Category: PM News

Businesswoman and Group Chief Executive Officer of Felak Concept Group, Aisha Achimugu, has received the Trailblazer Award from Daily Times Nigeria as part of activities marking the newspaper’s centenary celebration.

Achimugu was honoured last Thursday at an award ceremony held at the ThisDay Dome, Kur Mohammed Avenue, Central Business District, Abuja.

The award was presented by the Board, Management and Organising Committee of the Daily Times Nigeria @100 celebration through the Times Heroes Award Council.

According to the organisers, the recognition was bestowed on individuals and organisations that have distinguished themselves through innovation, excellence, visionary leadership and significant contributions to Nigeria’s growth and development.

Achimugu, who is also a philanthropist, dedicated the award to Nigerians who have supported her over the years, as well as her children.

‘On behalf of myself and my children, I dedicate this award to all Nigerians that have stood by me all through. This award meant a lot to me and I am glad I am part of Daily Times awardees,’ she said.

The organisers said recipients of the DTN@100 Times Heroes Awards would be featured among the personalities and institutions recognised in the forthcoming Nigerian Grand Book, a 700-page commemorative publication documenting important milestones in the country’s development.

The publication is expected to serve as a historical record of individuals, institutions and achievements that have contributed to Nigeria’s progress.

According to the organisers, the Nigerian Grand Book forms part of Daily Times’ centenary project aimed at documenting the country’s development and projecting its positive contributions and achievements to a global audience.

The publication draws from the newspaper’s 100-year archive and was developed over a period of 15 years.

The organisers said the contributions and achievements of award recipients would be permanently documented in the publication as part of a broader effort to preserve Nigeria’s institutional and national history.

The foreword to the Nigerian Grand Book was written by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The President’s contribution, according to the organisers, underscores the national importance of the publication and its objective of preserving significant achievements, contributions and developmental milestones for future generations.

Achimugu’s recognition adds her name to the list of Nigerians being acknowledged during the Daily Times centenary for their contributions to the country.

The award also highlights her activities in business and philanthropy, areas in which she has continued to build a public profile through her leadership of Felak Concept Group and various social initiatives.

The Daily Times Nigeria @100 celebration is part of activities commemorating the newspaper’s 100-year history and its contribution to journalism and national development.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Sept. 19 for the conduct of five by-elections in four states; Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta.

The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Mr Tunde Oketola, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

Oketola said that the by-elections comprised of one federal and four state constituencies. According to Oketola the by-elections will take place at Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe, while the state constituencies shall take place at Disina and Sakwa State Constituencies in Bauchi State; Udu and Dawakin Kudu in Delta and Kano State Constituencies respectively.

The Osun State Government has rejected opposition by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to the extension of the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Professor Clement Odunayo Adebooye, insisting that the university is governed by law and not the preferences of any staff union.

The government, in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, said the decision on the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure was not arbitrary and was subjected to the appropriate governmental and legislative processes.

The statement followed reports that ASUU had resolved to deploy a team to Osogbo over the extension of Adebooye’s tenure.

According to the government, ASUU has the right to express its views on issues affecting the welfare and administration of the university but lacks the statutory authority to determine or override the responsibilities vested in the Visitor, Governing Council or Osun State House of Assembly.

‘ASUU, as a trade union, representing academic staff, has an important role to play in promoting the welfare and professional interests of its members.

‘However, that role does not confer upon the Union the authority to determine, direct or substitute its judgment for the statutory responsibilities vested by law in the Visitor, the Governing Council or the Osun State House of Assembly,’ the statement said.

The government also clarified that Adebooye’s current tenure remains valid until January 2027, arguing that the extension does not amount to a retroactive alteration of his tenure.

It said Governor Ademola Adeleke, in his capacity as Visitor to UNIOSUN, acted within the framework of his statutory responsibilities, while the State House of Assembly subsequently commenced and completed the legislative process required to provide a statutory basis for the tenure extension.

