Category: PM News

The Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) has intensified its sensitisation campaign in Ajah, urging residents to register and obtain the LASRRA card to strengthen the state’s database for effective planning and improved service delivery.

The agency said accurate and up-to-date residents’ data would enable the Lagos State Government to properly identify the needs of communities and allocate resources more efficiently to critical sectors, including healthcare, education, transportation, infrastructure and other social services.

The campaign was held at the palace of HRH Oba Kolawole Abdullateef Lawal-Olumegbon, Akinwon IV of Ajah Ile and Okun Ajah, as LASRRA prepares to establish a new registration branch in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

The agency also emphasised that registration is increasingly becoming an important requirement for accessing various government programmes and opportunities, making it necessary for residents to ensure their details are captured and regularly updated.

Speaking at the sensitisation programme, Oba Lawal-Olumegbon urged residents to register themselves and their family members, stressing the importance of reliable population data to government planning.

He said accurate information on the population would assist the government in determining the resources required by communities, including Maternal and Child Health Care (MCHC) centres.

The monarch’s appeal underscored the need for residents to participate collectively in the registration exercise to ensure that public facilities and services are adequately planned for the communities they serve.

The General Manager of LASRRA, Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, commended community leaders, stakeholders, market women, artisans and residents for supporting the agency’s registration efforts.

Adebiyi-Abiola said LASRRA was taking the registration process directly to places where residents already access essential services, including communities, schools and vaccination clinics, in a bid to make registration more convenient and accessible.

She also explained that residents can revalidate their LASRRA registration after five years, enabling them to update their personal information and helping the agency maintain accurate and reliable records.

According to her, maintaining current residents’ data is crucial to ensuring that government planning reflects the realities and changing needs of Lagos communities.

Adebiyi-Abiola further highlighted some of the government programmes and initiatives from which registered residents can benefit.

These include Ilera Eko, the Lagos State Health Insurance Programme, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund initiatives, empowerment schemes and other social interventions.

She also announced 20 free registration slots for the Lagos State Trade Test, encouraging eligible artisans and skilled workers to take advantage of the opportunity by presenting their LASRRA registration.

The General Manager stressed that reliable residents’ data would enable the government to move away from guesswork and adopt evidence-based planning, particularly in determining where services and public resources are most urgently required.

She therefore urged residents who had not registered to do so, while encouraging those already captured in the LASRRA database to spread the message among their family members, friends and neighbours.

Adebiyi-Abiola said broader participation in the registration exercise would strengthen the state’s ability to ensure that government services, programmes and opportunities reach the residents for whom they are intended.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has reacted to the online criticism over high airport taxi fares, reversing the ban on Bolt drivers and other e-hailing platforms in the airport.

The ban lift, came shortly after a viral video revealed that FAAN-owned ACHRAM had pegged the cost of a car hire service at N30,000 for a trip that would normally cost N8,000.

The Airports Authority, in a statement released on Thursday, clarified that ACHRAM is not an e-hailing platform like Bolt or Uber and does not seek to monopolise car-hiring services at airports.

Henry Agbebire, The Director of Public Affairs also revealed that FAAN and Bolt have reached an agreeable operational framework, declaring that the ban has been lifted.

‘The Authority is therefore pleased to announce that, following constructive engagements, FAAN and Bolt have reached an agreeable operational framework, and Bolt is cleared to commence its services at FAAN-managed airports immediately,’ the statement reads.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele has said the priority of federal government now is to transform economic stability into shared prosperity for Nigerians.

Oyedele started this on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents after the 158th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) in Abuja.

The Minister said the economy has stabilised with the Gross Domestic Product growth rate at 3.89 per cent for Q1 of 2026, up from 3.13 per cent one year ago.

Oyedele projected that Nigeria’s GDP growth rate would exceed four per cent in 2026, reflecting continued improvement in economic activity.

He said inflation had also declined significantly, reaching 15.43 per cent at the end of July, compared with 24.94 per cent a year earlier.

According to Oyedele, Nigeria’s trade surplus nearly doubled from N17.7 trillion in 2025 to N34.7 trillion by the first quarter of 2026.

He said public debt remained moderate at 13.7 per cent of GDP, amounting to N159.28 trillion.

‘Debt service as a percentage of revenue is on the decline, from nearly 100 per cent as of 2022 to less than 60 per cent as of 2025,’ he said.

Oyedele said the economic progress was also reflected in improved assessments by international market rating agencies.

‘This is also part of the recognition by the market rating agencies,’ he said.

He said Fitch Ratings, Moody’s and SandP had all upgraded Nigeria’s sovereign credit rating between April 2025 and May 2026.

‘The first coordinated alignment in over a decade. So, they all agree,’ Oyedele said.

