Category: PM News

Senator representing Borno South, Mohammed Ndume, has urged the military to intensify operations to secure the release of schoolchildren and other residents abducted from communities in the southern part of Borno State.

Ndume made the appeal during a visit on Wednesday to the headquarters of the Theatre Command, North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, in Maiduguri.

The senator said the prolonged captivity of the victims had heightened anxiety among their families and communities, with some of them now spending more than 100 days in the hands of their abductors.

His appeal covers schoolchildren kidnapped from Mussa and Lassa in Askira Uba Local Government Area, passengers abducted along the Buratai axis, as well as victims still being held after the attack on Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area.

While commending the military for its sustained campaign against insurgency in the North-East, Ndume said the prolonged absence of the victims from their homes made it necessary for him to press for stronger action.

He said, ‘Most importantly, General, I know you are putting in your best efforts towards the rescue of our children in Mussa and Lassa, the passengers abducted along the Buratai axis and the remaining victims from Ngoshe.

‘We know you are making efforts, but because of the anxiety we all share and the length of time these people have remained away from their families, I have to continue to push for greater effort.’

According to the senator, the call should not be viewed as a condemnation of the military or a dismissal of the sacrifices being made by troops fighting insurgency.

Rather, he said, it was his duty as a representative of the people to continue to draw attention to the plight of his constituents and demand action on their behalf.

‘Like Oliver Twist, I have come to ask for more for my people. It is my moral obligation to commend you when you do well and also bring the concerns of my constituents before you,’ he said.

Ndume also praised the level of coordination among the military and other security agencies, describing the synergy as an important factor in the progress being made against insurgents in the region.

Responding, the Theatre Commander, Major General Abubakar Abdulsalam, thanked the senator for the visit and said the concerns he raised regarding the abducted victims had been noted.

Abdulsalam reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to ongoing operations aimed at protecting communities, restoring stability and facilitating the return of people displaced by years of insurgency.

He attributed the gains recorded in the theatre to the support provided by the Chief of Army Staff, whom he said had a strong understanding of the security and operational challenges confronting the North-East.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has commenced a resource verification exercise at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), with a team led by Professor Uwaoma Uche visiting the institution to assess its readiness to run selected programmes.

The NUC team is conducting the verification for the Broadcasting, Public Relations, and Journalism and Media Studies departments at the university.

The exercise, which took off on Monday, August 17, 2026, is part of the regulatory processes through which the NUC evaluates universities and their academic programmes to ensure that they meet the required standards.

During the visit, the NUC team leader, Professor Uwaoma Uche, was received by the Vice-Chancellor of LASUSTECH, Professor Olumuyiwa Odusanya, and other officials of the institution.

As part of the welcome activities, Professor Odusanya presented a souvenir to Professor Uche, marking the visit and the commencement of the resource verification exercise.

The verification team is expected to assess key areas required for the effective delivery of the programmes, including academic personnel, available facilities, equipment, learning resources and other relevant requirements.

The exercise is also expected to provide the commission with an opportunity to determine whether the university has the necessary human and material resources to support quality teaching, learning and research in the affected disciplines.

The visit underscores the importance of regulatory oversight in ensuring that academic programmes offered by Nigerian universities meet prescribed standards and provide students with the facilities and academic environment required for effective learning.

The outcome of the verification exercise is expected to guide the NUC’s assessment of the programmes at LASUSTECH and determine the next steps in the regulatory process.

Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has commended the Katsina North Youth Development and Awareness Initiative (KNYDAI) for endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration for continuity in 2027.

Governor Radda gave the commendation during the empowerment ceremony organized by KNYDAI at Daura Motel, where 1,500 beneficiaries received financial and material support.

The intervention, championed by KNYDAI Grand Patron, Alhaji Lawal Sade, Sarkin Fadan Daura, targeted widows, persons with disabilities, vulnerable persons and grassroots members to enable them start or expand small businesses.

