Momodu to Wike: You lie, you couldn’t have changed Osun result!

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.

How two men sold bank credentials for $15,000 – EFCC

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.

FAAN: No blanket ban on Uber, Bolt at Nigerian airports

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.

FEC approves N438bn road projects, trailer Park Concessions nationwide

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved road construction and rehabilitation projects valued at about N438 billion across the country, alongside a number of highway and trailer park concessions under public-private partnership arrangements.

The Minister of State for Works, Mr Bello Goronyo, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after Wednesday’s FEC meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting was presided over by President Bola Tinubu.

Goronyo said the council considered about 15 memoranda submitted by various ministries, including seven from the Ministry of Works covering major road construction and rehabilitation projects as well as trailer park concessions.

Among the approvals was the reconstruction of the Ado-Ekiti-Iyin-Aramoko-Itawure-Osun border road in Ekiti State. The project was awarded to Messrs CBC Global Civil and Building Construction Nigeria Ltd. for N159.83 billion.

The council also ratified variation orders for the rehabilitation of the Abeokuta-Iboro-Ilaro Road in Ogun State. The variation, valued at N54.12 billion, involves changing the pavement design from rigid concrete to asphalt.

In Rivers State, FEC approved the reconstruction of the 15-kilometre Port Harcourt-Eleme Junction-Onne Port Junction section of the East-West Road. RCC Nigeria Ltd. was awarded the project at N74.51 billion, with a nine-month completion period.

Another approval covers Phase II of the rehabilitation of the Ado-Ekiti-Afe Babalola University Road in Ekiti. The road forms part of the Ado-Ijan-Iluomobi-Imesi-Ondo border route and is expected to cost N54.52 billion.

The council also approved the construction of the Ilara-Iselu Road, Phases II-V, in Ogun State. JRB Construction Company Ltd. was awarded the contract for N94.24 billion, with completion scheduled for 24 months.

Goronyo said the projects were intended to strengthen transportation infrastructure, improve connectivity and stimulate economic activity across the affected areas.

‘Roads are the enablers of growth, and they are the ones that boost the economy of any nation,’ he said.

He added that the interventions would help ease the difficulties faced by Nigerians by improving the movement of people and goods and supporting trade and other commercial activities.

On the trailer park concessions, Goronyo said the council approved public-private partnership arrangements aimed at removing heavy-duty vehicles from highways and providing truck operators with properly developed parking facilities.

‘The essence of these trailer parks is to ensure that we move those trailers from our highways,’ he said.

Under the concession arrangements, private investors will design, finance, construct, operate and maintain the facilities, with no direct funding from the Federal Government.

One of the projects is the development of the 7.9-kilometre Dikko-Maje section of the Suleja-Minna Road in Niger State. Graciatech Engineering Nigeria Ltd. will develop the project at N56.75 billion under a 40-year concession.

FEC also approved the operation and maintenance of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway by LIB Concession Group at a cost of N96.43 billion for a 25-year concession period.

Another approval covers the development of a greenfield trailer park at Aro-Ngwa in Abia State. Greg Jane International Ltd. will undertake the project at N19.70 billion under a 50-year concession.

Goronyo said the approvals reflected the Federal Government’s strategy of attracting private-sector capital and expertise into the development and maintenance of critical national infrastructure.

He said the projects would contribute to reducing infrastructure deficits, improving road safety and creating a more conducive environment for transportation, trade and other economic activities nationwide.

The minister commended President Tinubu for prioritising road infrastructure and advancing projects across different parts of the country.

UNIOSUN Lecturer Adufe wins ACDI grant for Antimicrobial Stewardship study

A lecturer in the Department of Public Health, Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Dr Iyanuoluwa Adufe, has won a research grant from the African Centre for Development Impact (ACDI) under its 2026 Research Grant Competition.

Dr Adufe’s research proposal, titled ‘The BRIDGE Trial: A Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Co-Created One Health Behavioural Intervention to Improve Antimicrobial Stewardship in Nigeria,’ was selected for funding following a highly competitive review process involving local and international experts.

