Category: PM News

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said reviving and completing capital projects abandoned under previous administrations for decades are what he has been doing in office for the past three years.

Wike said his administration’s focus on reviving abandoned projects, completing critical infrastructure and delivering new projects had transformed Abuja since he assumed office.

He made the remarks on Saturday after inspecting major infrastructure projects across Abuja, as he reflected on achievements recorded since Aug. 21, 2023.

To document the achievements, Wike announced plans by the FCT Administration to publish a comprehensive report on projects completed and initiated during his tenure.

He said the publication would detail projects inherited and completed, as well as new projects awarded under his administration.

Wike said his team had remained committed to its mandate despite initial challenges, adding that residents could attest to the changes recorded across the FCT.

‘I am happy that in these three years in office, our team has remained completely committed to doing the job.

‘Challenges have come, but we have been able to surmount them.

‘The residents of the FCT can attest and testify that indeed things have changed for the better,’ he said.

The minister said the administration had prioritised aggressive infrastructure delivery, urban renewal and completion of critical projects to change the narrative about Abuja.

‘When we came in, many doubted what could be achieved. Today, you can see the results for yourself,’ Wike said.

He said his administration had also revived and completed critical capital projects abandoned under previous administrations, some dating back to 1999.

‘The track record of what we have accomplished in these three years is there for everyone to see.

‘When you look at the actual records of what we have achieved, you will be shocked at how far we have come,’ he added.

Wike expressed satisfaction with his contribution to the development of the FCT, saying he was proud of the progress recorded during his three years in office.

‘I am very happy and proud that I have been able to contribute my own quota to the development of the FCT,’ he said.

The Police Command in Delta says it has uncovered a warehouse used for adulterated beverages in Warri.

The Spokesman for the command, Bright Edafe, said this in a statement on Sunday in Warri.

Edafe said that the warehouse was discovered on Monday by the State Anti Kidnapping Unit (SAKU) of the command.

He said that the police team was in a stop-and-search operation on the Warri-Agbarho Expressway when they intercepted a Toyota Sienna conveying quantities of the beverage.

‘The operatives intercepted a Toyota Sienna conveying quantities of ‘Gbefun hot drink’ suspected to be adulterated and arrested the 44-year-old driver.

‘Further investigation led the operatives to a warehouse at Lower neighbourhood in Ginuwa, Warri, where additional quantities of the suspected adulterated drink were recovered.

‘Another beverage and a Suzuki Shuttle bus, loaded with similar products were also recovered at the premises of the warehouse,’ he said.

Edafe said that the suspected operators of the warehouse fled on sighting the police.

The police spokesman added that efforts were on top gear to arrest the fleeing suspects and unravel the source and distribution network.

He said that the Commissioner of Police in charge of the command, Mr Yemi Oyeniyi, commended the operatives for their professionalism.

Edafe said the commissioner had directed diligent investigations into the matter with a view to ensuring that the suspects linked with the crime were apprehended.

The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) has withdrawn an ultimatum against Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Honourable Chris Nkwonta.

The decision came at a stakeholders’ meeting held on Sunday at the party secretariat in Umuahia. Leaders chose to set past grievances aside as the party looks towards the 2027 general elections.

Earlier the State Working Committee had given the two lawmakers 14 days to apologise. It accused them of anti-party remarks after they appeared to back Labour Party Governor Alex Otti for a second term. The committee described the comments as ‘unstatesmanlike, irresponsible, embarrassing and inimical’ to the party’s unity and prospects in the state.

Kalu had said in a national television interview that Otti would win the 2027 governorship race. Nkwonta was reported to have stated, in the presence of First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, that he would vote for the governor.

State Chairman Chijioke Chukwu addressed the meeting and said: ‘What the stakeholders today are waiting for me to address is the issue of our leader, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and the Right Hon. Chris Nkwonta, who the party, in their wisdom, met at the State Working Committee level and gave an ultimatum for them to withdraw statements they made, which the State Working Committee and a few party co-leaders met and felt that those utterances constitute what we refer to as anti-party activity.