‘I sincerely appreciate Alhaji Lawal Sade and KNYDAI for this initiative and for endorsing President Tinubu and our administration. This shows confidence in the Renewed Hope Agenda and in what we are doing in Katsina,’ Governor Radda said.

He described the empowerment as strategic to poverty reduction and job creation at the grassroots.

‘This programme will help our youths and vulnerable citizens acquire skills, establish businesses and become self-reliant. Government cannot do it alone. We need partners like KNYDAI,’ he added.

The Governor assured the people of Daura and Katsina North of sustained investment in development and wider access to government programmes. He urged beneficiaries to utilize the support productively.

Earlier, KNYDAI Chairman, Dr. Imam U.M. Aljazira, said the organization focuses on education, youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, civic awareness and community development.

He stated that the 1,500 beneficiaries were selected to increase household income and promote economic independence.

Dr. Aljazira announced that KNYDAI has endorsed President Tinubu and Governor Radda for 2027, citing their commitment to youth development, education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure and digital growth.

He noted that continued Federal-State collaboration is critical to delivering tangible benefits to communities.

The event was attended by the Principal Private Secretary, Hon. Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji; members of the Katsina State Executive Council; and other stakeholders.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State on Thursday visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, days after securing a second term in office.

Adeleke arrived at the State House at about 5:20pm and proceeded to the President’s office for a closed-door meeting with Tinubu. He was accompanied by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and several political associates.

The meeting marked the first known encounter between Tinubu and Adeleke at the Presidential Villa since the Osun governorship election held on August 15.

During the visit, Adeleke presented his Certificate of Return to Tinubu, following its presentation to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osogbo on Wednesday.

The governor secured 511,067 votes in the election to defeat the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes, giving Adeleke a winning margin of 66,252 votes. He won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas.

Adeleke contested the election on the platform of the Accord Party after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, under which he won his first term in 2022. Despite his new party affiliation, the Osun PDP backed his re-election bid.

The visit followed Tinubu’s congratulatory message to Adeleke after the election. The President described the result as a reflection of the will of the people of Osun State and said Adeleke’s victory demonstrated that democracy could continue to flourish in Nigeria.

Tinubu also urged the governor to unite the people of Osun State, irrespective of their political choices during the election, and focus on growth, stability and socio-economic development.

Adeleke, for his part, has previously praised Tinubu over the conduct of the election and reaffirmed his support for the President’s bid for a second term in the 2027 presidential election. He described Tinubu as an Osun son.

That political alignment adds significance to Thursday’s meeting, coming just days after Adeleke’s decisive victory in a closely contested election and as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, the specific details of the discussions between the two leaders were not immediately made public. Reports described the engagement as a closed-door meeting, with issues discussed yet to be formally disclosed.

The meeting also comes against the backdrop of Tinubu’s earlier appeal to Osun voters, shortly before the election, to freely vote for their preferred candidate. The President had said adequate security arrangements were being made to enable voters to cast their ballots without fear or intimidation.

The governor had, at the INEC presentation ceremony on Wednesday, dedicated the certificate to the people of Osun State and called for reconciliation following the contest. He also announced plans to establish a N500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund to support verified victims and affected families.

African Democratic Congress, ADC, chieftain Dele Momodu has dismissed Nyesom Wike’s claim that he could have helped the All Progressives Congress, APC, win the Osun governorship election.

Momodu said the Federal Capital Territory Minister would not have changed the outcome even if he had personally gone to Osun.

Speaking on News Central Television on Wednesday, the Ovation publisher described Wike’s statement as an ’empty boast.’

‘When I listened to him, I had to respond instantly because I knew that was an empty boast. If he had been in Osun, he would not have achieved anything,’ Momodu said.

Wike had earlier claimed that he would have been in Osun to help the APC secure victory if President Bola Tinubu had wanted the party to win the election ‘at all costs.’

Momodu argued that Wike’s political influence could not be greater than that of the Senate President and several APC governors who were unable to deliver the state for the ruling party.