In a statement issued by the University’s Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, the grant was made possible through the generous support of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and is intended to support a high-quality, policy-relevant impact evaluation that will generate evidence to strengthen policymaking and development practice in Africa.

The project, which will run from August 17, 2026, to July 31, 2027, is expected to generate evidence that will contribute to improved antimicrobial stewardship in Nigeria while strengthening collaboration between researchers and policymakers.

According to the award letter signed by the Executive Director of ACDI, Professor Charles Teye Amoatey, Dr Adufe’s project is expected to contribute to the growing body of rigorous, policy-relevant research required to promote evidence-informed decision-making across Africa. The organisation also indicated that the researcher would join its network of African researchers committed to generating evidence for improved development practice and public policy.

As part of the grant requirements, Dr Adufe and her research team are expected to provide quarterly progress updates and a final technical and financial report. The research is also expected to result in at least one scholarly publication, while its findings will be presented to relevant decision-makers at a dedicated dissemination forum.

Reacting to the achievement, the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, congratulated Dr Adufe, describing the grant as another demonstration of the quality of research being undertaken by academics at the University.

Professor Adebooye said the achievement underscored the University’s commitment to promoting research that addresses pressing societal challenges and generates practical solutions capable of influencing policy and improving the lives of citizens.

He noted that the success further strengthened UNIOSUN’s growing profile as a research-driven institution whose academics are successfully competing for prestigious research grants and contributing to critical national and continental discourse.

The Vice-Chancellor commended Dr Adufe for her research excellence and urged other members of the University community to pursue innovative, interdisciplinary and impact-driven research capable of attracting international funding and contributing meaningfully to sustainable development.

The latest grant adds to UNIOSUN’s growing record of research achievements and externally funded projects, further reinforcing the institution’s commitment to research excellence, innovation, evidence-based policymaking and global academic engagement.

Adeleke unveils N500m fund for Osun pre-election violence victims

Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun says his administration will establish a N500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund to support verified pre-election victims and their families.

Adeleke said this while receiving his certificate of return at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Osogbo on Wednesday.

He said a verification and relief committee, chaired by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, would oversee the transparent identification of victims and equitable distribution of the support.

‘It is deeply painful that any family should have to bury a loved one because of politics. No election, political office or ambition is worth the life of a single citizen.

‘We remember Ezekiel Olapade, Aderogba Ajayi, Remi Abass, Kolade Eluyera and every other victim of electoral violence.

‘Regardless of political affiliation, they were first our brothers, sisters and fellow citizens. To their families, your pain is our pain, and your loved ones will never be reduced to mere statistics.

‘This is not a political intervention. It is a humanitarian responsibility.

‘No eligible victim will be excluded because of political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status.

‘In grief, there is no political party. In our common humanity, we are one people.

‘Even in victory, we must be sober in reflection. Citizens were injured, properties and livelihoods were destroyed and, most painfully, precious lives were lost,’ he said.

The governor also said his family, through the Springtime Development Foundation, would provide full scholarships up to university level for the children and dependants of those who lost their lives.

Adeleke dedicated the certificate to the people of the state, describing the occasion as a moment of gratitude, reflection and appreciation for the people who stood firm for democracy.

‘This certificate does not belong to Ademola Adeleke alone. It belongs to the people of Osun State.

‘Our workers, market men and women, youths, traditional and religious leaders, and every citizen who participated in this democratic process.

‘I am deeply humbled by the confidence you have renewed in me.

‘May God comfort every family that has suffered loss, heal the injured, bless our people and continue to bless the State of the Living Spring,’ he said.

The governor said he did not receive the certificate as a trophy or a weapon against anyone, but as a renewed contract with the people.

‘The election is over. The campaign is over. The contest is over. Now is the time to govern, unite, heal and build.

‘To those who voted for me, I thank you. To those who voted for another candidate, I thank you for participating in our democracy.

‘I will be governor for all, and together we must place Osun State above politics.