‘Following the Visitor’s decision, the State Legislature commenced the process of amending the Osun State University Establishment Law to provide the necessary statutory framework for the tenure extension.

‘The amendment was subsequently considered and passed by the House of Assembly after legislative consideration of the relevant provisions,’ the government said.

It therefore dismissed suggestions that Adeleke acted alone or disregarded the university’s governing framework.

‘The Visitor cannot be said to have acted outside the law where the competent legislative authority has exercised its constitutional legislative function to amend the enabling law,’ it added.

The government further distinguished between interpreting an existing law and the Legislature’s authority to amend it, stressing that a provision contained in the earlier version of the UNIOSUN Establishment Law could be reviewed through the appropriate legislative procedure.

It said the consideration and passage of the amendment by the House of Assembly demonstrated that the matter had been subjected to legislative scrutiny.

The government consequently cautioned against what it described as attempts to create ‘an unnecessary atmosphere of crisis, illegality or institutional instability’ around the matter.

It maintained that no staff union, including ASUU, had the statutory authority to instruct the Visitor or Governing Council on how to exercise powers legally vested in them.

‘The University is governed by its enabling law, and not by the unilateral interpretation of any union or pressure group,’ the statement said.

The government also stressed that the Governing Council remains the appropriate statutory organ for matters within its jurisdiction, while the Visitor exercises powers assigned to the office under the university’s enabling framework.

It described staff unions as important stakeholders in the university but said they could not substitute themselves for the institution’s legally constituted governing organs.

Against the backdrop of the controversy, the government urged members of the university community to avoid actions, statements or mobilisations capable of creating tension within the institution.

It said UNIOSUN should remain focused on its core mandates of teaching, research, innovation and community service, particularly as the institution prepares for its forthcoming 16th Convocation Ceremonies.

The government also said it remained open to constructive engagement with recognised unions and other stakeholders, provided such engagement was conducted within the boundaries of the law and the established governance structure of the university.

‘For the avoidance of doubt, the Osun State Government remains committed to the rule of law, due process, institutional stability and the authority of the legally constituted organs responsible for the governance of Osun State University,’ the statement said.

Adeleke’s administration therefore urged all stakeholders to allow the relevant statutory institutions to discharge their responsibilities without what it described as unnecessary pressure, misrepresentation or attempts to portray the university as being in crisis.

A 54-year-old Customs officer, Mr Etteng Ise, has died in a lone motor accident along the Ikom-Calabar Highway in Cross River.

The accident occurred near Alesi Village in Ikom Local Government Area at about 2:56 p.m. on Monday.

The Police command in Cross River confirmed the incident in a statement signed by its spokesman, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, on Monday in Calabar.

Eitokpah said Ise, who served at the Mfum Border in Etung Local Government Area, reportedly lost control of his vehicle while avoiding a pothole.

He said the vehicle veered off the road into the bush and collided with a tree. According to him, the victim was rushed to Holy Family Hospital, Ikom, where a medical doctor confirmed him dead. He said Ise’s remains were subsequently deposited at the hospital mortuary.

The command commiserated with the deceased’s family, colleagues and the Nigeria Customs Service over the incident. It urged motorists to exercise caution, avoid excessive speed and remain vigilant while driving, particularly on highways.

The command also appealed to road users to remain attentive to road conditions and take necessary precautions to prevent avoidable crashes.

Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has described Hafidh Ameir Hassan, the late husband President of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan ‘First Gentleman that carved a unique path in the country’s history.’

Obasanjo said this in a message of condolence to the President Tanzania over the passing of her husband.

The former Nigeria’s President condolence letter to the Tanzanian President was made available to newsmen by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Tuesday.

In a condolence letter to the President in Zanzibar, the former President noted that, ‘rather than seeking the noisy glare of the political spotlight, late First Gentleman remained a humble and dedicated agricultural academic, choosing to anchor’s wife family with quiet grace.

