Category: PM News

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said its operatives have seized more than N2 billion worth of counterfeit alcoholic beverages from about 20 illegal stores concealed within makeshift parking spaces on the premises Trade Fair Market, Lagos.

NAFDAC said the counterfeit alcoholic beverages were uncovered during a raid at Trade Fair Market, Lagos.

The agency disclosed this in a statement on its X handle on Tuesday, following an operation by its Investigation and Enforcement Directorate.

NAFDAC said the raid followed credible intelligence that exposed illegal activities within the market complex.

It said operatives uncovered more than 20 illegal stores concealed within makeshift parking spaces on the premises.

Suspects were found blending and counterfeiting popular alcoholic beverage brands, revalidating expired and unsafe drinks for resale, and stockpiling banned imported products.

NAFDAC disclosed that two suspects were arrested during the operation, while operatives evacuated the seized products from the complex.

The agency warned against activities that could endanger public health through the circulation of counterfeit, expired or unsafe alcoholic beverages.

It urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspected illegal manufacturing, product revalidation or sales activities.

NAFDAC provided its official complaints line, 0800-1-NAFDAC (0800-1-623322), for reporting suspicious activities.

Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton are now home to one of North America’s fastest-growing Nigerian diaspora populations, with professionals in tech, healthcare, finance and logistics settling across all three cities over the past decade. Federal officials marked that growth publicly in August 2026, telling a diaspora economic conference in Toronto that Nigerians abroad are a development asset rather than a community to manage from a distance. For a readership that follows both Nigerian politics and the economics of its adopted country closely, Canada’s regulated online casino sector has quietly turned into a consumer-protection story worth understanding, not just a leisure one, especially for anyone who moved money and habits from a Nigerian betting app to a Canadian one without checking what changed underneath.

iGaming Ontario’s market performance report puts a number on the shift: Ontarians wagered CA$9.88 billion in July 2026 alone, the biggest single month in the market’s four-year history, across 48 licensed operators running 83 sites.

Gambling.com, one of North America’s most widely read independent gambling editorial authorities, tracks exactly that distinction on a province-by-province basis for readers trying to tell a licensed operator from an unregulated one. Its guide to finding an online casino site operating under Ontario or Alberta’s rules has become a reference point as more Canadians, including newer arrivals still learning the provincial landscape, ask the same question for the first time.

Monthly active player accounts in Ontario climbed to roughly 1.37 million in July 2026, up 44 percent year on year and 3.5 percent from June, meaning a growing share of the province’s adult population now holds an account with a licensed operator rather than an offshore site with no Canadian oversight at all. That volume of licensed activity, built up over four years, is what Gambling.com’s guide is reacting to: a market that has gone from a handful of operators at launch in April 2022 to 48 today, each one vetted before it is allowed to take a Canadian dollar, and each one required to report its numbers back to the regulator every month.

That scale lands differently for Nigerian-Canadian readers than it would for most of the Canadian audience, because Nigeria’s own setup looks nothing like Ontario’s. A 2024 Supreme Court ruling stripped Nigeria’s National Assembly of the power to legislate on lottery and games of chance, handing that authority to individual state houses instead. The result is a patchwork of state-level rules with no single national licensing body, a structure that sits close to the opposite of Ontario’s single-regulator model, where one agency licenses every operator taking Canadian bets and publishes the results every month for anyone to check. A player who moves from Lagos State to Ogun State can cross into a different gambling jurisdiction without leaving the country; an Ontario resident, wherever they live in the province, cannot.

Alberta joined Ontario as Canada’s second province with a regulated digital gambling market on July 13, 2026. The Alberta iGaming Corporation has confirmed that the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission now regulates the commercial market while the corporation itself runs day-to-day operations, bringing licensed online casino and sports betting access to a second province for the first time since the market’s launch. Operators had to clear player-protection and responsible-gambling standards before being allowed onto the new provincial list, the same gatekeeping Ontario applied before granting its 48 licenses, and the same gatekeeping Nigeria’s federal lawmakers no longer have the power to apply nationwide at all.

For newer arrivals still working out which provincial rules apply where they live, that two-province contrast is the practical takeaway: Ontario and Alberta residents can check a platform against a public licensing register before depositing a single dollar, an option unavailable almost everywhere else in the country. Nigerian-Canadians weighing whether to trust a given operator now have a far simpler test to apply in those two provinces than the one they grew up with back home, where no such national register exists at all and enforcement varies from state to state.

