures, orthodontics, and cosmetic treatments, alongside sustained efforts in oral health education and corporate wellness initiatives.

Despite growing awareness, Okwuchukwu acknowledged that economic constraints and long-standing perceptions of dental care remain key barriers to wider adoption of preventive practices.

To address this, he said the organisation is leveraging partnerships with corporate institutions, healthcare providers, and community groups to improve access and position oral health as an essential part of overall wellness.

‘As awareness grows, we expect preventive care to become the norm rather than the exception in Nigeria’s dental landscape,’ he added.

Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu has said Nigeria’s numerous crises are deeply rooted in what he described as ‘ethical dislocation’, arguing that the country’s renewal requires a fundamental rethinking of its values.

Ladigbolu made this known on Friday, August 28, 2026, while delivering a lecture titled ‘Yoruba Ethical Renaissance: A Way to Reinvent Our National Values and Rebuild the Nigeria of Our Dreams’ at the Chief R.F. Fasoranti Centennial Birthday Lecture held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

The lecture was part of activities marking the 100th birthday of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, elder statesman and leader of Afenifere. The event was organised with the theme, ‘A Century of Courage and Stewardship of Yoruba Democratic Legacy’.

Ladigbolu said ethical renewal was not an optional addition to Nigeria’s development agenda but its foundation. ‘In conclusion, Nigeria’s crises are deeply rooted in ethical dislocation. Addressing them requires more than institutional reform. It demands a fundamental rethinking of values,’ he said.

He argued that a Yoruba ethical renaissance could provide a framework for rebuilding Nigeria by restoring values centred on character, truth, integrity and harmonious relationships.

‘A Yoruba ethical renaissance offers a compelling framework for this transformation, which will drive righteousness, which exalts a nation, and put away sin, which to any people is a reproach,’ he said.

According to him, Nigeria could move towards a more just, cohesive and prosperous society by prioritising character, fostering relational harmony and promoting truth.

At the centre of Ladigbolu’s lecture was the Yoruba concept of ‘iwa’, which he described as encompassing character, moral disposition and the essence of being. He said Yoruba philosophy traditionally places greater value on the quality of a person’s character than on wealth, social status or political power.

‘At the heart of Yoruba ethics lies the concept of Iwa, which encompasses character, moral disposition and the very essence of being,’ he said. ‘In Yoruba thought, a person’s true worth is determined not by wealth, status or power, but by the quality of their character.’ He cited the Yoruba expression ‘iwa l’ewa’ – character is beauty – as a concise representation of the ethical philosophy.

Ladigbolu said the principle emphasises virtues such as honesty, integrity and respect for others, adding that the traditional Yoruba ethical system places character above material achievement and personal advancement.

He said this philosophy offered an important counter-narrative at a time when society increasingly celebrates material success without sufficiently considering its ethical foundation.

According to him, the renewed emphasis on ‘iwa rere’, or good character, could challenge the normalisation of corruption and redefine success around integrity and moral responsibility.

Ladigbolu also linked the values he advocated to the legacy of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other pro-democracy and nationalist figures whose lives, he said, demonstrated courage, sacrifice and stewardship. He said the celebration of Fasoranti at 100 was also an opportunity to honour the generation of leaders and activists whose sacrifices helped protect Nigeria’s democratic tradition.

Referring to Awolowo, Ladigbolu said: ‘History offers us hidden explanations for Awo’s greatness and impressive, imperishable legacy. Simply put, Awo endured because he had character.’

He argued that character enabled a leader to see beyond immediate circumstances and make sacrifices in pursuit of a greater cause.

‘It is character that makes a leader see into the future, and the opportunities encased in his womb, when his rivals and contemporaries see only the experiences of today,’ he said, adding that character could give a leader the courage to sacrifice personal interests, family and even life for a just and noble cause.

According to him, Awolowo’s life and leadership demonstrated two important lessons: that without character a leader would struggle to develop the vision necessary to build society, and that every aspiring leader would eventually encounter a defining moment.

