Category: PM News

Cabbilicious Foods, a premium catering company founded and led by Executive Chef, Nutritionist and Food Safety Professional Blessing Bashorun, is strengthening its presence in Nigeria’s corporate and institutional catering market.

The company, which initially built its reputation around private events and weddings, has expanded its operations to serve corporate organisations, government institutions, financial institutions and development organisations.

The expansion reflects the company’s growing capacity to handle the demands of clients requiring high-volume catering services while maintaining consistent standards in food quality, presentation and professional service.

Unlike one-off private events, corporate and institutional catering often involves larger volumes, tighter timelines and recurring engagements, requiring caterers to maintain consistent standards across multiple assignments.

Bashorun, who is also the Founder and CEO of Cabbilicious Culinary School, has positioned food safety, nutrition, consistency and professional service at the centre of the company’s operations.

Her professional training in food safety and nutrition, combined with advanced event management studies at Lagos Business School, has influenced the systems and standards adopted by Cabbilicious Foods as it expands into the corporate and institutional market.

‘Reliability is built when a client knows the quality they received today is the same quality they can expect the next time they work with you,’ Bashorun said.

‘For us, that means paying attention to every part of the process and making sure our standards do not change, regardless of the size of the engagement,’ she added.

Catering for Diverse Institutions

Cabbilicious Foods offers a range of African, Continental and Oriental cuisine, allowing the company to cater to clients with different tastes, event formats and institutional requirements.

The company’s clientele cuts across different sectors, from formal events organised by financial institutions to large-scale gatherings involving government and development organisations.

According to the company, its expansion into the corporate and institutional segment reflects the changing expectations within Nigeria’s catering industry, where organisations with recurring and high-volume catering needs increasingly require service providers capable of demonstrating consistency, reliability and professional standards.

‘For us, growth in this segment is not just about serving more clients. It is about building systems that allow us to maintain quality, professionalism, and trust as the business expands,’ Bashorun said.

From One-Off Events to Recurring Engagements

The company’s growing corporate footprint has also resulted in relationships with some institutional clients developing from one-off engagements into recurring assignments.

Cabbilicious Foods said the transition reflects the confidence clients place in a service provider that consistently meets agreed standards and delivers reliably.

For Bashorun, the development is consistent with the company’s original objective of building a catering business whose reputation extends beyond the quality of its food to include reliability, professionalism and trust.

As demand for corporate and institutional catering continues to grow, Cabbilicious Foods is positioning itself to serve organisations that require dependable catering services while maintaining its focus on food quality, safety and customer experience.

With its expanding institutional clientele and emphasis on structured operations, the company is seeking to establish itself as a dependable player in Nigeria’s premium catering industry.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the Aug. 15 Osun governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji, has congratulated Gov. Ademola Adeleke on his re-election.

Oyebamiji, in a statement issued on Saturday in Osogbo, urged Adeleke to protect the lives and property of all citizens, particularly during the post-election period.

‘In the spirit of democracy and as we commemorate the 35th anniversary of the creation of our dear Osun State, I congratulate Gov. Ademola Adeleke on his victory in the Aug. 15 governorship election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

‘At the same time, I call on Mr Governor, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, to do everything within his constitutional responsibility to protect the lives and property of all citizens, particularly during this sensitive post-election period,’ he said.

Oyebamiji urged APC members not to be discouraged by the outcome of the election, but to remain resolute and have confidence in institutions established to protect democratic rights.

He called for an immediate end to what he described as killings, harassment and intimidation of APC members and supporters.

‘The senseless killings, harassment and intimidation of members and supporters of our party must stop forthwith.

‘Attacks on innocent citizens and their businesses must not be allowed to continue,’ he said.

Oyebamiji also expressed concern over reports of attacks on small and medium-sized businesses allegedly because of the perceived political affiliations or non-allegiance of their owners to the Accord Party.

He described such attacks as condemnable and unacceptable in a state aspiring to achieve economic growth, attract investment and create sustainable employment opportunities.

‘The provision of security and a conducive environment for businesses to thrive is not negotiable,’ he said.

The APC candidate commended party members for their courage, resilience and steadfast commitment to the party and its Prosperity Agenda.

He noted that democracy was not an end in itself, but a means through which the aspirations and welfare of the people could be advanced.

‘We will therefore continue to march forward with faith and determination towards a greater Osun.

‘A state where our collective resources are equitably deployed, and where governance serves the greater good of our people rather than narrow interests,’ he said.

Oyebamiji said the governorship election had come and gone, adding that following INEC’s declaration of the results, the party had commenced wider consultations with elders and other critical stakeholders on the way forward.

He said the party, being committed to the rule of law, would continue to pursue justice and fairness through lawful and constitutional means, particularly in relation to the electoral process.