The minister said Nigeria also exited the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October 2025.

He added that the country exited the European Union’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing deficiency list in January 2026.

According to him, the developments would reduce costs and friction associated with cross-border capital flows into Nigeria.

Oyedele also announced Nigeria’s reclassification from an unclassified market to a frontier market.

‘Nigeria has now been reclassified to frontier market. This is good news for us as a country,’ he said.

He said the reclassification presented opportunities for Nigeria to accelerate economic growth and lift more citizens out of poverty.

‘We see opportunities ahead for the country, especially how we accelerate growth and lift our people out of poverty,’ Oyedele said.

He said NEC identified agriculture, energy, manufacturing, mining and the digital economy as priority sectors for accelerated development.

Oyedele said 81.4 per cent of Nigerians worked in agriculture and non-tradable services, requiring greater attention to those sectors.

‘Council deliberated that there is a need for us to accelerate growth in these sectors where majority of our people work,’ he said.

He said stronger growth in those sectors would help reduce poverty and narrow the inequality gap across the country.

‘That way, we lift them out of poverty, and we close the inequality gap,’ Oyedele said.

The minister, however, acknowledged that significant challenges remained and required coordinated efforts from the government and other stakeholders.

‘Key areas identified include geopolitical conflict, commodity shocks, persistent food inflation and the need to manage election cycle fiscal risk,’ he said.

Oyedele also highlighted the need to address negative pre-election narratives and ensure economic perceptions remained supported by available data.

He said the government must focus on creating jobs while managing Nigeria’s vulnerability to foreign-exchange shocks.

‘There is a tendency to be negative pre-election, even though it is not supported by data, to ensure there is job-rich growth,’ he said.

He added that managing foreign-exchange vulnerability would remain essential to sustaining economic stability and translating current gains into broader prosperity.

The Police have explained how demand for N200 from a motorcyclist lead to violent clash that claimed three lives in Ikola, Alimosho LGA of Lagos State on Thursday.

Two persons were also injured in the incident, the spokesperson for Lagos Police Command, SP Abimbola Adebisi, disclosed this in a statement.

She added that an investigation had begun into the incident.

She, however, said preliminary information indicated that the violence began when suspected area boys allegedly stopped a tricycle rider and demanded N200.

According to her, the rider refused to pay, prompting the group to allegedly seize his tricycle.

According to her, the rider later returned with some persons, resulting in a violent confrontation between the two groups.

‘Three persons were killed, while two others sustained injuries during the clash,’ she said.

Adebisi added that some buildings were also set ablaze during the ensuing violence.

She said the deceased and injured persons were taken to the Military Hospital, Yaba, for medical attention and other necessary procedures.

Lagos Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, visited the scene alongside Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Afolabi Owolabi.

The officials assessed the situation and coordinated the security response to restore normalcy in the area.

Operatives from the Rapid Response Squad, Taskforce, Tactical Squad and Police Mobile Force in Lagos were deployed.

Other deployed formations included the Eko Strike Force and Violent Crime Response Unit, she said.

The police spokesperson said the security personnel were maintaining law and order, adding that the situation was firmly under control.

‘The command has begun an investigation into the incident and will ensure that anyone found culpable faces the full weight of the law,’ she said.

Adebisi urged residents to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information capable of escalating tensions.

She also encouraged members of the public to provide credible information that could assist the ongoing investigation.

Slovan Bratislava head coach, Yaya Touré, has made history by becoming the first African coach to lead a team into the league phase of the UEFA Champions League.

Touré achieved the feat after Slovan Bratislava secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Slovenian side Celje in extra time on Wednesday night.

The result was enough to send Slovan through with a 3-2 aggregate victory in the Champions League play-off tie.

The Slovakian club will now be among the 36 teams competing in the league phase of Europe’s biggest club competition. The draw for the league phase is scheduled to take place on Thursday.

The achievement is a major milestone in Touré’s young coaching career. The former Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder was appointed Slovan Bratislava manager in July on a three-year contract.

The 43-year-old is taking charge of a club for the first time as a head coach after previously working in coaching roles.

Touré enjoyed a successful playing career, particularly during his time at Manchester City, where he won several major trophies and became one of the club’s most influential midfielders.

His latest achievement marks another important step in his transition from footballer to coach.

Before Touré’s feat, Nigeria’s Ndubuisi Egbo had already made history in 2020 when he became the first African coach to lead a club in the Champions League.

Egbo achieved the milestone with Albanian club KF Tirana. However, his team did not progress to the Champions League league phase.

Touré has now gone a step further by guiding Slovan Bratislava through the qualifying rounds and into the league phase.

The achievement could further raise Touré’s profile as a coach and increase expectations around his future managerial career.