‘How he responds to that moment will define him, define his leadership and his place or otherwise in history,’ he said.

Ladigbolu described Fasoranti as a model of excellent character and said publicly celebrating him had implications for contemporary society.

He said Fasoranti’s life represented the kind of leadership Nigeria needed at a time when public life was increasingly associated with materialism and declining ethical standards.

Before turning fully to the question of ethics and nation-building, Ladigbolu paid tribute to past Yoruba leaders and pro-democracy activists whose sacrifices, he said, helped preserve Nigeria’s democratic legacy.

He referenced books including ‘This House of Oduduwa Must Not Fall’, ‘This Is Nigeria’, ‘Running for Dear Life, My Walk in Exile’ and ‘Guided by His Hand’, using accounts from the works to illustrate the courage and sacrifices of past leaders.

He particularly recalled the struggles of NADECO activists during the military dictatorship of the late General Sani Abacha. Ladigbolu said many of the activists endured detention, exile and threats to their lives in their determination to restore democracy and the rule of law.

He also recalled an account of the detention of pro-democracy activists, saying some of those detained were threatened with execution. He said the courage of those who stood against military rule should remain an important part of Nigeria’s democratic history.

‘Our gathering today is to appreciate and celebrate those noble stewards of our democratic legacy, the pro-democracy stalwarts and resilient … of our agitations, whose incalculable sacrifices and untainted patriotism protected democracy and the rule of law,’ he said. He commended NADECO, both in Nigeria and abroad, for its role in the struggle.

Ladigbolu said a Yoruba ethical renaissance should not be treated merely as a return to the past but as the recovery, reinterpretation and application of indigenous ethical principles to contemporary Nigerian society.

‘The Yoruba ethical renaissance involved the recovery and reinterpretation and application of indigenous ethical principles in contemporary context,’ he said.

He argued that concepts such as good character, truth, relational harmony and communal responsibility remained relevant to a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country like Nigeria. He said such values could help foster social cohesion, promote dialogue and encourage a shared commitment to the common good. He also emphasised the importance of truth, as another important element of the ethical renewal Nigeria requires.

The second lecture was delivered by Prof. Ropo Sekoni, who reflected on Yoruba civilisation, longevity and the region’s historical head start in addressing social challenges. Sekoni described the Yoruba region as having characteristics associated with a ‘Blue Zone’, referring to communities around the world where people are noted for longevity. He said the presence of people who have lived beyond 100 years was one of the features that deserved recognition in discussions about Yoruba civilisation.

He also stressed the importance of understanding the historical foundations of Yoruba society without falling into what he described as Yoruba exceptionalism. Sekoni’s presentation formed part of the broader reflection on Yoruba identity, democratic legacy and the values required to sustain the region’s contribution to Nigeria’s development.

Former Ogun State governor and veteran journalist, Chief Olusegun Osoba, chaired the occasion. In his remarks, Osoba urged state governors to make effective use of increased federal allocations to improve the welfare of Nigerians.

He noted that state allocations had increased under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and called on governors to ensure that the additional resources translated into tangible benefits for citizens.

The event brought together prominent Yoruba leaders, traditional rulers, politicians, academics, religious leaders and representatives of Afenifere from across the country.

Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, who represented the President at the occasion, said Fasoranti’s contributions extended beyond the Yoruba race and remained significant to Nigeria’s democratic history.Gbajabiamila said the President appreciated Fasoranti for his advice and contributions to democracy.

‘Pa Fasoranti is a foremost Yoruba leader. But I must say that Pa Fasoranti’s impact is bigger than the Yoruba race. His name cannot be erased from the history of democracy in Nigeria,’ he said, adddin tatHe said the President had asked him to convey his appreciation to Fasoranti for his counsel and contributions to the country’s democratic development.

The event was organised by Afenifere to celebrate Fasoranti’s centenary wit the theme, ‘A Century of Courage and Stewardship of Yoruba Democratic Legacy’.