‘He is not bigger than the Senate President and all the governors who carried themselves to Osun to try to deliver Osun to the APC,’ he said.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party won the August 15 election after polling 511,067 votes.

APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji came second with 444,815 votes.

Momodu also warned that Wike’s remarks should not be dismissed lightly as the country moves towards the 2027 general election.

‘But the danger in his statement must be noted, especially as we approach January 2027,’ he said.

He accused the FCT minister of overstating his electoral strength and recalled the performance of members of the former PDP G-5 governors in the 2023 elections.

Momodu said three of the governors who later contested senatorial seats lost, arguing that political office does not give any individual absolute control over voters.

‘So, that is to tell you that governors don’t have the power of life and death,’ he said.

‘Wike would have to divide himself into 36 states plus Abuja for him to perform the kind of magic he thinks he can perform.’

Momodu described Wike’s original statement as ‘unusual, uncommon and unfortunate’ for a serving minister of the Federal Republic.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned two men before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over allegations of unlawfully selling bank access credentials capable of granting entry into a financial institution’s database.

The defendants, Gideon Bakpa Aghogho and Oscar Ebere Chukwuebuka, were arraigned on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, before Justice F.N. Ogazi alongside a third suspect, identified as Scott, who is currently at large.

They are facing an eight-count charge bordering on the unauthorised disclosure and supply of bank credentials under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.

The EFCC alleged that the suspects supplied sensitive access information linked to one of Nigeria’s bank systems.

One of the charges accused Aghogho and Chukwuebuka, in collaboration with Scott, of unlawfully supplying an access code identified as a local Administrative Credential, ITSD, between July 24 and 26, 2026.

The commission alleged that the credential could provide access to the bank’s Virtual Center Platform and was supplied with the intention of facilitating an offence.

The EFCC also accused Aghogho of knowingly disclosing bank access credentials, including server IP and domain details, between April and May 2025 without authorisation.

According to the charge, the information was allegedly disclosed to facilitate access to the bank’s database in exchange for $15,000.

When the charges were read before the court, Aghogho pleaded not guilty, while Chukwuebuka pleaded guilty.

Following Aghogho’s plea, prosecution counsel, Bilkisu Buhari, requested a date for trial and urged the court to remand him in a correctional facility.

For Chukwuebuka, the prosecution asked the court to review the facts of the case following his guilty plea.

Justice Ogazi adjourned the matter until August 27, 2026, for review of facts and further proceedings.

The court also ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional centre pending the next hearing.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has dismissed reports suggesting that it has placed a blanket ban on Uber, Bolt and other e-hailing operators at airports under its management.

The authority said its discussions with the operators were focused on creating a system that would protect passengers, strengthen airport security and ensure that commercial transport activities are properly regulated within airport premises.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by FAAN management, the authority stressed that it had no intention of restricting travellers from using e-hailing services.

‘FAAN wishes to clarify that its position is not, and has never been, directed at limiting passengers’ access to transportation options or undermining the important role that e-hailing services play in providing convenient mobility to air travellers,’ it said.

According to FAAN, airports operate under strict security and operational regulations, making it necessary for commercial transport providers to function within an organised framework.

It said such a system would ensure that vehicles and drivers operating at airports are ‘identifiable, accountable and properly integrated into the airport’s operational and security framework.’

The clarification followed reports of restrictions affecting e-hailing services at some FAAN-managed airports, notably the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

At the centre of the issue is the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS), a digital platform introduced by FAAN to improve the management of ground transportation at airports.

FAAN said ACHRAMS was designed to enhance passenger safety, provide greater operational visibility and support cashless transactions.

The authority rejected suggestions that the platform was intended to displace established e-hailing companies.

‘ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and is not intended to compete with or replicate the services provided by Uber, Bolt or any other e-hailing platform,’ FAAN stated.

Rather, it explained that the system was created to enable the authority to monitor commercial transport activities within the airport environment and manage applicable concession and related charges.

FAAN said it had received complaints and identified challenges associated with commercial transport operations around airport facilities, including passenger solicitation and touting.

