Category: PM News

A senior lecturer with the Edo State-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Dr. Matthew Uwuigbe, has died in a hotel room after an alleged sexual encounter with a 21-year-old commercial sex worker.

The incident happened on Sunday, October 5, 2026, at a hotel in the Mosco area of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

It was gathered that the lecturer had checked into the hotel with the sex worker, identified as Angela Defa Jacob, and died moments after the encounter.

A source disclosed that shortly after the romp, the deceased asked the lady to go and buy something for them, only for her to return and discover him lifeless on the bed.

The matter was reported to the police at about 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Confirming the development, the Spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, Eno Ikoedem, said three persons have been arrested in connection with the incident.

She said: ‘On October 5, 2026, at about 8pm, the command received a report that Matthew Uwuigbe, a lecturer at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, had lodged at a hotel in Ekpoma and engaged the services of a 21-year-old sex worker, Angela Defa Jacob.

‘He subsequently sent the woman to purchase water for him, and upon her return, she found him lying dead in the room.’

Ikoedem said the hotel owner, the manager and the sex worker are currently in custody while investigation continues. The corpse, she added, has been deposited at the Oriaifo Memorial Hospital mortuary.

Meanwhile, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Otunba Mike Ade Aladenika, confirmed Uwuigbe’s identity as a staff of the institution, but said the incident occurred outside the campus.

‘We are not denying that he is our staff, but whatever he did and what happened, it is his private life. The girl in question is not our student, and everything happened outside our institution,’ he said.

It is one of the most common pieces of workplace advice. Something is wrong with your manager? Talk to HR. A colleague is making the working environment uncomfortable? Talk to HR. You feel that you have been treated unfairly? HR is usually presented as the place to go.

On paper, it makes sense. Human Resources exists to deal with the people side of an organisation, from recruitment and workplace policies to employee concerns, conflict and disciplinary matters.

But there is an interesting tension in that relationship.

HR is also part of the organisation. The department is employed by the same company, operates within its policies and has responsibilities to the organisation as a whole.

So what happens when an employee comes to HR with a problem involving the organisation itself?

That is where the question of trust becomes more complicated.

What the Community Had to Say

When we asked readers whether HR should be viewed as an employee’s friend or as a representative of the company, the responses reflected just how differently people understand the role.

One reader put the issue very simply:

‘In life the one who pays is the one whose interests are represented. I hope that answers the question. Nawatakia siku njema’

Another took a more balanced view:

‘I don’t think HR should be seen as either the employee’s friend or the company’s enemy. HR has a responsibility to the organisation, yes, but that doesn’t mean employees shouldn’t feel safe coming to HR. Sometimes HR’s job is simply to listen, be fair, ask the uncomfortable questions and help find a way forward. Trust doesn’t mean HR will always agree with you, it means you know you’ll be treated fairly.’

That distinction is important.

Trust at work does not necessarily mean getting the outcome you wanted. An employee may report a problem and still receive an answer they disagree with. What matters is whether they believe the process was fair, whether their concerns were taken seriously and whether the same standards would have been applied to someone else in the same position.

Another reader described HR as a middle ground:

‘HR is there to listen to the employees and guide them in a way that is in the best interest of the company and the employee before it escalates.’

Others were more cautious. Some joked about HR being a ‘Foend,’ while another advised employees to ‘always have ya head on a swivel.’

There were also people who had experienced HR very differently:

‘When HR operates with integrity and empathy, employee trust naturally follows.’

And another simply said:

‘The ones I’ve works with have been a breath of fresh air.’

Perhaps that is part of the reason this conversation is difficult to settle. HR experiences can vary enormously depending on the organisation, the people involved and how much trust already exists within the workplace.

Why Trust Matters

There is a psychological reason this matters.

When employees decide whether to speak to HR, they are not only thinking about the problem itself. They are also thinking about what might happen after they speak.

Will their manager find out? Will their colleagues know? Will the situation affect how they are perceived? Will raising a concern make work more uncomfortable?

These calculations are connected to psychological safety, a concept often discussed in organisational psychology. Psychological safety is the sense that people can speak up, ask questions, admit mistakes or raise concerns without expecting humiliation or punishment for doing so.

