Category: PM News

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has promised to reopen Nigeria’s land borders if elected president in 2027.

According to him, the continued restrictions at the borders had undermined legitimate transborder commerce, driven many young entrepreneurs out of business and worsened unemployment.

He made the commitment while speaking to supporters in a video shared online by ADC chieftain, Dele Momodu, on Friday.

According to Atiku, communities in northern Nigeria have traditionally relied on cross-border commerce with neighbouring Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic.

‘The Northern states are bordering Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin Republic.

‘And you close all those borders. All our young men who are doing trading between these countries, they carry goods across, they do this and that, all what we call transborder trade is a legitimate business,’ he said.

He argued that the border restrictions had affected young Nigerians who had built businesses with substantial capital and employed other people.

‘All the upcoming young men and women who used to have a capital of 10 million, 20 million, and they were employing two, three other people, and then all of them went bankrupt and unemployed. How can there be security?’ he asked.

‘So I said I am going to reopen the borders and I will,’ Atiku added.

The former vice president also advocated improved port infrastructure in southern Nigeria, saying it would create a more efficient route for moving imported goods to the northern part of the country.

He said he had previously engaged shipping and ship development companies in Europe over plans to develop ports in the South-East and South-South.

‘During the last campaign, I went across to Europe to discuss with shippers and ship development companies how we can together develop South and South-Eastern ports so that there is balance as far as importation of goods and transportation of goods are concerned,’ he said.

Atiku said better-developed ports in the southern region would significantly cut the time and expense involved in transporting goods to the North-East.

Using Yola in Adamawa State as an example, he said moving containers from Lagos was unnecessarily difficult and time-consuming.

‘So when, if I drop my container in Calabar or in Uyo or in Port Harcourt, it will just take me 24 hours to take the container to Yola.

‘But right now, it takes me not less than two months to take my container from Lagos because you have to cross over from South-West, you go to North-East, and then there is even no road,’ Atiku said.

No fewer than 2,700 people have died from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with about 500 new cases emerging weekly.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the worsening Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak could claim more lives unless the international community urgently expands funding and containment efforts.

Guterres also warned that global indifference could worsen the Ebola crisis in DRC.

Guterres told journalists at UN Headquarters in New York that urgent international action and additional financing were required to prevent the epidemic from spreading further.

‘The challenge is immense,’ he said, warning that the humanitarian response was only 48 per cent funded while available resources could last merely weeks.

‘We know how to contain Ebola, how to interrupt transmission and how to save lives,’ the UN chief said.

‘But we must also overcome another virus: the virus of indifference.’

Guterres appealed for an additional 1.1 billion dollars, warning that critical operations risked exhausting their funding just when the response needed substantial expansion.

‘Without additional funding, vital operations will run out of money at the very moment they need to ramp up,’ he warned.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said interventions had slowed transmission but had yet to reverse the overall trend as insecurity, displacement and weak health systems complicated containment efforts.

WHO warned the outbreak was spreading through areas battered by decades of conflict, where more than 12 million people required humanitarian assistance and protection.

In Ituri Province alone, about one million people had been displaced, increasing difficulties associated with surveillance, contact tracing, treatment and prevention, WHO stressed.

Insecurity has compounded the health emergency, with more than 40 healthcare workers killed and treatment centres and ambulances attacked during the response.

UN humanitarian agencies said responders were consequently fighting both Ebola and violence, while insecurity continued to make some affected communities difficult to reach.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said partners had deployed 35 additional safe and dignified burial teams and 286 community-based teams involving more than 2,500 volunteers and civil protection personnel.

WHO had also deployed more than 260 experts and delivered over 330 tonnes of essential medical and logistical supplies to support treatment, surveillance and containment operations.

The World Food Programme is supporting frontline operations and medical evacuations through the UN Humanitarian Air Service, while IOM has screened more than one million people regionally.

International Organisation for Migration (IOM) also launched a preparedness plan covering 11 countries as concern grows about cross-border transmission, particularly into neighbouring Burundi.

WHO said Burundi had recorded no confirmed case but is strengthening laboratory procedures, response guidelines and public awareness because of its proximity to affected Congolese areas.

Meanwhile, WHO has declared Uganda free of its Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak after 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case, following 20 infections and two deaths.

The 42-day benchmark, equivalent to twice the upper limit of the incubation period for Ebola, is the internationally established criterion for determining that an outbreak has ended.