For Slovan Bratislava, qualifying for the league phase also represents a significant achievement, giving the club the opportunity to compete against some of Europe’s biggest teams.

Touré will now prepare his team for the challenges ahead as Slovan look to make an impact in the Champions League.

The Federal Government has said the completion and inauguration of the 284-kilometre Kano-Daura-Katsina sections of the Kano-Maradi Railway Development Project by December would be possible in spite of challenges including security concerns.

The assurance was given after a joint inspection of the strategic rail corridor by some officials of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Federal Ministry of Finance and financiers of the project from Tuesday to Thursday

The officials listed other challenges affecting the rail project to include vandalism of construction materials, land-access issues in some urban areas, illegal laterite mining along the Kano-Dutse corridor, and seasonal reductions in construction activities.

This is contained in a statement by the Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations of the ministry, Gift Seddon.

Seddon said that the inspection established the physical completion of the Kano-Katsina section at over 75 per cent and included a test run on the completed track, with officials travelling by train from Kazaure to Katsina.

Speaking after the inspection, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Funso Adebiyi, said the project remained firmly on course for commissioning in December.

Represented by the Director, Rail Transport Services, Habiba Buhari, Adebiyi noted that while the rainy season had slightly slowed construction, significant progress had been made with materials required for track laying already stockpiled at the project camp.

He said the remaining works would be completed within the approved timeline.

He said the completion would be possible in spite of challenges including security concerns, vandalism of construction materials, land-access issues in some urban areas, illegal laterite mining along the Kano-Dutse corridor, and seasonal reductions in construction activities.

He further noted that some communities were yet to accept provisions relating to the Land Use Act, but assured that the issues would only cause temporary delays and would not stop completion of the project.

He added that the government was intensifying engagement with affected communities and other stakeholders to resolve land-related disputes and facilitate access for contractors.

On the procurement of rolling stock, identified as the next major milestone towards commissioning, Adebiyi said efforts were underway to ensure that the required trains arrived in time for the December commissioning.

‘Even if we don’t get all of it, at least we will get the ones to commission by December,’ he stated.

The Senior Country Officer and Representative of of the financier, Siya Biniza, described the investments as justified, noting that railway represents strategic infrastructure with significant economic potential for Nigeria.

Also speaking, the representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Director, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Muhammadu Kamal, said government releases were being made as and when due.

Kamal confirmed that the federal government had released its 15 per cent counterpart funding for the project.

He explained that the project was being financed through a combination of loan facilities and counterpart funding, with the federal government responsible for 15 per cent of the financing and the financing facility covering the remaining 85 per cent.

Also the contractor, Mota-Engil Nigeria, reaffirmed its commitment to delivering the Kano-Katsina section by December.

Representing the company, its Chief Financial Officer, Vladislav Bystrenko, said the first phase, covering the Kano-Katsina corridor, was expected to be completed by December.

Bystrenko added that the extension from Katsina to Maradi in Niger Republic was expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has urged President Bola Tinubu to strengthen the team around him, arguing that some of the administration’s recent difficulties could have been avoided with more capable hands in key positions.

Ndume made the remarks during an interview on ARISE News while assessing the Tinubu administration, its policy direction and the quality of support available to the President.

The senator said Tinubu had shown willingness to confront difficult national problems and had taken decisions that previous administrations avoided, but argued that the effectiveness of those policies depended heavily on the people charged with implementing them.

‘My concern remains that the President has so many kakistocrats dominating the presidency. Unless he does something about it, they will continue to mess him up,’ Ndume said.

He cited recent controversies within government as examples of what he described as avoidable embarrassment, including the discovery of a fake government agency and the suspension of a permanent secretary following an investigation.

Ndume, however, credited Tinubu for acting after the matter came to light.

‘That is where I give the President credit, but I insist that if he had capable hands, all this mess and embarrassment wouldn’t be happening,’ he said.

The APC senator also criticised the manner in which some presidential aides respond to public criticism, arguing that government spokespersons should focus more on policies and facts rather than personalities.

‘We are saying that the staff or people he has around him are the major problem,’ Ndume said.

‘When anybody makes a statement, the President’s spokespersons rush on TV to insult the person and call them names. That is not it. You take the points that person made about the system one after the other.’

Despite his concerns, Ndume said Tinubu deserved credit for confronting difficult economic issues, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy.

He acknowledged that the decision had created hardship for many Nigerians but said the President had also recognised the pain and repeatedly assured citizens that the reforms would eventually yield results.

‘The President himself acknowledged that there is hardship as a result of the policies, but promised Nigerians that there will be light at the end of the tunnel,’ he said.

Ndume urged the APC to devote more energy to explaining the government’s policies and their expected benefits instead of engaging in political attacks.