Oyebamiji also called on APC leaders, members and supporters to begin mobilisation and preparations for the 2027 general elections, particularly the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu and other candidates of the party.

He urged party members to close ranks, strengthen the party’s structures and work tirelessly towards securing victories for Tinubu and other APC candidates in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in the early hours of Aug. 16, declared Adeleke the winner of the Osun governorship election.

He polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest rival, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 444,815 votes.

The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, who declared the results at the INEC collation centre, said the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.

Burkina Faso has proposed a bilateral session with Nigeria to review cooperation and chart new areas of partnership to reset ties between both West African countries.

The proposal came when Nigeria’s new Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Amb. Syndoph Endoni, presented his Letter of Credence in Ouagadougou on Friday.

Burkinabe Foreign Minister, Jean-Marie Traoré, received Endoni and expressed delight at formally welcoming him to the country.

Traoré described the ambassador’s assumption of duty as another opportunity to strengthen longstanding relations between Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

He highlighted the shared African heritage, history and common challenges binding both countries, pledging to work closely with Endoni to sustain and deepen relations.

The minister backed the convening of a bilateral session where both governments could comprehensively review existing cooperation and explore new prospects.

The proposed bilateral session, if convened, could offer Abuja and Ouagadougou an opportunity to turn recent diplomatic friction into renewed engagement centred on security, mutual respect and regional stability.

The proposal followed recent diplomatic differences between Nigeria and members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

The proposed bilateral engagement provides both Abuja and Ouagadougou an opportunity to strengthen dialogue and address differences through direct diplomatic channels.

Responding, Endoni conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s appreciation to Burkina Faso’s President and Head of State, Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, for accepting his accreditation.

He thanked the Burkinabe Government and Foreign Ministry for the warm reception accorded him since his arrival in Ouagadougou. Endoni pledged to work with the foreign minister in addressing issues of mutual concern and developing joint solutions to challenges confronting both countries.

The Nigerian envoy particularly advocated greater African solidarity and greater confidence among countries on the continent in resolving their differences.

He said ‘as Africans, we must learn to accept ourselves and make efforts to resist the urge to wash our dirty linens outside.’

He expressed readiness to consolidate Nigeria-Burkina Faso relations ‘in a spirit of brotherhood’ and promote constructive engagement between both governments.

The EAS countries formally withdrew from ECOWAS on Jan. 29, 2025, although the Community retained transitional arrangements to protect trade, movement and other interests of regional citizens.

The three countries strengthened cooperation under the AES, while ECOWAS continued exploring modalities for future political, economic and security engagement with them.

Nigeria remains a leading ECOWAS state, while Burkina Faso increasingly coordinated foreign and security policy with Mali and Niger through the AES.

President Tinubu approved Endoni’s posting to Ouagadougou as part of the deployment of Nigeria’s newly appointed ambassadors to foreign missions. Endoni arrived in Burkina Faso during the week to assume duty and received a warm welcome from Burkinabe officials, African diplomats, Nigerian Embassy personnel and the Nigerian community.

The career diplomat previously served as Chargé d’Affaires at Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York before his ambassadorial appointment.

The presentation of Letter of Credence to the foreign minister is a customary diplomatic step preceding the formal presentation of credentials to the Burkinabe Head of State.

The ambassador is expected to formally present his Letter of Credence to Capt. Traoré as he settles into his assignment in Ouagadougou.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, as a strategic platform for solidarity, peace, development and the collective interests of Member States.

According to a statement from the Minister’s Media Office, Ambassador Enikanolaiye stated this on Thursday, 27th August 2026, while delivering Nigeria’s Official Statement at the 23rd Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The Minister commended the OIC leadership for convening the Extraordinary Session, noting that Nigeria’s participation is informed by its Islamic heritage, domestic diversity, and broader commitment to multilateralism, peaceful resolution of disputes, respect for international law and the principles of the UN Charter.

Ambassador Enikanolaiye also congratulated H.E. Ismaïl Ould Cheikh Ahmed on his emergence as the newly elected Secretary-General of the OIC. He stressed the need to adhere to principled criteria for the election, including competence, integrity, experience, geographical balance, rotation, consensus and equal opportunity.

‘Nigeria is delighted that Member States withdrew their candidates in a spirit of solidarity and shared focus. We commit to working closely with the new Secretary-General for the success of his tenure,’ the Minister said.

He also commended the outgoing Secretary-General, H.E. Hissein Brahim Taha, for a successful tenure and wished him well in future endeavours.

In a related development, Ambassador Enikanolaiye held a one-on-one meeting with the newly elected Secretary-General, making the Nigerian delegation, the first he received immediately after his election.

During the meeting, the Minister conveyed the new OIC Secretary General on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the people of Nigeria.