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has dismissed claims of growing opposition to President Bola Tinubu in the North, predicting that the President could secure between 70 and 80 per cent of votes cast in Kaduna State during the 2027 presidential election.

Sani made the projection during an interview on Channels Television, where he addressed political realignments, opposition narratives and the battle for northern support ahead of the next general elections.

The governor said the belief that northern voters had turned against Tinubu was largely driven by political discussions on social media rather than the realities on the ground.

According to him, voters in Kaduna and other northern states would ultimately judge the President based on his administration’s performance, policies and impact on their daily lives.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will move from 29 per cent of votes to 70 to 80 per cent,’ Sani said.

Kaduna was one of the key northern states where former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar defeated Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election. Official results showed Atiku polling 554,360 votes in the state, while Tinubu recorded 399,293 votes.

However, Sani argued that the political landscape had changed significantly since then, pointing to the movement of opposition politicians into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in parts of southern Kaduna.

He also highlighted federal government projects and interventions in the state, including the establishment of the Federal University of Science and Technology in southern Kaduna and the development of a federal medical centre, as factors that could influence voters’ decisions.

The governor maintained that Kaduna politics was not driven by personal sentiments, saying he respected former governors and political leaders who had contributed to the state’s development.

‘I don’t do politics of sentiments. I respect Nasir El-Rufai, I respect Makarfi, I respect Namadi Sambo. They have all done their best, but I am here to fight for APC,’ he said.

Sani also warned Nigerians against accepting unrealistic campaign promises without demanding details on how such promises would be funded.

He said voters should ask politicians seeking public office to provide clear plans and practical solutions rather than relying on popular statements.

The governor further dismissed suggestions that presidential elections could be won through television appearances and social media campaigns alone, stressing that successful political movements must have strong grassroots structures.

‘You don’t contest with the President by campaigning in Abuja,’ he said, insisting that elections are won through consistent engagement with voters at the ward level.

Sani predicted that Tinubu would perform strongly across the Northwest, Northeast and North-Central regions, adding that the APC’s chances in 2027 would depend on its ability to communicate its achievements and maintain direct contact with Nigerians.

The rise of live streaming has transformed the way audiences interact with creators, making entertainment more interactive than ever before. For Buske The King, live streaming has become much more than simply broadcasting online-it has become a way to unite people through music, conversation, and shared experiences.

Since launching his content creation career in 2021, Buske The King has dedicated himself to creating an engaging environment where viewers actively participate in every broadcast. His live sessions feature music, audience interaction, gift matches, and conversations that encourage members of the Haitian community to connect regardless of where they live.

Unlike traditional forms of entertainment, live streaming allows Buske The King to communicate directly with viewers in real time, building genuine relationships that extend beyond individual broadcasts.

Originally from Haiti and now living in Brooklyn, New York, he has become recognized by many viewers for his energetic hosting style and consistent online presence.

His background in music naturally influenced the atmosphere he creates during every live session. Rather than focusing solely on entertainment, he aims to create an environment where people feel welcomed and connected.

Looking toward the future, Buske The King plans to continue expanding his live programming while introducing new projects through BTK Studio, further strengthening his presence within the digital entertainment industry.

Three Lagos men identified as Adeyinka Basit, Joseph Peter, and Makinde Oluwasunkanmi, were on Friday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing iPhone screens worth N10 million.

The defendants, Basit, 21; Peter, 18; and Oluwasunkanmi, 20, are facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen property.

The prosecutor, Mrs Josephine Ikhayere, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on July 18 at No. 1, Adepele St., off Medical Road, Ikeja, Lagos.

Ikhayere alleged that the defendants stole iPhone grade screens valued at N10 million, property of Fixall Perfect.

She alleged that the defendants dishonestly converted the phone screens to their personal use.

The prosecutor also alleged that the defendants received the stolen phone-grade screens, knowing them to have been stolen.

She said the offences contravened Sections 287, 328 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Magistrate, Mr Lateef Owolabi, granted them bail of N500,000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.

He ordered the sureties to provide evidence of Lagos State Residents Registration and have their addresses verified.

The court adjourned the case until Sept. 29 for further proceedings.

Fifty youths from Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the Deputy Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart, for sponsoring their three-month technology skills training at Harvoxx Tech Hub.