‘We shall continue to advance infrastructure, healthcare, education, workers’ welfare, youth empowerment and economic development, with accountability, inclusion and transparency.

‘You have given me another opportunity to serve, and I accept this responsibility with humility. I will work harder. I will listen more. I will do more,’ he said.

The certificate was presented by the INEC National Commissioner Supervising Osun, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, to Adeleke and his deputy, Kola Adewusi.

INEC, had on Sunday declared Adeleke the winner of the election after he polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest rival, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 444,815 votes.

The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, who declared the results at the INEC collation centre, said the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.

Ogunwole, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, said the total valid votes cast were 985,079, while 20,721 votes were rejected, bringing the total number of votes cast to 1,005,800.

Nigerian entrepreneur launches Globiqo to connect Africans abroad

Nigerian entrepreneur Temitope Segun Jongbo has launched Globiqo, a community and event discovery platform designed to help Africans living abroad discover events, meet people and build meaningful connections in their cities.

The platform emerged from Temitope’s personal experience living in the United Kingdom, where he encountered the challenge of finding African-focused events and communities despite the growing number of Africans living, studying and working abroad.

According to the founder, information about African events is often fragmented across Instagram pages, websites, private online groups and word-of-mouth networks, making it difficult for newcomers and existing residents to discover relevant activities.

Temitope said the challenge became the inspiration for Globiqo in December, when he found himself repeatedly searching across different platforms to find events and opportunities to connect with people.

Rather than continuing to search across multiple channels, he began exploring the possibility of creating a single platform where Africans abroad could discover events and connect with communities more easily.

That idea eventually evolved into Globiqo.

Connecting Africans Beyond Borders

Globiqo is being developed around the idea that Africans living outside the continent need more accessible ways to maintain cultural connections while building new social and professional networks.

For international students arriving in unfamiliar countries, young professionals relocating for work, and entrepreneurs establishing themselves in new markets, finding a community can be an important part of settling into a new environment.

According to Temitope, African cultural experiences can provide a natural starting point for those connections.

These may include Nigerian cultural celebrations, African music nights, professional networking events, food festivals, community gatherings and other activities organised around shared cultural interests.

The challenge, he said, is often not the absence of these events but knowing where to find them.

From Attending Events to Creating Communities

A key component of Globiqo’s concept is allowing Africans abroad to create events as well as discover them.

The platform is designed to enable individuals and community organisers to create gatherings that bring people together around shared interests, cultures and experiences.

A Nigerian student could organise a social gathering, an African entrepreneur could host a networking event, while a community organiser could create a cultural celebration or a food entrepreneur could organise an African culinary experience.

Temitope believes that giving people the tools to create their own experiences is essential to building sustainable communities.

According to him, communities are ultimately created by people who take the initiative to bring others together, rather than by technology alone.

Using Culture to Build New Connections

For many Africans living abroad, cultural events offer more than entertainment.

They can provide a connection to familiar traditions, food, music, language, and experiences while helping people establish relationships in their new environments.

Globiqo is being positioned around this intersection between cultural identity and community discovery.

The platform’s broader vision is based on the belief that a single event can create connections that extend well beyond the event itself.

An event can lead to a friendship, a friendship can develop into a professional relationship, and a professional connection can eventually create new opportunities.

Temi sees this chain of possibilities as part of the value that community-driven event discovery can create for Africans abroad.

Addressing Fragmented Event Discovery

Globiqo aims to reduce the reliance on social media algorithms and word-of-mouth as the primary ways people discover events.

Instead, the platform seeks to bring relevant experiences into a more accessible and discoverable environment.

For users, this could reduce the amount of time spent searching across different websites and social media accounts.

For event organisers, the platform could provide another channel for reaching people who are actively looking for social, cultural and professional experiences.

The central idea, according to the company, is simple: make it easier for people who want to connect to find one another.

A Response to a Growing African Diaspora

The development of Globiqo comes against the backdrop of a growing African diaspora, with Africans increasingly studying, working, establishing businesses and raising families across Europe, North America and other parts of the world.