These concerns, it said, necessitated ‘a clear and effective framework’ for regulating commercial transportation at airports.

The authority said it was therefore engaging e-hailing operators to develop ‘a mutually workable operational framework’ that would preserve the convenience offered by the services while addressing safety, security, accountability and passenger experience.

‘The current situation should therefore not be misconstrued as FAAN declaring a blanket prohibition on e-hailing services,’ it said.

FAAN acknowledged that some passengers might have experienced inconvenience during the ongoing discussions, assuring the public that it was working to resolve the issues as quickly as possible.

The talks, according to the authority, are centred on passenger safety and security, operational visibility, accountability and the proper management of pick-up points within airport premises.

‘The Authority and the affected operators are currently engaged in constructive discussions towards resolving the outstanding issues,’ it stated.

FAAN expressed confidence that the discussions would produce a mutually acceptable arrangement soon, maintaining that passenger welfare remained its primary concern.

It reiterated its commitment to providing a ‘safe, secure, orderly and seamless airport experience’ while continuing to work with Uber, Bolt and other mobility providers to ensure travellers have access to safe and convenient transport services.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has teamed up with the National Union of Dispatch Riders and Mail Operators of Nigeria (NUDRMON) to strengthen the identification of legitimate dispatch riders and expose criminal elements operating within Abuja.

The Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Transportation Secretariat, Mr Chinedum Elechi, announced the partnership on Wednesday during a meeting with officials of the union in Abuja.

The collaboration follows the union’s introduction of a central database, registration portal and unique identification numbers for its members. The system is intended to enable authorities and members of the public to distinguish registered riders from unidentified operators.

Elechi said the initiative was particularly important amid concerns over unidentified riders allegedly using dispatch boxes to conceal illegal items.

He praised NUDRMON’s leadership for developing the identification system, describing it as ‘crucial in differentiating genuine riders from the bad eggs’.

The secretary also assured the union of the support of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the Transportation Secretariat.

‘What is important is that you must collaborate and work very closely with the government,’ he said.

‘With this initiative, now we can isolate the bad eggs because it is usually common to paint people with one brush.

‘Now the bad ones can be fetched out. Congratulations on this initiative. Our doors are open and ready to work with you in whatever way.

‘We are happy to partner with you. After today we can say we are partners with dispatch riders. We can only protect those we have a relationship with’.

Earlier, NUDRMON National President, Mr Emmanuel Kwaghdega, said the database and body number system was designed to give every registered rider a unique and verifiable identity.

Kwaghdega said the dispatch riding industry had become an important source of employment for thousands of Nigerian youths, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that riders provide daily services to restaurants, pharmacies, e-commerce companies, financial institutions, businesses and households.

However, he said the industry was being undermined by security concerns, traffic violations, accidents, multiple operational permits and the absence of a uniform identification system.

According to him, the union recognised the need to establish a system that would enable the government to identify legitimate operators while making it easier to hold offenders accountable.

‘We realised that we cannot continue like this. If we want government to protect us, government must know us; if we want the public to trust us, the public must be able to identify us.

‘Also, if we want to hold bad operators accountable, we must distinguish them from genuine riders.

‘Our vision is: one ride, one identity and one verifiable body number.

‘With credible data, we can improve security, promote responsible riding, strengthen accountability, support accident and welfare interventions, engage estates and businesses, and provide government with reliable information for better planning and regulation.

‘We also believe this database can provide the foundation for addressing challenges such as multiple operational permits, through engagement towards a more harmonised and rider-friendly framework,’ he said.

Kwaghdega said government involvement would transform the initiative from an internal union project into a broader solution to security and transportation challenges in the FCT.

‘It becomes a collaborative solution to a shared FCT transportation and security challenge.

‘We, therefore, appreciate the FCTA Transportation Secretariat for believing in this initiative and for choosing collaboration over confrontation and organisation over uncertainty,’ he said.

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike on Thursday told FCT residents why they should vote for second term of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and return of Philip Aduda as their senator in the in the 2027 elections.