The beneficiaries described the initiative as a major investment in the future of young people in Okrika, saying the programme has equipped them with practical digital skills and renewed confidence to pursue careers and business opportunities in the technology-driven economy.

Somiari-Stewart, who represents Okrika Constituency in the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, sponsored the youths’ participation in the training as part of efforts to promote human capital development and youth empowerment in the constituency.

During the three-month programme, the beneficiaries were exposed to various areas of technology, including cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, product design and AI automation, among others.

The youths said the training went beyond classroom learning, giving them practical exposure and knowledge they could apply in building careers, developing businesses and accessing emerging opportunities in the digital economy.

According to them, the intervention demonstrated the importance of investing directly in people, particularly young people who require relevant skills to compete in an increasingly technology-driven world.

The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to Somiari-Stewart for prioritising human capital development and creating an opportunity for young people in the community to acquire skills that could improve their economic prospects.

‘Amaopuerembo, our mother, we recognise and appreciate your decision to invest in people, skills and possibilities. Your support has opened a door of opportunity for 50 young people, and we do not take this gesture for granted,’ they said.

The beneficiaries noted that empowering young people with relevant digital skills could contribute to reducing unemployment, promoting self-reliance and strengthening the economic development of Okrika and Rivers State.

They also pledged to put the knowledge acquired during the programme into practice by building sustainable careers, improving their livelihoods and contributing positively to their families and communities.

The youths urged other political leaders, organisations and stakeholders to support similar initiatives focused on technology, education, entrepreneurship and human capital development.

They said sustained investment in young people would not only benefit individual beneficiaries but also create a more skilled and economically productive generation capable of contributing to the development of the state.

The beneficiaries further called on residents of Okrika and Rivers State to recognise and support initiatives that create opportunities for young people rather than simply providing short-term assistance.

For the 50 beneficiaries, the message to the lawmaker was simple and unanimous:

‘THANK YOU, MA, FOR INVESTING IN US!’

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has rejected suggestions that President Bola Tinubu is losing support in the North.

He says that the President could win as much as 70 to 80 per cent of the votes in Kaduna State in the 2027 presidential election.

Sani made the assertion during an interview with Channels Television, where he discussed the changing political landscape and the prospects of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the election.

The governor said reports of widespread disenchantment with Tinubu in the North were driven largely by political narratives and social media activity, rather than the mood of voters at the grassroots.

He maintained that voters would ultimately judge the Tinubu administration by its performance and the effect of its policies on their lives.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will move from 29 percent of votes to 70 to 80 percent,’ Sani said.

Kaduna was one of the key northern states won by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election. Atiku secured 554,360 votes in the state against Tinubu’s 399,293.

Sani, however, argued that the political dynamics had changed considerably since 2023, particularly with the movement of opposition politicians into the APC.

He pointed to developments in southern Kaduna, where several politicians who previously belonged to opposition parties have joined the ruling party, saying this could have a significant impact on the voting pattern in 2027.

The governor also highlighted federal projects and interventions in Kaduna under Tinubu, including the establishment of a Federal University of Science and Technology in southern Kaduna and the development of a federal medical centre.

According to him, such projects could strengthen the President’s standing among voters in the state.

Sani also acknowledged the contributions of former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Kaduna governors, including Nasir El-Rufai and Ahmed Makarfi, to the state’s development, while stressing that Kaduna still needed more infrastructure.

Addressing questions about El-Rufai and the political divisions within the APC, Sani said he would focus on strengthening the party rather than engaging in personality-driven politics.

‘In Kaduna State, we don’t do politics of sentiment. I am not going to talk about any personality here. I am not here to speak about the former governor, Nasir El-Rufai. I respect him, I respect Makarfi, I respect Namadi Sambo, I respect Governor El-Rufai. They’ve done their best but in politics, I am here to fight for APC and I’m telling you what’s going to happen.’

He added: ‘I don’t do politics of sentiments. I’m not going to talk about any personality here. I respect him. I value him.’

The governor also urged Nigerians to scrutinise campaign promises and demand details on how politicians intend to finance their proposed programmes.

He said voters should not accept sweeping promises without asking candidates to explain how they would be implemented.

‘Someone will come and sit here and tell you that when I become governor, or when I become president, I will ensure that every student is given N10 million. You allow him to walk away without asking: how would you do it?’ he asked.