A recent piece on Nigerian diaspora engagement in Canada touched on the same communities putting down roots in Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton, and the regulatory gap between where Nigerian-Canadians are building their lives and where their money is protected is only going to matter more as other provinces weigh their own path toward regulation. For now, Ontario and Alberta are the only two places in the country where that test actually exists.

Hon. Suleiman Abubakar Magaji has said that infrastructure and development initiatives addressing practical community needs can provide a meaningful basis for engaging young Nigerians in public affairs ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking to journalists at the flag-off and groundbreaking ceremony for the Lambata-Bida-Mokwa-Makera-Kontagora Federal Highway in Bida, Magaji commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the approximately ?1.5 trillion Federal Government project, which covers the reconstruction and dualisation of a 376-kilometre highway corridor in Niger State.

The project incorporates reinforced concrete pavement, an engineering approach intended to provide durability along a major transportation route serving communities, agricultural producers and commercial activities.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has extended warm felicitations to Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi, the Baba Adini of Yorubaland and Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) of the Lagos APC, on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

In his congratulatory message, Governor Sanwo-Olu described Prince Olusi as an epitome of loyalty, trust and integrity, noting that Baba, who is also the Atobatele of Ekiti, possesses rare gifts of wisdom, patience and peacemaking.

The Governor recounted his personal experiences with Pa Olusi, saying his fatherly counsel has helped him in numerous ways in the discharge of his duties as Governor while navigating the political terrain.

‘Baba has taken me like a son – in fact, I am his political son! He has handheld me, advising me on several occasions on matters of politics and governance. He has done all these with reverence for the office that I occupy. Baba is a rare human being,’ Governor Sanwo-Olu said.

‘At 90, Baba remains a repository of wisdom and knowledge, especially on the political and historical development of Lagos and the Western Region of Nigeria. Baba will effortlessly make reference to different incidents that led to certain political decisions from the days of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Action Group, up to the current republic.’

Governor Sanwo-Olu further described Prince Olusi as a loyal party man who believes strongly in party supremacy.

‘As a committed politician, Baba Olusi believes that the party is supreme. He always says that no political group or association can stand the test of time if the party’s decisions are not obeyed by members,’ the Governor added.

‘As Baba, Prince Olusi, celebrates his 90th birthday, my prayer on behalf of my family and the good people of Lagos State is for him to enjoy good health for the rest of his life. I wish Prince Oluyole Olusi a happy birthday,’ Sanwo-Olu said.

The Federal Government has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the suspect who allegedly stabbed a medical laboratory scientist at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, condemned the attack on the health worker, Mr Lawal Olasunkanmi, describing it as ‘barbaric and unacceptable’.

In a statement issued on Monday night by Ado Bako, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Salako called on the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that the alleged assailant was brought to justice.

‘No grief, frustration or dissatisfaction with care can justify violence against a health worker performing his lawful duties,’ the minister said.

He assured the public that the ministry would monitor the case to ensure that justice was served.

Salako said the incident highlighted the need to enforce measures introduced by the ministry on Aug. 5 to improve the safety of health workers in federal tertiary hospitals.

He explained that the measures covered enhanced security, the establishment of violence-prevention teams, incident-reporting mechanisms, cooperation with law-enforcement agencies and improved procedures for handling complaints.

‘These safeguards must translate into effective protection for health personnel across health facilities,’ he said.

The minister also appealed to health workers at FMC Abeokuta, who had embarked on industrial action following the incident, to resume their duties immediately to prevent further disruption to healthcare services.

He urged the workers to allow the security agencies to conduct their investigation and discharge their responsibilities.

Salako called on the hospital management to provide the injured staff member with appropriate medical care and support, while ensuring that security arrangements were strengthened in accordance with Federal Government directives.

He also expressed the government’s condolences to the family of the deceased patient, noting that the loss of a loved one required compassion and appropriate attention.

The minister advised patients and relatives dissatisfied with services at the hospital to pursue their grievances through the facility’s formal complaints mechanism.

He said complaints should be examined fairly and resolved on their merits rather than through violence.

Salako reiterated that the protection of health workers was fundamental to the delivery of safe and uninterrupted healthcare.