‘He stood by your side through the decades, long before you took up the monumental task of leading your great country, providing the warmth of home and a steady anchor. His passing is not only a profound personal loss for you and your children, but it is also a loss for the wider East African community that respects your leadership and service.’

Obasanjo stated that the news of the passing was received with a deep sense of shock and profound sorrow, and ‘on behalf of my family and on my own behalf, I write to express our heartfelt condolences to Your Excellency, your children – including Wanu – and the entire bereaved family during this difficult and painful moment of bereavement.

‘The loss of a lifelong companion and pillar of strength is a heavy burden to bear, but I pray you find comfort in the enduring legacy of peace, quiet dignity, and steadfast support that he exemplified throughout your shared journey, adding, it was a profound personal loss for you and your children, but it is also a loss for the wider East African community that respects your leadership and service.

‘We take solace in knowing that he lived a meaningful life and left behind a wonderful family that continues to contribute meaningfully to public life and society.

‘May the Almighty God grant you the fortitude and divine comfort needed to bear this irreparable loss, and may He grant the soul of our dear brother, Hafidh Ameir Hassan, eternal rest,’ Obasanjo was quoted as saying in the statement.

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, has arrested 53 suspects over alleged involvement in kidnapping, murder, attempted murder, burglary, stealing and cultism.

Among those arrested are 21 undocumented foreigners found living in two apartments in Owo, the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area.

The state commander of the corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said on Monday that the foreigners were arrested following intelligence from members of the Fulani community.

He said they claimed to have entered Nigeria from neighbouring West African countries to engage in menial jobs and phone repairs but could not produce documents authorising their stay.

‘I want to call the attention of the general public to the embarrassing way that foreigners traverse the state’s forests and cities under different guises.

‘Again today, we have 21 of them that rented only two apartments in Owo under the guise of coming in from neighbouring West African countries to do menial jobs and repairs of phones, being coordinated and assisted by indigenes.

‘We found out that they don’t even have ECOWAS papers to guarantee their stay.’

Adeleye warned that foreigners abandoned by their sponsors could become involved in criminal activities.

‘Apart from being likely to be suspected illegal immigrants, most times when their sponsors abandon them, they become ready tools as criminals and accomplices,’ he said.

He added that four suspects had been arrested over an alleged self-kidnapping scheme in which false alarms were raised on social media to extort money.

‘We have four people here today that give self-kidnapping and raise false alarms using social media. We moved in and were able to arrest the first two,’ he said.

Adeleye also said seven suspected kidnappers were arrested through collaboration with the Fulani community. A military uniform was recovered from one of them, while two kidnapped boys were rescued.

He said one of the victims had suffered machete wounds but was rescued alive and was receiving treatment.

‘With the cooperation we received from the Fulani community, we were able to jointly carry out an operation where a military uniform was recovered from one of the kidnappers, and we successfully retrieved the two kidnapped boys, though wounded.

‘In an attempt to kill one of them, they macheted his head, his body and every part of him. We brought him back alive and he is now stable.’

The All Progressives Congress in Adamawa State is facing a major political setback as businessman and frontline governorship aspirant Abdulrahman Bashir Haske prepares to defect to the Allied Peoples Movement ahead of the 2027 elections.

A close political associate of Haske, Alhaji Hussaini Ahmadu Har, confirmed that plans to move Haske’s political structure from the APC to the APM were at an advanced stage.

Har described the impending defection as a ‘political tsunami’ that could significantly alter Adamawa’s political landscape. He disclosed that several Haske loyalists had already left the APC for the APM.

In a post on his verified Facebook page, Har shared Haske’s photograph alongside the APM logo, declaring, ‘The movement is a fight to the finish. Do not be left out of the train of victory. Come back to reality and join the movement.’

‘Abdulrahman Haske is coming in 2027, and by God’s grace, he will win,’ the post added.

Haske was considered one of the APC’s leading governorship aspirants in Adamawa, with supporters insisting that he stood a strong chance of securing the party’s ticket through a free and fair primary. However, his camp believes that internal party arrangements deliberately shut him out of the contest.