Asked whether the North was developing a political backlash against Tinubu, Sani responded: ‘No way. It is not possible.’

He predicted that Tinubu would perform strongly across the Northwest, Northeast and North-Central regions in 2027.

Sani also dismissed the notion that presidential candidates could build enough support through television appearances and social media alone.

‘You don’t contest with the President by campaigning in Abuja,’ he said, describing elections as ‘practical’ contests that require sustained engagement with voters at ward and grassroots levels.

The governor said the APC’s success in 2027 would depend largely on its ability to communicate the administration’s achievements and maintain a strong grassroots presence across Kaduna State and the wider northern region.

The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr Aminu Yusuf Wushishi, has died barely eight months after assuming office.

Yusuf, also known as Talban Wushishi, reportedly died on Friday, August 28, 2026, after a brief illness.

His death was confirmed by his Special Adviser on Media, Stanley Nwosu, who told journalists that the NPC chairman died after taking ill.

‘Yes, it is true. The NPC chairman died after a brief illness,’ Nwosu said.

The news of his death reportedly reached Minna, the Niger State capital, around the time of the Juma’at prayer, prompting mourning among his associates, political allies and people of the Kontagora Emirate.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Yusuf died in Abuja at the age of 66, citing a statement from the NPC’s Director of Public Affairs, Adelayo Olurode.

The NPC chairman was born on April 15, 1960, in Wushishi, Niger State, according to the commission’s official biography.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Yusuf to head the commission in 2025, and he was sworn in at the Presidential Villa on December 2, 2025, formally assuming office on December 3, according to the NPC.

Yusuf succeeded Nasir Isa Kwarra, whose tenure as chairman ended in 2025. His appointment came after the Senate confirmed his nomination in October 2025.

Before his appointment to the NPC, Yusuf had built a career spanning education, politics, governance and community development.

He served as Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Niger State Governor from 2019 to 2023 and was involved in the Tinubu-Shettima presidential campaign as Assistant Director, Grassroots Mobilisation (North Central) in 2022.

He also served as Executive Chairman of Wushishi Local Government Area, was a Member-elect of the Niger State House of Assembly and served on the board of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

During his short tenure at the NPC, Yusuf pursued reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s population and civil-registration systems.

One of the major initiatives under his leadership was the nationwide rollout of the VitalReg digital birth and death registration platform under the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system. The digital registration programme became fully operational nationwide on July 1, 2026.

The initiative was designed to improve the accuracy of demographic records and strengthen the availability of data for national planning. Yusuf had described the reform as a major transformation of Nigeria’s civil-registration system.

His death comes at a significant period for the NPC, which is responsible for generating population and demographic data required for national planning, policymaking and development.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago described Yusuf’s death as a ‘shocking and colossal loss’ to the state and Nigeria, saying his experience in demographic research, data management and policy implementation would be missed at a crucial time when his services were needed for the long-awaited national census.

Gov. Alex has apologised for the recent strike by the Abia State University (ABSU) chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU), describing the industrial action as avoidable.

Otti said this on Thursday during a Public Lecture, organised as part of the activities to mark the 35th anniversary of the creation of the state, held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.

The theme of the lecture was ‘The Rise of a New Abia’.

The governor said the strike occurred, in spite his earlier approval of the union’s demands, blaming bureaucratic delays for the failure to implement the decisions promptly.

He said that the requests presented by ASUU were legitimate and had been carefully considered before he approved them.

According to him, the financial implications of the demands were already captured in the memo presented to him, making further delays in implementation unnecessary.

He said the development raised questions about why an implementation committee was required after the requests had already been assessed and approved.

Otti expressed concern that bureaucratic processes could frustrate government decisions even after the necessary approvals had been obtained.

He said that such administrative bottlenecks were partly responsible for the delay that eventually contributed to the university’s industrial action.

‘I want to, on this podium, apologise to Abia State University as well. That strike was avoidable.

‘The reality is that the work stops here. So, we failed. I failed. I failed them,’ he said.

The governor said that the incident had reinforced the need for greater efficiency and accountability among government officials responsible for implementing approved policies.

He said that it was unacceptable for workers’ welfare issues to remain unresolved after government had approved the necessary measures.

Otti also highlighted his administration’s investment in ABSU and the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, saying that significant resources had been committed to renovating existing facilities and constructing new ones.