He stressed that hospitals must remain secure environments where medical personnel could perform their duties without fear of attack and patients and their families could seek treatment with confidence.

Lagos State can deliver better healthcare, education and other essential services by cutting waste and changing how public funds are spent, 2027 governorship hopeful Funso Doherty has said.

Speaking during an interview with Nevon Media, Doherty. the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate said Lagos had sufficient resources to improve essential services but needed better spending priorities.

‘The challenge of Lagos is not so much resources as it might be for many other states. The challenge is setting the right priorities, focusing government expenditure on the segments of society that need government intervention,’ he said.

Doherty, who recently unveiled a 34-point manifesto, had pledged free education through secondary school and technical colleges, free healthcare for pregnant women and children under 16, and free textbooks and nutritious meals for public school pupils. He also promised 150,000 housing units within four years.

Explaining his proposed approach to government spending, Doherty questioned the allocation of approximately ?80 billion for capital expenditure to the Lagos State House of Assembly in the 2025 budget, which he said exceeded the allocation for the entire health sector.

He argued that increasing investment in healthcare and education would better reflect the needs of residents.

‘The amount that we prioritise on health and education gives you a clear sense of the prioritisation that is attached to that number,’ he said.

Doherty also maintained that government projects could be delivered at significantly lower costs, citing informal polls he conducted suggesting that private-sector operators could execute some projects for less than half their reported government costs.

He insisted that the success of an administration should be measured by improvements in people’s lives rather than the amount of money spent.

‘Government can be doing activities all day and spending money from morning till night; it may not have any impact on the lives of the people. And that’s not governance,’ he declared.

The governorship candidate said his proposed administration would focus on efficient resource allocation, public welfare and measurable improvements in service delivery.

The University of Benin (UNIBEN) has organised a pre-launch gathering of the Oba Erediauwa Memorial Lecture Series with the Nigerian historian, Prof. Osarhieme Osadolor, delivering the keynote lecture.

Osadolor said the writings of the late Oba of Benin, his public service and defence of Benin traditions offered valuable lessons in leadership and governance.

The lecture, themed: ‘Oba Erediauwa’s Voice in Discourse: Defining His Intellectual Legacy’, was organised as part of activities marking the 10th coronation anniversary of the current Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II.

Osadolor described the late traditional ruler as a philosopher king, whose approach to leadership reflected Plato’s concept of governance guided by wisdom and commitment to the common good.

He argued that Erediauwa’s intellectual legacy deserved greater attention, particularly his writings and contributions to public discourse on governance, education, religion and the economy.

The historian traced Erediauwa’s journey from his early education and public service career to his ascension to the Benin throne in March 1979.

‘Born on June 22, 1923, as Prince Solomon Igbinoghodua Akenzua into the Benin royal family, Erediauwa studied law at the University of Cambridge, England.

‘After returning to Nigeria in 1952, he joined the public service, worked in various government offices and ministries, and rose to the position of permanent secretary before retiring in 1973.

‘He reigned as the Oba of Benin from March 1979, until his death in April 2016, during which he promoted Benin traditions and engaged in wider conversations on national development and public affairs,’ he said.

The lecturer highlighted the late Oba’s literary contributions, including his autobiography, ‘I Remain, Your Obedient Servant,’ and ‘The Cradle of Ideas,’ a collection of his speeches and writings published in 2013.

‘Oba Erediauwa’s writings and public interventions reveal a traditional ruler who understood the value of intellectual engagement and the need to balance traditional institutions with the demands of modern society,’ he said.

In his address, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, SAN, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, also underscored the historical value of Erediauwa’s intellectual contributions.

Omoregie noted that education of the late Oba, his public service experience and writings offered insights into Nigeria’s political development.

The vice-chancellor described the late Oba’s autobiography as an important historical resource, particularly for understanding events surrounding the Nigerian Civil War from the perspective of a former public servant.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed his commitment to the Rainbow Coalition, insisting that the cross-party political platform will remain in place despite criticism from some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors.

Wike made the position known on Tuesday during a media chat with selected journalists in Abuja, where he reiterated his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, despite remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former Rivers State governor maintained that his commitment was specifically to Tinubu’s second-term ambition and did not extend to endorsing governors seeking re-election.