His expected departure would represent a significant loss for the APC, given his popularity, extensive grassroots network and formidable political structure across the state.

Although Haske is reportedly outside Adamawa, momentum around his anticipated defection is growing. Sources said his movement to the APM could trigger a wave of defections from the APC, African Democratic Congress, Labour Party and other political parties.

Haske’s supporters maintain that he was frustrated out of the APC by powerful interests threatened by his growing influence and political ambitions.

Further details are expected as consultations continue.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has narrowly edged Peter Obi in a new national online poll, defeating the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate by just 1,067 responses in a contest involving 69,110 approved participants.

The Oxford Metro Analytics National Trust Poll put Tinubu ahead with 24,469 responses, representing 35.41 per cent of the total, while Obi recorded 23,402 responses, or 33.86 per cent.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar came third with 18,430 responses, representing 26.67 per cent. The razor thin 1.54 percentage point gap between Tinubu and Obi offers a snapshot of a highly competitive political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Omoyele Sowore recorded 1,016 responses, or 1.47 per cent, while 638 participants said they did not trust any candidate yet. Seyi Makinde received 519 responses, Goodluck Jonathan 284, while 204 participants were undecided and 122 selected other candidates.

Tinubu leads three zones

The poll revealed a sharply fragmented political map, with Tinubu leading three of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. He led the North West, North Central and South West, while Atiku dominated the North East and Obi controlled the South East and South South. In the North West, Tinubu secured 4,129 responses, representing 43.10 per cent of 9,579 participants. Atiku followed closely with 3,775 responses, or 39.41 per cent.

Tinubu also led the North Central with 6,370 responses, representing 36.97 per cent of the zone’s 17,228 participants. Obi came second with 5,364 responses, or 31.14 per cent. The President’s strongest regional performance came from the South West, where he received 10,968 of 25,199 responses, representing 43.53 per cent. Obi followed with 7,788 responses, or 30.91 per cent.

Obi dominates South East

Obi recorded his strongest regional performance in the South East, where he secured 5,796 of 9,061 responses, representing 63.97 per cent. Atiku came second with 2,550 responses.

Obi also led the South South, receiving 2,389 of 5,760 responses, or 41.48 per cent. Tinubu followed with 1,785, while Atiku received 1,433. Atiku’s strongest regional showing came in the North East, where he secured 1,235 of 2,227 responses, representing 55.46 per cent. Tinubu recorded 523 responses, while Obi received 452.

Tinubu wins 21 reporting areas

The state level results showed an even more competitive picture. Tinubu led in 21 of the 37 state and Federal Capital Territory reporting areas, while Obi and Atiku each led in eight. Tinubu’s leading states included Benue, Borno, Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Zamfara and the FCT. His biggest state level haul came from Lagos, where he received 9,265 of 21,956 responses, representing 42.20 per cent.

Obi’s strongest performances came largely from the South East. He received 582 of 585 responses in Ebonyi, 247 of 251 in Anambra and 569 of 666 in Abia. He also led in Enugu and Imo.

Atiku, meanwhile, recorded overwhelming leads in Kebbi and Nassarawa, securing 661 of 662 responses in Kebbi and 590 of 599 in Nassarawa.

Kogi, FCT, Rivers produce nail biting contests

Three reporting areas produced particularly close contests. Kogi recorded the tightest result of the poll, with Tinubu receiving 39 responses against Atiku’s 38, a difference of just one response.

In the FCT, Tinubu secured 5,599 responses against Obi’s 5,278, giving the President a margin of 321 responses, or 2.05 percentage points. Rivers was another closely fought contest, with Tinubu receiving 975 responses against Obi’s 892. Atiku came third with 568.

Lagos, FCT dominate participation

The national figures, however, were shaped significantly by the uneven distribution of participants.