‘We have listened to them privately, not publicly, because they are leaders, and they have reached out to us, and we have found out that they have reason for going the way they went, not that they want to bring the party down, but they felt that things were not properly done in a manner that was satisfactory to them.

‘For those situations, because those decisions were taken using the proper apparatus of the party, that is the State Working Committee, the State Working Committee has only two options – either to sit down and review the situation and be able to issue statements that will reflect our current position, or ask the stakeholders and party members to move a motion, adopt that motion, and revise that decision.’

He added: ‘The second option we have chosen is so that the public will know that we are not withdrawing what was perceived as undemocratic and threats to our leaders, but that we wanted to maintain the sanctity, supremacy, and authority of the party.

‘So that second decision is what we will do because they have reached out to us, explained to us that these utterances were not made in good faith.’

APC candidate for Aba North and South Federal Constituency, Uzor Azubuike, moved the motion for unconditional pardon. He said the step was needed to keep all members united for the party’s benefit.

ýThe Osun State Police Command has launched a campaign aimed at discouraging young Nigerians from engaging in political violence, electoral thuggery, digital manipulation and other forms of destructive online activities.

ý

ýThe campaign tagged ‘My Future is Greater Than Political and Digital Thuggery,’ was unveiled on Saturday, August 22, 2026, during a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the Command to commemorate the International Youth Day at the Officers’ Mess, Oke-Fia, Osogbo.

ý

ýSpeaking at the event, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, represented by the Area Commander, Police Headquarters, Osogbo said the Inspector-General of Police had approved the nationwide commemoration of the Nigeria Police International Youth Day 2026 under the National Youth Leadership and Security Initiative.

ý

ýHe said this year’s observance was aligned with the United Nations theme, ‘Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,’ stressing that despite differences in background and experiences, Nigerian youths shared the aspiration for a country where they could ‘rise, thrive and lead with dignity.’

ý

ýThe Commissioner said the new campaign was designed to send a strong message to young Nigerians that their future should not be sacrificed for political violence or the manipulation of digital platforms.

ý

ý’We will no longer allow political violence, electoral thuggery, digital manipulation, or the exploitation of our youth to steal your tomorrow,’ he said.

ý

ýHe identified five key pillars of the National Youth Leadership and Security Initiative as leadership, security, innovation and enterprise, responsible citizenship, and digital responsibility.

ý

ýAccording to him, the pillars are intended to provide practical tools for young people to reject destructive behaviours, whether in the form of physical violence during elections or online activities such as hate speech, digital attacks and manipulation.

ý

ýThe Commissioner urged young Nigerians to recognise that their future was more valuable than any temporary financial inducement to participate in political violence.

ý

ý’Your future is greater than any temporary payment for political violence. Your future is greater than any keyboard used to spread lies or destroy reputations,’ he said.

ý

ýHe also warned against allowing political actors and other individuals to exploit the energy and passion of young people for selfish purposes.

ý

ýThe Commissioner assured the youths that the Nigeria Police Force was committed not only to enforcing the law but also to partnering with young Nigerians and investing in the development of responsible future leaders.

ý

ýHe urged participants at the stakeholders’ engagement to embrace the five pillars of the initiative and demonstrate their commitment through their actions.

ý

ý’Declare it with conviction and prove it with your actions: ‘My future is greater than political and digital thuggery,” he charged.

ý

ýHe expressed optimism that the initiative would contribute to building a peaceful, prosperous and secure Nigeria, saying the country’s youths remained critical to achieving that goal.

ý

ýThe Commissioner concluded by calling for collective action among the police, stakeholders and young Nigerians to build a better Nigeria based on their ‘common aspirations.’

In his remarks at the event, the Area Commander Temitope emphasised education for the youth. According to him, the Nigerian youths need only three things to liberate themselves from manipulation by politicians for violent activities. These three ingredients he said are: education, education and education.