The Minister pledged Nigeria’s support for the success of his tenure and reiterated the call for greater visibility of OIC programmes and projects in Nigeria, as well as the appointment of more qualified Nigerians into the OIC Secretariat and other offices of the Organisation.

He also reaffirmed Nigeria unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and an independent and sovereign State based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and UN Resolutions.

The Minister expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for the protection of civilians, unhindered humanitarian assistance and an enduring cessation of hostilities. Nigeria opposes forced displacement, annexation and other actions aimed at changing the demographic, territorial or legal character of the occupied Palestinian territories and Al-Quds Al-Sharif.

‘Nigeria further supports the preservation of the historical and religious character of Al-Quds and the protection of access to its holy sites,’ he added.

Ambassador Enikanolaiye further urged the OIC to give greater attention to the developmental and security challenges confronting Africa, particularly in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel.

He called for stronger OIC-African Union cooperation in peace and security, counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance, food and energy security, trade, investment, education, youth empowerment, climate change and infrastructural development.

He said Nigeria is ready to work with the incoming OIC leadership to deepen practical cooperation and support national developmental priorities. In this regard, Nigeria supports the establishment of a *Nigeria-OIC Working Group on Humanitarian Affairs*, focusing on insecurity and humanitarian challenges in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel.

The Minister also welcomed increased OIC-supported programmes in vocational training, women empowerment, healthcare, youth development and cultural cooperation, stressing the need to move ‘from OIC solidarity to OIC-supported, measurable development outcomes’ for Nigerian citizens and other African OIC Member States.

On the sidelines of the Session, Ambassador Enikanolaiye held high-level meetings with the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Waleed Al-Khuraiji and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sierra Leone, *H.E. Mohammed Rahman Swaray*.

With H.E. Al-Khuraiji, discussions centered on deepening Nigeria-Saudi cooperation in trade, investment, security, and the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims. Both sides reaffirmed commitment to collaboration under the OIC platform.

With *H.E. Mohammed Rahman Swaray*, the Minister emphasized intra-African solidarity and South-South cooperation. Both ministers exchanged views on regional peace and security, economic integration, and coordination of African positions at multilateral forums including the OIC.

The Minister also met with *Engr. Sultan Bin Mahdi Al Dabbara*, Chairman of the Saudi-Nigerian Business Council.

They discussed the need to explore to the fullest opportunities for greater and deeper business collaboration between the two countries on the basis of B-to-B partnerships.

Ambassador Enikanolaiye called for greater unity, consensus and practical actions to advance the collective interests of the OIC, noting that this is the only way to justify the Organisation’s continued relevance in the emerging world order.

He expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the Government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, *King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud*, for their hospitality and for hosting the OIC Secretariat.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his promise to reopen Nigeria’s land borders if elected president in 2027.

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the promise on Wednesday when a political support group visited him in Abuja.

He said the closure of Nigeria’s land borders had negatively affected legitimate businesses, especially those involved in cross-border trade. According to him, the situation had forced some young entrepreneurs out of business and into unemployment.

Atiku said he would reopen the borders and also develop the country’s southern ports to improve trade.

However, Tunji-Ojo, in a statement posted on X on Saturday, said Atiku’s claim that Nigeria’s land borders were closed was incorrect.

The minister said he was in a position to clarify the issue because his ministry supervises the Nigeria Immigration Service, which is responsible for border and migration management.

He explained that several major land borders had already been reopened since 2020.

According to him, the Seme, Illela, Maigatari and Mfum borders were reopened, while the Idiroko and Ikom crossings were reopened for goods and services in April 2022.

Tunji-Ojo added that the Kamba and Tsamiya border crossings in Kebbi State were reopened in February 2026 under the current administration.

The minister also explained the situation concerning some border crossings between Nigeria and Cameroon.

He said the Banki and Amchidé crossings were closed in 2014 because of the Boko Haram insurgency and not because of Nigeria’s 2019 trade policy.

He said the crossings were reopened in 2019, while the Fotokol and Gambaru crossings were reopened in 2021 following joint military and stabilisation efforts by Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

Tunji-Ojo said Nigeria’s border management policy was aimed at balancing national security with trade and the movement of people.

He explained that effective border management was not simply about closing borders or allowing unrestricted movement. Instead, it required proper documentation, customs compliance, security measures and measures to make legitimate trade easier.

The minister, however, admitted that stricter controls were still being maintained at some northern border crossings because of banditry and remaining insurgency threats.

Tunji-Ojo challenged Atiku to explain how his proposed border policy would be different from the measures currently being implemented by the Federal Government.

He urged the former vice-president to present specific details of his plan instead of presenting border security, trade and infrastructure challenges as a single issue.

The minister also warned against allowing political competition to distort what he described as the recent history of Nigeria’s border management.

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.