Temitope believes this expanding population represents more than a group of people living outside Africa.

It is also a network of students, professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives, families and community organisers creating new social and economic ecosystems in different countries.

As these communities expand, they are increasingly organising their own events, building businesses and creating platforms designed around their shared experiences.

Globiqo aims to become part of that emerging ecosystem by providing the digital infrastructure for discovering and creating community experiences.

Building a Digital Home for Connection

For Temitope, the ambition extends beyond creating another event-listing platform.

The broader vision is to give Africans arriving in a new city a simple way to answer two questions: What is happening around me? And where can I find my people?

What began with a Nigerian entrepreneur searching through Instagram and other platforms for events has evolved into an effort to create a more connected digital environment for Africans abroad.

As Globiqo develops, its founders are betting that technology can do more than facilitate communication-it can help people discover shared experiences, build relationships, and find a sense of community wherever they are in the world.

BREAKING: Gunmen attack Adeleke’s convoy in Osogbo

Gunmen on Wednesday reportedly attacked the convoy of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, shortly after his visit to the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, triggering an exchange of gunfire with the governor’s security personnel.

The shooting, which lasted for about 12 to 15 minutes, occurred shortly after Adeleke left the palace hall where he had met with the monarch.

Adeleke had arrived at the Ataoja’s palace at about 3:15 pm in a motorcade of about 20 vehicles after leaving the Osun State headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Osogbo, where he received his Certificate of Return following his re-election.

According to an eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said Adeleke and his entourage were received by Oyetunji, where the governor reportedly presented his Certificate of Return to the monarch.

The eyewitness said trouble started as the meeting was winding down after the monarch had offered prayers.

According to her, Adeleke had already left the hall through an exit reserved for the monarch and his wives when the shooting started.

She said, ‘He was already in the bus that brought him and his close aides to the palace when we started hearing heavy gunshots. Those that attacked had come in an unregistered Sienna space bus through the Ita Olokan area of Osogbo.

‘The shooting lasted for about 12 to 15 minutes before the governor’s convoy eventually left the palace. The governor’s security men and those hoodlums exchanged gunshots. Those hoodlums later fled the scene.’

Tinubu orders 90-day national threat assessment, five-year defence plan

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate development of a five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan and a comprehensive National Threat Assessment to give Nigeria a unified response to its evolving security challenges.

The directive was issued on Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja, with the President stressing the need for tighter coordination among the military, intelligence and other security agencies.

Tinubu appointed his Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa, to coordinate and provide secretariat support for an 11-member committee responsible for producing the strategic documents.

The committee comprises the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa; Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Muhammad Matawalle; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.

Also serving on the committee are the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed.

Tinubu said the framework would establish a common assessment of the threats confronting the country, define operational objectives and identify the capabilities required to tackle them.

He cited recent security successes, including the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as evidence of what could be achieved through effective coordination.

‘The operation demonstrated what can be achieved when our agencies work together with a clear objective and the necessary intelligence,’ the President said.

He noted that security requirements were often addressed individually without sufficient reference to a shared national threat assessment or a unified medium-term strategy.

According to Tinubu, this approach complicates coordination and can result in inefficient deployment of resources.

The National Threat Assessment will identify Nigeria’s principal security threats, rank them according to urgency and establish operational objectives for addressing them.

The five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan will then translate those findings into specific priorities, including the forces and capabilities required in different theatres, existing gaps, equipment and logistical needs, and a timetable for implementation.

The committee may consult or co-opt officials from other ministries, departments and agencies where necessary.

Tinubu directed the committee to begin work immediately and submit both documents for his consideration and approval within 90 days.

Once approved, the Strategic Defence Operations Plan will become the principal framework for coordinating military and defence operations over the medium term.

It will also provide the basis for a corresponding multi-year defence expenditure and procurement plan, with resources aligned to clearly established operational priorities and national security requirements.

The President directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser to take all necessary steps to implement the directive without delay.