He questioned why such investments in infrastructure should not be complemented by adequate attention to the welfare of university workers.

He said, ‘The question to ask is, so if we have spent this much money, how much in terms of their welfare, how much will it cost?’

Otti said that government must be willing to acknowledge its failures rather than shifting responsibility to workers whenever administrative lapses affected them.

He warned that bureaucratic delays capable of frustrating approved government policies would no longer be tolerated.

The governor said that officials responsible for such lapses would face consequences, if similar incidents occurred in future.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening public institutions, improving infrastructure and prioritising human capital development and workers’ welfare.

The ABSU ASUU chapter commenced an indefinite strike on Aug. 11, following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the university’s Governing Council on July 22.

The union had cited outstanding welfare and institutional demands, including the non-implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement, irregular promotions, non-remittance of cooperative deductions and outstanding Earned Academic Allowances dating back to 2009.

The industrial action was subsequently resolved after the intervention of a committee led by the Secretary to the State Government, with the State Government announcing on Aug. 24 that the outstanding issues had been addressed.

The Labour Party and Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) have expressed their condolences to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the family of its late General Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja.

NECA and Labour Party expressed their condolences over the death of Ugboaja in separate statements issued on Friday in Abuja.

In its message signed by its Director-General/Chief Executive, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, NECA described Ugboaja’s death as a huge loss to NLC and Nigeria’s broader industrial relations community.

Oyeride described the late NLC general secretary as a committed trade unionist who contributed to the advancement of workers’ interests, social dialogue and a stable and productive industrial relations environment.

According to him, Ugboaja played an important role in engagements among labour unions, employers and governments as NLC General Secretary.

He said Ugboaja’s experience in industrial relations, negotiation and labour administration contributed to the development of Nigeria’s labour relations system.

The NECA director-general also acknowledged Ugboaja’s contributions to engagements between the organised labour and the organised private sector.

He said the late unionist’s death left a void among leaders committed to constructive social dialogue and decent work in Nigeria.

Oyerinde prayed God to comfort Ugboaja’s family, colleagues, NLC leadership and the entire Nigerian labour movement.

He also prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest.

In its own statement, signed by Ken Asogwa, its National Publicity Secretary, Labour Party expressed sadness over the death of Ugboaja

Asogwa described Ugboaja as a strong unionist, committed democrat and pillar of support to the current leadership of the Labour Party.

He said Ugboaja’s death had created a painful void in the labour movement and the Labour Party family.

According to him, Ugboaja played a pivotal role in strengthening the relationship between the Labour Party and the organised labour movement, particularly the NLC.

He said the deceased made invaluable contributions at meetings and deliberations that culminated in the emergence of the party’s new constitution.

The party’s spokesman said Ugboaja’s contributions to the growth and development of the Labour Party would remain memorable.

He recalled that Ugboaja was a member of the NLC National Executive Council that approved the formation of the Party for Social Democracy (PSD) in 2003.

Asogwa said the PSD later metamorphosed into the Labour Party in 2004, adding that Ugboaja subsequently became the party’s Deputy National Secretary.

He also served as National Secretary of the NLC Political Commission, contributing significantly to the relationship between organised labour and the political platform.

According to him, Ugboaja contributed immensely to the struggle for the sustenance and deepening of democracy in Nigeria.

He said the deceased’s commitment to democratic ideals aligned with the core values and vision of the Labour Party.

Asogwa said Ugboaja was a member of the defunct National Constitutional Reform Conferences of 2005 and 2014.

He added that the late unionist made significant contributions to shaping the final reports of the two constitutional reform conferences.

The Labour Party’s spokesman said Ugboaja also served as a Director of the Alliance for Credible Elections.

According to him, Ugboaja championed a national campaign for electoral reforms between 2007 and 2010.

He said the campaign contributed to the process that led to the establishment of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee.

The committee was established by the administration of former President Umaru Yar’Adua to examine electoral reforms in Nigeria.

Asogwa described Ugboaja’s life as one dedicated to the labour movement, democratic development and service to Nigeria.

He said his contributions to the causes would remain part of the country’s collective history and would not be forgotten.

The party extended heartfelt condolences to the NLC leadership, organised labour, Ugboaja’s colleagues, friends, associates and immediate family.

‘We pray that God Almighty grants eternal rest to his soul and gives his family, the Labour movement and the nation fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,’ he said.