Sen. Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar has pledged to immediately begin work as Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election.

Yari, who represents Zamfara West Senatorial District, thanked President Bola Tinubu and the APC leadership for the confidence reposed in him following his appointment.

The Presidency announced the constitution of the campaign council on Saturday in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Under the arrangement, Tinubu will serve as Chairman of the council, while Vice-President Kashim Shettima will be Vice-Chairman I. Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, was appointed Secretary.

The expanded campaign council has 223 members.

Reacting to his appointment, Yari said he was fully committed to the responsibility.

‘I accept this responsibility with deep gratitude and full seriousness.

‘My sincere thanks go to President Bola Tinubu and the party for the trust placed in me, and to our party leadership for the confidence. I do not take it lightly,’ Yari said.

He said the 2027 campaign would go beyond seeking votes, describing it as ‘a conversation with the Nigerian people in every state, every language, every faith about the future we are building together.’

Yari promised to run a disciplined and inclusive campaign anchored on unity and respect for Nigerians.

He urged Nigerians, regardless of their political affiliations, to embrace progress rather than division, insisting that the APC would rely on its achievements to win public support rather than ‘noise.’

The former Zamfara governor said the campaign would commence without delay.

‘By the grace of God, and with the effort of us all, we will deliver victory in January 2027,’ he concluded.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Development Committee has described the recent death of a referee during a fitness test in Abuja as an unfortunate incident.

However, it insisted that the official underwent the required medical examinations before participating in the exercise.

Chairman of the committee, Faith Irabor, said there was no negligence in the medical process leading to the referee’s participation in the fitness test.

Irabor made this known in Abuja while addressing newsmen on Friday in Abuja at the ongoing pre-season fitness and technical training for referees ahead of the 2026/27 football season.

She said referees were required to undergo medical examinations, including an electrocardiogram (ECG), in their respective states before being cleared to participate in the fitness exercise.

‘Before we do any physical fitness test, there are conditions. The referees will do the ECG from their state of origin. The doctors will certify them fit for the exercise.

‘When they come here, they meet the medical team here that will also cross-check and certify them that they are fit to do the exercise,’ Irabor said.

According to her, the deceased referee presented a medical report signed by a doctor certifying him fit for the exercise.

She said the medical team of the Nigerian Sports Commission ) also conducted further checks on the referees using a prescribed medical format before they were cleared.

‘He brought his medical report. A doctor signed, certifying him fit for the exercise.

‘The medical team also certified them fit because there is a pre-format that we gave them to use, and that was what they used. The papers are there,’ she said.

Irabor said officials were also closely monitoring the referees during the physical exercise to respond immediately to any sign of distress.

‘Even as they were training, we still followed them as they were training. Everybody stands at alert.

‘So, when he was trying to stagger, we saw that and before he fell down, we took him and brought him for resuscitation and they took him to the hospital,’ she said.

She also dismissed reports that the ambulance at the venue was not functional when the incident occurred.

‘It is not true. The ambulance is working. It was there, and that was what we used to convey him to the hospital.

‘We had a standby vehicle, and we had an ambulance there. We don’t take people’s lives for granted,’ Irabor said.

The chairman described the death as a very unfortunate event, insisting that all necessary precautions had been taken.

‘He had all his records, he was certified by the doctors, and then what happened happened in the field. So, it wasn’t like there was negligence.

‘No, there was no negligence at all,’ she said.

Irabor, however, said the committee was considering further strengthening the medical screening process to provide additional safeguards for referees.6

She said one of the measures being considered was to have referees undergo their medical examinations at the National Hospital rather than relying solely on examinations conducted in their respective states.

‘Maybe what we will do, we will be taking more drastic action. Instead of allowing them to come from their home, we go to the National Hospital and ask them to do it, so that all of us will just be on the same page,’ she said.

Also speaking, Ayuba Peter, an FCT based Premier League referee, described the incident as unfortunate and said it should not be attributed to negligence.