Lagos accounted for 21,956 responses, while the FCT contributed another 15,666. Together, they represented more than half of the national dataset. At the other end of the scale, Taraba recorded just 20 responses, while Zamfara had 57, Gombe 58 and Yobe 59.

Oxford Metro Analytics therefore cautioned that percentages from states with very small response totals should be interpreted carefully.

The organisation described the exercise as an open online public pulse poll rather than a scientific probability survey.

Participation was voluntary and self selected, with no demographic, population or projected turnout weighting applied. The platform used duplicate controls, privacy protected hashed identifiers, device and browser signals, server side uniqueness locks, approval statuses and fraud flagging tools to reduce repeat or suspicious submissions.

However, Oxford Metro Analytics acknowledged that these measures cannot make an open online poll representative of Nigeria’s entire electorate.

The Convener of the Olalekan Ayinla Foundation and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Olalekan Ayinla, has launched a fresh mobilisation drive for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, urging Nigerians, particularly the Yoruba, to rally behind the President.

Ayinla made the call on Sunday amid intensifying political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, accusing opposition parties of resorting to what he described as fabricated narratives in an attempt to discredit the Tinubu administration.

The APC chieftain said political competition should be driven by performance, credible alternatives and sustainable policies rather than what he described as attempts to mislead the public or undermine the government through unrealistic promises.

‘Democracy is a game of the survival of the fittest. It is not about bringing up policies you already know cannot see the light of day simply because you want to tarnish the image of the present administration,’ he said.

Ayinla urged Nigerians to look beyond the criticisms of the administration and assess what he described as the impact of its projects and programmes across the country.

He maintained that the Tinubu administration had initiated several programmes and infrastructure projects, urging Nigerians to position themselves to benefit from the opportunities they provide.

‘We should look for a way to enjoy the dividends of the massive projects and programmes being done by the Bola Tinubu administration instead of looking for his mistakes,’ he said.

Making a direct appeal to the Yoruba, Ayinla described Tinubu’s presidency as a historic opportunity for the ethnic group and called for stronger support for the President.

‘It is an opportunity for us to have him as the President. The Yoruba race should show more support for their own,’ he said.

His comments come as political parties and interest groups begin to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Olalekan Ayinla Foundation has continued to undertake grassroots mobilisation and empowerment initiatives across Lagos State in support of programmes associated with the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

President Tinubu described the death of Mr Peter Chukwuemeka Chijioke Onwubuariri, Assistant Director, Media, at the Presidential Villa as a painful loss to the Presidency, the News Agency of Nigeria, the media community and the nation.

The veteran journalist and public servant who died after a prolonged illness was a former North American Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria

He was posted to the Presidential Villa in 2014 and subsequently served in the media teams of three successive administrations – those of Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

A consummate journalist, Onwubuariri covered a broad range of critical national and international issues, including foreign affairs, telecommunications, politics and finance. He brought extensive professional experience, sound judgment, and a deep understanding of how government and the media work to his assignments.

Before his posting to the Presidential Villa, he rose through the ranks at the News Agency of Nigeria. He served as an Assistant Editor-in-Chief, contributing significantly to the agency’s journalism and editorial operations.

In reaction to his passage in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, his spokesperson, President Tinubu commended the late Onwubuariri for his dedication, professionalism and commitment to duty.

The President also noted that years of service of the deceased across three administrations reflected his competence, loyalty to the nation and enduring commitment to public service.

The President said:

‘Peter was a dedicated journalist and a committed public servant whose professionalism and calm disposition earned him the respect of his colleagues and associates. His years of service to three administrations are a testament to his competence, integrity and commitment to duty.

‘His passing is a great loss to the Presidential Villa, the media fraternity and Nigeria. He will be remembered for his diligence, his wealth of experience and his contributions to journalism and national service.’

President Tinubu also extended his heartfelt condolences to Onwubuariri’s wife, Catherine, his three children, his extended family, colleagues and friends.

The President prayed that God Almighty grant the family the strength to bear the loss and grant the soul of the departed eternal rest.