Wike made the explanation while inspecting the ongoing construction of the five-kilometre Zaudna-Kaba-Kagini Road.

Speaking with residents of Zaudna community during the inspection, Wike noted that campaign for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly election had begun.

The Minister said the President deserves the votes of the FCT residents because of his scorecard in terms of projects delivered for the residents.

He recalled that the road project was considered in response to the appeal made by the affected communities during the inauguration of the Old Keffi Road from Dei Dei to Kado Fish Market.

The minister assured the residents that the project would be completed before the end of December to enable them to celebrate Christmas ‘in a big way’.

‘We are happy to see that you are all happy with the ongoing road construction in your community.

‘I informed President Tinubu that I am coming here and he sent his greetings, with assurance that the road will be completed before the end of December so you could enjoy Christmas with the finished road.

‘Streetlights will be installed as part of the project delivery to strengthen businesses in affected communities.

‘Therefore, you should continue to support the contractor so he can deliver the project as scheduled,’ he said.

Drumming support for Aduda, the minister asked the resident to reject Sen. Ireti Kingibe, currently representing FCT in the Senate, whom, he said, they hardly see.

He described Aduda, who lost the seat to Kingibe in 2023, as a ‘man of the people’ with the requisite experience and quality to represent them better.

Asking if Kingibe had ever visited their communities to ask for their problems, the residents chorused ‘no’, saying, ‘she doesn’t know where we live’.

‘You see, Ireti only knows how to talk on television. You should not vote for her and don’t listen to her again.

‘If she’s serious, tell her to come solve your problems. One of the problems is this road. Is it not? And Tinubu is already solving it,’ he said.

Earlier, the acting Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Mr Richard Dauda, explained that the road connects Zaudna to Kaba Kagini communities and eventually terminates at Kubwa Road.

Omoyele Sowore, activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, has launched a fresh attack on Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed over his defence of former military ruler, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, accusing him of attempting to rewrite a controversial chapter of Nigeria’s history.

Sowore, in a detailed response to Datti’s criticism of his remarks on Babangida’s 85th birthday, said Nigerians cannot be asked to forget events associated with the former military president’s administration, including the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the assassination of journalist Dele Giwa.

He accused Datti of presenting Babangida through the lens of compassion while ignoring what he described as the painful consequences of decisions taken during his years in power.

‘Age does not erase history; compassion for an elderly person does not require Nigerians to pretend that decisions made while that person wielded enormous power had no consequences,’ Sowore said.

The activist questioned why Nigerians should celebrate Babangida’s legacy without confronting the controversies surrounding his administration.

He specifically referenced the June 12 election, where he said Nigerians voted but their mandate was denied after the election was annulled.

According to Sowore, Babangida’s later acknowledgment that MKO Abiola won the election did not erase the damage caused by the decision to cancel the result.

He also brought up the 1986 killing of journalist Dele Giwa, who died after a parcel bomb was delivered to his home, saying the controversy surrounding the incident remains part of Babangida’s historical record.

‘If I killed journalist Dele Giwa with a parcel bomb, I should be judged for it,’ Sowore said, while listing actions he believed Nigerians had a right to interrogate when assessing leaders.

Sowore said his criticism was not based on Babangida’s age but on his record as a military ruler.

He argued that growing old should not shield former leaders from public scrutiny.

The AAC presidential candidate also criticised what he described as Nigeria’s culture of protecting powerful figures while demanding ordinary citizens forget past wrongs.

His response followed Datti Baba-Ahmed’s criticism of his remarks on Babangida, where the former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate accused Sowore of lacking compassion and suggested that political disagreements should not remove humanity from public discourse.

However, Sowore rejected the argument, insisting that accountability and compassion could exist together.

He also accused Nigeria’s political elite of maintaining close relationships behind closed doors despite public political battles.

Sowore referenced an encounter during the 2023 election peace accord meeting, alleging that politicians who publicly opposed one another often displayed friendliness when cameras were away.