President Tinubu was listed as the Distinguished Guest of Honour, while the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, was named Royal Father of the Day.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was among the dignitaries who attended the occasion, alongside former governors Kayode Fayemi and Olusegun Mimiko, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and other prominent Yoruba leaders.

For Ladigbolu, however, the central message of the centenary celebration went beyond honouring an individual. It was a call for Nigeria to rediscover the values that shaped some of its most respected leaders and apply those values to the challenges of the present.

‘Ethical renewal is not an optional add-on to development. It is its very foundation,’ Ladigbolu said, and the task of rebuilding Nigeria through ethical renewal was difficult but necessary and urgent.’

The Federal Government has ordered an investigation into suspected power losses along the 132kV Ikorodu-Sagamu industrial corridor in Lagos and Ogun states.

The government said up to 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity could be going unaccounted for along the corridor, with the losses estimated to have cost the Nigerian electricity market about N120 billion in one year.

Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, gave the directive on Friday during a meeting with industrial operators, electricity market participants and regulators.

Tegbe called for a transparent and data-based investigation into the difference between the amount of electricity transmitted through the corridor and the amount eventually billed and accounted for by electricity distribution companies.

He said the government needed to understand what was responsible for the huge gap.

‘We must know where the power is going and what is compromising it,’ the minister said.

‘Every consumer must be responsible for its actions and consumption,’ he added.

According to Tegbe, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has introduced technological monitoring systems to track electricity movement across the network.

The monitoring system, he said, had detected unusual loading patterns and major differences in the amount of electricity supplied and the amount eventually accounted for.

The government will investigate whether the losses are caused by meter tampering, manipulation of electricity consumption records, illegal connections, interference with power infrastructure or other forms of electricity theft.

Tegbe warned that the government would not allow activities that weaken the electricity market.

He stressed that electricity consumers must be held responsible for the amount of power they use.

The investigation will involve technical and commercial data from both the transmission and distribution sides of the electricity market. The aim is to identify where the unaccounted electricity is being lost.

The Ikorodu-Sagamu corridor has become an important industrial area, with several manufacturing companies and other large electricity consumers operating along the route.

The government said improving electricity supply to industrial areas would require stronger accountability, accurate metering and proper payment for electricity consumed.

Electricity theft remains a major challenge in Nigeria’s power sector. Several initiatives have been introduced to encourage members of the public to report illegal connections and other forms of energy theft.

Ikeja Electric, for instance, introduced incentive schemes in 2021 to reward whistleblowers whose information led to the discovery of electricity theft within its network.

Industry stakeholders have also warned about the financial impact of electricity losses.

Nosa Igbinedion, Chief Executive Officer of West Power and Gas, previously said the Nigeria Electricity Act allows states to establish laws and regulations governing electricity operations within their territories.

He also said Nigeria records average Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC and C) losses of about 45 per cent, resulting in annual losses estimated at more than N100 billion.

If the investigation confirms that a significant part of the N120 billion loss is linked to electricity theft or other commercial leakages, it could have serious consequences for the financial stability of the electricity market.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) introduced new penalties in 2025 for individuals and businesses found guilty of bypassing electricity meters.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of NISO and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), as well as representatives of Ikeja Electric, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and industries operating along the Ikorodu-Sagamu corridor.

Two Nigerian men have been extradited to the United States to face federal charges over alleged financially motivated sextortion schemes targeting American minors, including cases linked to the deaths of teenagers.

The suspects, Mudashiru Afeez Olawale, 24, and Adebola Festus Adekunle, 26, were extradited from Nigeria on August 27, 2026, following a joint investigation involving the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other Nigerian authorities.

The development marks the latest escalation in the FBI’s international crackdown on financially motivated sextortion networks allegedly operating from Nigeria and targeting vulnerable young people in the United States.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Adekunle was extradited to Mississippi, where he appeared before a federal court in Oxford on August 28. He faces a three-count indictment arising from the alleged sextortion of a Mississippi minor whose death followed the alleged scheme.