HAI unveils multi-platform grassroots campaign for Tinubu’s re-election

The Hope Alive Initiative (HAI), an organization committed to promoting good governance and civic engagement, has unveiled the first phase of its grassroots campaign in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in the 2027 presidential election.

This was announced in a statement on Wednesday signed by HAI Director of Press and Communications, Ernest Omoarelojie.

According to the statement, the initiative, which coincided with the commencement of the 2027 election campaign season, will combine street-level mobilisation with traditional and digital media platforms, including human mascots, a city-wide SMS campaign, a weekly Pidgin-language radio programme and an original campaign jingle.

HAI said its support for Tinubu’s re-election was anchored on the administration’s ‘bold reforms and initiatives’ which, according to the organisation, are laying the foundation for Nigeria’s long-term economic and institutional development.

The group cited reforms in the petroleum sector, which it said had helped end perennial fuel scarcity and encouraged the expansion of private refineries; greater stability in the foreign exchange market; increased government revenue and foreign reserves; efforts to strengthen Local Government autonomy; police and internal security reforms; the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND); tax reforms; and extensive road infrastructure projects in the Federal Capital Territory and across the country.

‘While these reforms have come with short-term challenges, we believe they are difficult but necessary steps towards a more sustainable, prosperous and better governed Nigeria,’ HAI said.

According to the organisation, the campaign’s opening phase will feature four major initiatives that deliver the message directly to citizens and expand its reach across different segments of the population.

As part of its opening-day activation on August 19, HAI will deploy approximately 40 colourfully dressed human mascots at strategic, high-traffic locations across Abuja.

The mascots will be stationed at selected major roundabouts, markets, motor parks and busy intersections, carrying banners with messages supporting President Tinubu’s bid for a second term, alongside HAI’s name, logo and web address.

HAI said the street-level activation was designed to create a highly visible public presence and complement its broader media and mobilisation campaign.

The initiative, it added, would take the campaign beyond conventional political advertising by bringing its message directly into public spaces where residents live, work and conduct their daily activities.

HAI will also commence a city-wide SMS mobilisation campaign as part of its grassroots strategy.

The campaign will use mobile communication to disseminate its messages to residents across Abuja, marking the beginning of what the organisation described as a sustained digital mobilisation programme leading to the 2027 election.

The SMS initiative is expected to expand progressively as the electoral cycle advances, complementing the organisation’s physical activations and media engagements.

Another major component is ‘Wetin Tinubu Don Do Sef,’ a weekly Pidgin-language radio programme that explains government policies, programmes and projects in a simple, accessible manner.

The programme will adopt a conversational format, with each episode focusing on a specific policy area, examining its implications and explaining how citizens may benefit from relevant government initiatives.

It will feature a host and regular guest or co-host, with expert perspectives, citizen voices and practical examples incorporated where appropriate.

HAI said the programme would be syndicated across selected radio stations nationwide to broaden its reach and make its messages accessible to Nigerians across different social and linguistic backgrounds.

The initiative will also feature an original campaign jingle professionally produced to reinforce the campaign’s identity and messaging.

Drawing inspiration from the tradition of memorable Nigerian political campaign anthems, including the widely remembered Hope ’93 campaign associated with the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the jingle will communicate the themes of the 2027 campaign through an engaging musical format.

It will be deployed across radio and other appropriate platforms, with emphasis on prime-time programming to maximise audience reach and recall.

According to HAI, the four initiatives constituted only the first phase of a broader campaign that would combine grassroots mobilisation, traditional media, digital communication and public engagement.

Subsequent phases, it said, would focus on increasing public awareness of the administration’s policies, programmes and projects across critical sectors, including the economy, education, security, infrastructure and other areas of national development.

The organisation said particular attention would be given to initiatives such as NELFUND, economic reforms, security sector interventions, road infrastructure and other programmes which it believes deserve greater public awareness and informed public discussion.

HAI said the August 19 activation would mark the beginning of an intensive and sustained grassroots campaign aimed at establishing a strong public presence from the outset of the 2027 electoral cycle.