It does not mean that every workplace should feel completely risk-free. It means employees have enough confidence in the environment to participate honestly.

That becomes particularly important when HR is involved.

Imagine an employee believes their manager is treating them unfairly. If they expect HR to listen, investigate and handle the matter fairly, they are more likely to raise the concern.

If they expect nothing to change, they may decide that staying silent is safer.

That silence can be easy to misunderstand. A manager may see an employee who never complains and assume everything is fine. In reality, the employee may simply have decided that speaking up is not worth the possible consequences.

Fairness Is More Than Getting Your Way

This is where another psychological concept becomes useful: procedural justice.

People tend to care about whether a decision is fair, but they also care about how the decision was reached.

Was everyone given an opportunity to explain themselves? Were the facts considered? Were the rules applied consistently? Was the person making the decision respectful?

An employee may accept a decision they dislike more easily if they believe they were heard and the process was fair.

The opposite can also happen.

If one employee is disciplined for behaviour that another employee gets away with because they are more senior, more popular or more valuable to the organisation, the problem becomes bigger than the original incident. It can affect how employees view management and the organisation as a whole.

This is where HR has an important role.

The department does not have to automatically take the employee’s side to create trust. It does, however, have to be willing to take concerns seriously and apply workplace standards consistently.

So, Is HR Your Friend?

Perhaps ‘friend or foe’ is the wrong way to look at it.

HR is not a personal confidant. At the same time, it should not be treated as an automatic extension of management that employees have to fear.

There is a middle ground.

An HR professional can care about an employee’s wellbeing while still considering the organisation’s interests. They can listen to an employee without promising to agree with them. They can protect confidential information within the limits of their role while still taking appropriate action when a serious concern is raised.

For employees, that also means understanding what HR can and cannot do. Not every conversation with HR is the same as speaking to a therapist, close friend or personal advocate. Some matters may require investigation, documentation or involvement from other people within the organisation.

That does not make the relationship meaningless. It simply makes clarity important.

Employees should know what happens when they raise a concern, what confidentiality means in that particular situation and what process will follow.

And organisations have a responsibility here too. If employees are repeatedly told to ‘go to HR’ but learn that doing so leads nowhere, the advice eventually loses its meaning.

People pay attention to what happens after someone speaks up.

That is how workplace trust is built.

HR can be part of creating that trust, but it cannot create it through a policy document alone. Employees need to see fairness in practice. Managers need to be held to the same standards as everyone else. Concerns need to be taken seriously, even when the answer is uncomfortable.

Maybe HR does not have to choose between being for the employee and being for the organisation.

A healthy workplace should make those interests overlap more often than they conflict.

After all, an organisation that treats its employees fairly is also protecting something important: the trust that keeps people willing to speak, contribute and stay engaged.

So perhaps the better question is not whether HR is a friend or a foe.

It is whether employees have enough reason to believe that, when they walk through that door, they will be treated fairly.

Disclaimer: This column is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical advice. While exploring these psychological concepts can provide helpful insight, it is not a replacement for professional therapy. If you are struggling with deep family conflict, burnout, or mental health challenges and want to dive deeper, please consider reaching out to a licensed therapist or mental health professional for personalized guidance.

The Methodist Girls’ High School Old Girls’ Association (MGHSOGA) will commission its Legacy Building at Methodist Girls’ High School, Yaba, Lagos, on Thursday, October 29, 2026.

The commissioning ceremony, scheduled for 11 a.m., will be held under the theme, ‘Honouring the Past, Building the Future,’ and will bring together representatives of the association, the school, invited guests and other stakeholders.

The Legacy Building represents the association’s contribution to the continued development of Methodist Girls’ High School and its commitment to supporting present and future generations of students.

MGHSOGA Global President, Mrs Yinka Ajose-Adeogun, said the project reflected the enduring bond between the school and generations of its former students.

Ajose-Adeogun described the building as more than a physical structure, saying it symbolised the old girls’ appreciation of the foundation they received from the school and their determination to contribute to its future.

‘The Legacy Building represents more than bricks and mortar. It is a symbol of our collective love for MGHS, our gratitude for the foundation the school gave us and our commitment to ensuring that future generations continue to benefit from a thriving institution. It is truly a celebration of honouring the past while building the future,’ she said.