‘This incident that happened was quite an unfortunate one. I wouldn’t say it was negligence on the part of anyone.

‘This is not the first time he was undergoing the test. He has been doing it and has been on the list for a long time,’ Peter said.

Peter said referees were aware of the intensity of the fitness exercise and were expected to prepare adequately before participating.

Similarly, Akinwale, a referee from Oyo State, said the incident was unfortunate, noting that referees were required to undergo ECG and further medical checks before taking part in the exercise.

‘It was just an unfortunate event. Before you come down to this place, you have to do your ECG.

‘Once the ECG gives you assurance that you’re okay and can run this race, you bring the ECG down to this place, and the medical team will check it and do the proper check-up for you,’ he said.

Akinwale said the incident should be regarded as an unfortunate occurrence despite the medical procedures in place.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that his mission is to keep opposition figures Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi under political pressure ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Wike made the remark on Friday in Abuja while insisting that Nigeria currently has no strong opposition party capable of challenging the ruling party.

The FCT minister, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but is backing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, said the crisis rocking the PDP has weakened the party’s position as the country’s major opposition platform.

According to him, opposition politicians seeking relevance should not expect him to make their political journey easier.

‘I don’t want them to feel well. It is not my wish for them to feel well. My business is to make them not feel well all day, because they will be having high blood pressure,’ Wike said.

He added that his role in politics was to ensure his opponents remained under pressure, saying competition was about defeating rivals and not helping them succeed.

‘When you are having a contest with somebody, your business is not to make him feel well. Your business is to make sure that you beat him thoroughly,’ he said.

Wike said he was not concerned about how Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, or Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, reacted to his criticisms.

‘How Atiku feels, how Obi feels, does not give me a headache,’ he said.

The former Rivers State governor has repeatedly attacked both opposition figures in recent weeks.

On Thursday, Wike described Atiku as a ‘voodoo economist’ while criticising his promise to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.

He also accused the former vice-president of changing his position on subsidy removal for political reasons.

Wike has previously dismissed Obi’s presidential ambition, describing him as a ‘social media presidential candidate.’

More than 500 Islamic scholars, preachers and clerics have passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s administration, throwing their support behind his leadership amid renewed political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The declaration came as debates continue across the country over the performance of the Tinubu administration, particularly its economic reforms and policies.

The gathering of Islamic leaders, which brought together scholars and religious figures, expressed confidence in the direction of the government and its efforts to address Nigeria’s challenges.

The endorsement adds a new dimension to the growing political momentum ahead of the 2027 elections, with major political actors already positioning themselves for the contest.

Details of the scholars’ resolutions and the reasons behind the vote of confidence are expected to emerge later.

Nigerian military has listed rescue of at least 59 kidnapped victims and killing of 11 terrorists among the achievements of its troops deployed for operations across the country between Aug. 14 and Aug. 20.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

Onoja, while giving details of military’s operational activities across the country, said the troops of Operation HADIN KAI rescued eight kidnapped victims during the week in the North East.

He said troops also rescued three victims from Gwamnare Forest in Bauchi and one 63-year-old Cameroonian national abducted along the Gwoza-Cameroon axis.

According to him, troops also neutralised three terrorists, recovered weapons and other war materials, while 47 family members of terrorists and six fighters surrendered to troops in Borno.

In the North-West, Onoja said the troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 28 abducted persons across Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states between Aug. 17 and Aug. 19.

He said the troops also neutralised four terrorists, arrested an explosives courier and other suspected terrorist collaborators, and recovered weapons, ammunition, motorcycles and cash.

He said that the operation further led to the arrest of six suspected informants linked to the abduction of an immigration officer’s family and staff and students of Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda.

‘In the North-Central, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE compelled kidnappers to release 13 victims, comprising two men, five women and six children, in Kogi state.