‘What I’ve said to Nigerians and to Almighty God is, ‘I’m going to support Tinubu for him to realise his second-term ambition.’ I did not promise any governor,’ Wike said.

He challenged anyone with grievances against him to confront him directly rather than using the Rainbow Coalition as a basis for criticism.

Wike cited his support for some APC candidates, including Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, as evidence that his political decisions should not be misrepresented.

‘If you have any problem with me, come out back and face Wike. Don’t go on under the Rainbow Coalition. For the Rainbow Coalition, it has come. It will stay. There’s nothing anybody can do about it,’ he said.

The minister’s remarks come amid growing pressure from some APC governors, who have questioned his continued membership of the PDP while supporting Tinubu, the candidate of the ruling party.

The governors have argued that Wike must either formally join the APC or clarify his political allegiance, insisting that he cannot simultaneously belong to the opposition and mobilise support for the ruling party.

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal recently reiterated the position, saying political actors must choose a clear party affiliation rather than support different parties at the same time.

‘Our message is very, very clear: be on one side. You can’t be on two sides,’ Lawal said in an interview with Channels Television’s Inside Sources.

He added that the APC expected support for the party at every level, maintaining that its position on the matter remained unchanged.

The Rainbow Coalition is a cross-party political platform established to mobilise support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign. Wike has consistently maintained that his support for the president does not require him to abandon the PDP.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticised Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal for referring to him as ‘that guy’.

Speaking during a media parley on Tuesday, Wike claimed that he forced Lawal to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), despite the governor’s financial strength.

Wike said Lawal had money but could not stand against him politically.

‘Ask the governor of Zamfara State. When he was in the PDP, I chased him away. He had money, but they couldn’t withstand me,’ Wike said.

The minister also alleged that Lawal left the PDP with money he had reportedly kept for another person.

Wike said Lawal later joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite previously accusing him of working against the PDP in favour of the ruling party.

‘He had money plus other money I heard he was keeping for somebody. Ask him, he ran away from the PDP.

‘And I did him a favour. He now came to the APC. Meanwhile, this was one of the governors who said I was killing the PDP for the APC. The same person now ran to the APC,’ Wike said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Modupe Oriyomi Ativie before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over an alleged visa fraud involving N31.06 million, $3,600 and pound 1,815.

Ativie was arraigned by the EFCC’s Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate before Justice A. T. Muhammed on a five-count charge bordering on alleged visa fraud, advance fee fraud and obtaining money under false pretences.

The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, disclosed the development in a statement released on Tuesday.

The commission alleged that Ativie and her company, Eudora and Aegle Management Consulting Limited, collected money from individuals under the guise of securing Canadian visa-sponsored employment opportunities for them.

One of the charges alleged that the defendant and her company obtained N8.58 million from Atamuotoru Dikiari Michael through his sister, Rita Chikeru Owhonda, in July 2024, under the pretence of securing visa-sponsored employment for him in Canada.

Another count accused the defendant and her company of obtaining N22.482 million from Augustine Olague between November 21, 2024, and January 23, 2025, under the same pretext.

The offences are said to contravene Section 1(1)(a) and (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and are punishable under the relevant provisions of the law.

Ativie, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following her plea, prosecution counsel, I. Agwu, urged the court to fix a date for trial and order the defendant’s remand pending the determination of the case.

Defence counsel, J. Kehinde, subsequently applied for bail to enable the defendant to prepare for her trial.

In a brief ruling, Justice Muhammed ordered that Ativie be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the case until October 16, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application.

Petition Triggered Investigation

The EFCC said the prosecution followed a petition by Michael Aiamunotorudikari, who alleged that he and other victims lost money in different currencies to the defendant.

According to the petitioner, his sister introduced him to the company’s services in June 2024 after it was presented as an agency facilitating Canadian visas and employment opportunities for Nigerians seeking to travel abroad.

He alleged that he initially paid $5,800 into an account associated with the defendant’s business and later transferred N8.58 million into another account linked to the defendant.

The petitioner further claimed that the defendant became unreachable after receiving the payments and that his efforts to recover the money proved unsuccessful.

The commission said its investigation revealed that the defendant received a total of N31.062 million from the petitioner, as well as $3,600 and pound 1,815 from other alleged victims.

The case has been adjourned until October 16 for a ruling on the defendant’s bail application, while the allegations remain before the court.