The commissioning is expected to provide an opportunity for members of different old-girls’ sets to reunite and celebrate the completion of the project.

As part of the arrangements, each OGA set is expected to send five representatives to the ceremony. The representatives have been requested to attend dressed in white with their MGHSOGA sashes, reflecting the coming together of the various sets for the occasion.

The ceremony will take place at Methodist Girls’ High School, 320 Murtala Muhammed Way, Yaba, Lagos.

The association said it looked forward to welcoming guests and stakeholders to the commissioning as it marks an important chapter in the history and continuing legacy of Methodist Girls’ High School.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has explained why authorities deliberately restricted information during efforts to rescue 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members and another passenger abducted in the state.

The victims regained their freedom on Wednesday after a six-day ordeal that triggered a major joint security operation involving the police, military, Department of State Services and other agencies.

In a statement he personally signed, Uzodimma said information about the operation was deliberately kept out of the public domain because of the sensitive nature of the rescue effort and the need to protect the lives of those being held.

According to him, releasing operational details while the victims remained in captivity could have endangered them and complicated efforts by security agencies to secure their freedom.

The governor praised the security agencies for what he described as their collaboration, professionalism and patriotism in bringing the ordeal to an end.

He also commended the Imo and Oyo State governments for working together throughout the rescue operation.

The victims were abducted on October 1 after gunmen attacked two buses around Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.

The buses were conveying prospective corps members travelling from Ibadan to orientation camps in the South-East and South-South.

P.M. News had reported that the initial response by security agencies led to the recovery of the two buses and the rescue of 10 victims, while operatives continued searching for those taken into the bush.

As the search intensified, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Umar Nadada, alongside additional tactical teams and operational assets to Imo.

Security agencies subsequently located a suspected hideout of the kidnappers after deploying drones to track them.

An immediate ground assault was, however, delayed following intelligence that the area may have been rigged with improvised explosive devices.

Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, said at the time that security forces were preparing to deploy bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers to gain access to the location while minimising risks to the captives and operatives.

There were also reports that the abductors demanded ?50 million for each of 19 prospective corps members, amounting to ?950 million, with some families reportedly contacted through the phones of their abducted relatives.

Following their release on Wednesday, the victims were taken to the DSS Hospital in Owerri for medical attention.

NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, visited them at the hospital alongside the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the Director of the DSS and the Brigade Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade.

Uzodimma also praised the parents of the victims for their patience while the rescue operation was ongoing.

He urged Nigerians to continue to have faith in the Federal Government and security agencies as efforts continue to address insecurity across the country.

Dar es Salaam. Letshego Faidika Bank Tanzania Limited has launched a 12-week campaign aimed at encouraging Tanzanians to save more, offering weekly cash prizes, monthly bodaboda rewards and a cargo tuk-tuk as the grand prize.

The campaign, dubbed ‘Weka. Tukuwekee!’, runs until December 27 and will be rolled out across the bank’s five operating zones – Southern, Northern, Central, Lake and Western.

Letshego Faidika Bank chief executive officer Baraka Munisi said the campaign was designed to encourage savings, attract new customers and promote the use of formal financial services.

‘As part of the campaign, the bank will use branded activation vans to take banking services closer to communities, allowing customers to open accounts, receive cards and activate them on the spot,’ he said.

Customers who deposit money into their LetsGo accounts will compete for weekly cash prizes in three categories based on the amount saved.

Those in the Wathubutu category, for deposits of up to Sh50,000, will compete for a weekly Sh50,000 prize, while customers in the Wajenzi category, depositing between Sh50,000 and Sh500,000, will compete for Sh100,000.

Customers in the Wakubwa category, for deposits above Sh500,000, will compete for a weekly Sh200,000 prize.

The bank has allocated at least Sh50 million for the weekly cash prizes.

In addition, the customer with the highest deposits each month will win a new bodaboda, while the overall top depositor at the end of the 12-week campaign will receive a cargo tuk-tuk.

‘The campaign was designed to make saving more accessible, convenient and rewarding. ‘Weka. Tukuwekee!’ is our commitment to making saving accessible, rewarding and convenient for every Tanzanian,’ Mr Munisi said.