Prosecutors allege that Adekunle committed sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, produced child sexual abuse material, coerced and enticed a minor, and issued interstate threats with the intention of extorting the victim.

If convicted of the charge involving sexual exploitation resulting in death, Adekunle faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison, according to U.S. prosecutors.

Olawale, meanwhile, was taken to North Carolina, where he appeared in federal court in Greensboro on August 28.

He had been indicted in August 2023 over allegations involving the financially motivated sextortion of two victims and the death of a North Carolina teenager.

The charges against Olawale include sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of minors, coercion and enticement, distribution of child pornography and interstate threatening communications.

The EFCC said its investigations, conducted in collaboration with the FBI, identified both men in separate sextortion cases involving male minors, particularly teenagers aged between 13 and 17.

The commission said the alleged schemes involved the use of child sexual abuse material to blackmail victims and demand money through channels including money-transfer services, gift cards and cryptocurrency.

The FBI linked the suspects’ alleged activities to two separate cases involving American minors who died by suicide after experiencing online sexual exploitation and extortion.

In one of the cases, the EFCC said a 13-year-old boy was contacted through Instagram by an individual who allegedly proposed an exchange of nude photographs.

The person allegedly obtained the photographs and subsequently threatened to distribute them to the boy’s Instagram contacts unless he paid money.

According to the EFCC, the communication reportedly continued even after the teenager indicated that he intended to take his own life.

The investigation subsequently generated intelligence that enabled U.S. authorities to identify individuals allegedly connected to the scheme, leading the FBI to seek assistance from Nigerian authorities.

Olawale’s extradition also followed a lengthy legal process in Nigeria. The EFCC initiated proceedings at the Federal High Court in Lagos after receiving the U.S. request, but the court rejected the extradition application in June 2024.

The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation appealed the decision, and on July 7, 2026, the Court of Appeal in Lagos overturned the Federal High Court ruling, clearing the way for Olawale’s transfer to the United States.

The two men were initially arrested in Nigeria in August 2023 as part of a wider FBI-led operation targeting alleged sextortionists preying on minors in the United States. Their eventual extradition came after about three years of legal and investigative proceedings.

FBI Director Kash Patel described the men as ‘high-value targets’ and said their return to the United States demonstrated that international borders would not shield suspects from prosecution for alleged crimes committed online.

The U.S. Justice Department said the cases form part of Operation Artemis, an FBI initiative focused on financially motivated sextortion rings operating from Nigeria. The agency said such networks have been linked to dozens of American teen deaths by suicide.

The U.S. authorities also acknowledged the cooperation of Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Justice and the EFCC in securing the extraditions.

The EFCC said the development underscored the growing partnership between Nigerian and American law enforcement agencies in combating transnational and internet-enabled crimes, particularly offences involving the sexual exploitation of children.

Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, former Cross River State Governor and Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, presidential candidate, Donald Duke, has warned opposition parties against attempting to defeat President Bola Tinubu separately.

Duke urged opposition parties to unite if they are serious about removing Tinubu from office in 2027.

He stated this in an interview with Symfoni TV, stressing that the political system naturally favours the incumbent and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

According to him, opposition parties must recognise the advantages enjoyed by the incumbent and work together rather than remain divided.

Duke said, ‘We can’t compare ourselves to China; even if the APC did nothing, they are the party in power.

‘If there is a problem on that day, the IG of Police will not go to any of the candidates, but to the president, so everything is in favour of the incumbent; respect that.

‘The only way you can seriously tackle the incumbent is to come together and have a voice; otherwise we will be factionalised.

‘So when you talk of rigging, I think we are rigging it against ourselves, and because of our ego, we need to come together.’

The former governor described Tinubu as a formidable politician, warning that the opposition would be taking a major risk by confronting him without a united strategy.

Duke said, ‘Bola Tinubu is not an average politician. You don’t go to fight a lion who also has horns.

‘Can you imagine a lion with horns? It is already a dangerous animal. Then you now give it horns, and you say go and fight it with a knife and fork. You will be the dinner.’