‘The troops also neutralised two suspected criminals, arrested an arms courier and recovered an AK-47 rifle, ammunition and other weapons during separate operations in Taraba and Benue.

‘Similarly, troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE recovered several firearms, fabricated rifles, Dane guns and ammunition during a raid on suspected criminals in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau.

‘In Kwara, troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD neutralised one terrorist and recovered an AK-47 rifle, while seven kidnap victims were rescued during a night patrol in Patigi Local Government Area,’ he said.

Onoja said that troops of Operation DELTA SAFE arrested suspected kidnappers and an arms trafficker, recovering seven locally made pistols, ammunition and a camouflage vest in the South-South.

He said that troops also disrupted three illegal refining sites in Rivers, recovering about 85,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil.

The defence spokesman said the troops of Operation UDO KA dismantled suspected secessionist camps, recovered weapons and safely cleared multiple improvised explosive devices across Imo, Anambra and Abia in the South-East.

He said the troops also dismantled an illegal bunkering site in Abia, arrested suspects and recovered suspected stolen Automotive Gas Oil, motorcycles and a vehicle.

‘On Aug. 20, troops conducting clearance operations towards ‘Mother Valley’ in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra cleared 11 IEDs.

‘Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy commissioned a solar-powered water project for residents of Ward F2 in Surulere, Lagos, as part of the AFN’s civil-military cooperation initiatives,’ he said.

Onoja said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops for their sustained successes in rescuing abducted citizens, neutralising terrorists and degrading criminal networks.

He said that Oluyede also commended the synergy between the military, other security agencies and local security groups, while urging Nigerians and community leaders to continue providing useful information to troops.

‘He also appreciated the media for its professionalism and balanced reportage of military operations, assuring Nigerians that the military will sustain the tempo of operations until peace and security are restored nationwide,’ he said.

The Nigerian Mental Health and Nigeria Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group, have commended the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approving an amendment to National Mental Health Act 2021 to decriminalise attempted suicide.

The groups, in a statement on Saturday in Lagos, described the decision as a significant step toward treating self-harm as a public health issue rather than a criminal offence.

They commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, and the Federal Government for the action, while urging the National Assembly to urgently pass the amendment.

According to the groups, no fewer than 15,000 Nigerians die by suicide annually, while an estimated 300,000 suicide attempts occur each year, citing figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The Founder of Nigerian Mental Health, Chime Asonye, said survivors of suicide attempts needed medical and psychological support rather than prosecution.

‘A person who survives a suicide attempt needs a clinician, not a charge sheet. The Council has now said so, and that matters,’ Asonye said.

He said decriminalisation alone would not be enough to address the country’s suicide crisis, noting that the Department of Mental Health Services mandated by the National Mental Health Act 2021 had not been established.

‘The Minister’s target of reducing suicide deaths and attempts by 15 per cent by 2030 will not be met by repealing a law alone,’ he said.

The groups also urged the National Assembly to prioritise the National Suicide Prevention Bill 2024, currently before it.

They said the legislation should provide a comprehensive framework for suicide prevention, data collection, crisis intervention, funding and specialised training for healthcare workers and first responders.

The Convener of the Nigeria Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group, Prof. Taiwo Sheikh, described the proposed amendment and the Suicide Prevention Bill as complementary reforms.

Sheikh urged lawmakers to pass both measures during the current legislative session, warning that further delays could cost lives.

‘The amendment and the National Suicide Prevention Bill are two halves of one reform: one removes the punishment, the other builds what should be there instead.

‘Passing one without the other leaves the work unfinished.

‘The executive has moved; the question now belongs to the National Assembly: whether both pass in this session or wait for another. Every year they wait is counted in lives,’ Sheikh said.

The groups further called on the Federal Government to establish and fund the Department of Mental Health Services as provided by the Mental Health Act.

They also urged the Ministries of Health and Justice to publish the proposed amendment for public scrutiny, stressing that decriminalisation must be accompanied by practical reforms in police stations, hospitals and communities.