He similarly advised opposition parties to challenge the administration with clear alternative policies rather than concentrating on personalities.

‘My advice to the opposition is to focus on the policies and performance of the government, put down your alternative policy agenda, and convince Nigerians that it is workable,’ he said.

The Federal University of Technology Babura in Jigawa State has announced 100% free tuition for newly admitted students of B.Sc Mathematics and B.Sc Physics in a bid to boost science education and tackle manpower gaps.

The university said the move is part of efforts to encourage more young Nigerians to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences, known as STEMM.

This was contained in a public announcement signed by the University Registrar, Mrs Fatima Muhammad, and made available to journalists on Wednesday.

According to the management, STEMM fields play a critical role in national development, yet Nigeria continues to face a shortage of skilled professionals in the sciences.

‘To address this gap, the Management of the Federal University of Technology, Babura has approved a waiver of school fees for candidates admitted into the B.Sc Mathematics and B.Sc Physics programmes,’ the statement read.

The registrar described the initiative as a community service aimed at making science education more accessible to students, especially those from northern Nigeria and other underserved regions.

She explained that the free tuition covers all tuition and other school fees for the two programmes for the duration of study.

‘Beneficiaries will enjoy 100% waiver of tuition and school fees,’ Mrs Muhammad stated in the announcement.

The university said the policy will also help increase enrolment in core science courses that often record low student interest despite their importance to technology and innovation.

Candidates who originally chose other programmes or other institutions but meet the admission requirements can still benefit, the registrar said.

‘Interested and eligible candidates are advised to effect a change of institution and course to FUT, Babura at any JAMB CBT Centre,’ she added.

Mrs Muhammad noted that the decision aligns with national efforts to strengthen STEMM education and produce graduates who can drive research, teaching, and industry growth across the country.

However, the statement directed prospective students to consult with the admissions office of the university for further details, guidance on the change of course process, and confirmation of eligibility.

Accordingly, the university urged qualified candidates to take advantage of the opportunity immediately, saying ‘the waiver takes effect for the current admission cycle.’

The presidential candidate of African Action Congress, AAC for the 2027 election, Omoyele Sowore has revealed the device allegedly used to track him by the Department of State Services, DSSS, during his recent trip to Port Harcourt, Rivers State to participate in the Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association.

Sowore had earlier on Tuesday alleged that he discovered that the DSS has been tracking his movements since he arrived in Port Harcourt for the NBA Conference.

He claimed that he noticed this after noticing some strange movements and decided to switch vehicles after he participated at the Kay Hikers gathering.

‘That was when we discovered an electronic tracking device attached underneath the security vehicle we had used that night,’ he claimed.

In an update on his social media handles on Wednesday morning, Sowore claimed that he has identified the device used to track him as Spytec GPS GL300.

He added that the tracker was which was attached to the vehicle he used in Port Harcourt on Sunday was a subscription-based tracking device with IMEI number 860201067972185.

Sowore, who is also the publisher of SaharaReporters however vowed that he will uncover the mastermind behind the deployment of the device.

He also alleged that the deployment of the device was evidence of jittery about him by the security operatives.

‘We will keep tracking the trackers at @OfficialDSSNG until we establish exactly who deployed this device and we know their intention already.

‘They are really scared!’ he said.

However, the DSS has not reacted to the claim as at the time of writing this story.

Recall that the DSS is currently prosecuting Sowore over alleged defamatory posts against President Bola Tinubu published on his social media handles.

A 500-level student of the Department of Radiography and Radiation Sciences, Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Ifeoluwa Akangbe, has emerged as one of the recipients of the Undergraduate Research Grant Award of the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN).

According to a statement by the University’s Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, Akangbe was selected under the RRBN’s ?5 million Undergraduate Research Grant initiative, established to support promising undergraduate researchers who demonstrate academic excellence and propose research capable of bridging the gap between theory and practice.

As one of the successful applicants, Akangbe will receive a ?100,000 grant to support his research. The award highlights the growing culture of undergraduate research and academic excellence in the Department of Radiography and Radiation Sciences and at UNIOSUN.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, expressed delight at the development, describing Akangbe’s success as a significant achievement for the student, his supervisors, the department and the University.

Professor Adebooye said the recognition further enhanced UNIOSUN’s visibility in radiography and health sciences research, while demonstrating the quality of training and research opportunities available to its students.

The Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed the University’s commitment to advancing research, innovation and scholarship, noting that supporting undergraduate researchers was essential to equipping students with the knowledge and skills required to translate academic learning into practical solutions to societal challenges.

The University congratulates Akangbe, his supervisors and the Department of Radiography and Radiation Sciences on the achievement, expressing confidence that the award would further inspire other students to pursue research and academic excellence.