‘By expanding our deposit channels and taking our services directly to communities, we are removing barriers to formal banking.’

The bank has also expanded the channels through which customers can deposit money into their LetsGo accounts.

Deposits can be made through Letshego Faidika Bank branches and satellite offices, wakala agents and mobile money platforms, including M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Tigo Pesa and HaloPesa. Customers can also transfer funds from other banks.

For the first time, customers can deposit money through CRDB wakala agents and TCB branches, with the funds credited directly to their Letshego Faidika Bank accounts at no additional charge.

Letshego Faidika Bank Head of Business Eddie Mhina said the campaign was also targeting entrepreneurs seeking to develop a consistent savings culture as they grow their businesses.

Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has warned candidates affected by the September 24 Supreme Court ruling on provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, to reconsider remaining in the 2027 race.

Sani said such candidates risk wasting their time and resources if the ruling has implications for their nominations.

The former lawmaker made the remarks in a statement posted on his X account.

‘If you are one of those candidates affected by the September Supreme Court ruling, you shouldn’t waste your time and resources,’ he said.

Sani warned that supporters could continue encouraging the affected candidates to remain in the race despite the legal implications surrounding their candidacies.

‘Your supporters will continue to beat the drums for you to stay in the race but you are heading to nowhere,’ he said.

He argued that his position was informed by his experience as an active participant in Nigerian elections rather than as an outside observer.

‘We have the experience of losing and winning elections, not as analysts or commentators but as active, frontline participants so we know both sides very well,’ Sani said.

The Supreme Court ruling has generated concern among political parties and candidates over its implications for compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Geita. After waiting 26 years for compensation over land affected by mining operations, a group of elderly residents in Geita is seeking to become miners themselves.

Members of Kamati ya Vigingi, representing residents of Nyakabale and Nyamalembo, have asked the Government to help them secure a mining licence following the settlement of their long-running compensation dispute with Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML).

Minerals Minister Anthony Mavunde at the weekend directed the Mining Commission to facilitate the request, instructing the group to formally organise itself before suitable mineral ground is identified.

The move follows compensation payments to residents who said they had been unable to fully develop or economically use their land after it was earmarked for mining activities.

Thobias Mabula, leader of Kamati ya Vigingi, told Mr Mavunde that the affected residents had lived on the land for generations but faced restrictions on development while waiting for compensation.

The committee’s name comes from the vigingi-beacons placed in the affected areas to mark land associated with mining operations.

In August 2025, the Ministry of Minerals described the Nyakabale and Nyamalembo dispute as having lasted more than 26 years and announced the start of compensation after GGML agreed to pay affected residents.

By March 2026, GGML had projected compensation payments of about Sh70 billion, subject to completion of valuation, verification and contractual procedures.

Mr Mabula told the minister that the residents had since received their compensation and were now seeking to participate in the mining industry that has shaped their communities for decades.

The elders asked Mr Mavunde to help them secure mineral ground where they could undertake mining collectively. The minister accepted the request and directed the Mining Commission to guide them through group formation and the licensing process.

He said the Commission should consider areas being returned to the Government after licences are cancelled or surrendered by holders who have failed to develop them.

In April, Mr Mavunde ordered the cancellation of 40 prospecting licences covering about 188,163 acres after their holders failed to develop the areas despite being given notices to rectify breaches.

The Ministry said the recovered areas would be returned to the Government for redistribution to small-scale miners, capable investors and targeted groups.

For the elders, the request marks a shift in their relationship with the mining industry. For more than two decades, their involvement centred on restrictions on land use and the struggle for compensation.

Now, they want to participate directly in the economic activity around them.

The elders also presented two cows to President Samia Suluhu Hassan as a gesture of appreciation for the Government’s intervention. Mr Mavunde received the gift on her behalf.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, Toyin Amuzu, has pledged to facilitate projects and initiatives that will directly improve the lives of residents if elected.

Amuzu made the commitment while commissioning another borehole project for public use at Laloko Compound, Igbore, in Abeokuta South, where he reiterated his commitment to providing practical interventions in communities lacking basic amenities.

He said access to potable water remained one of the critical needs that deserved attention at the grassroots, stressing that basic infrastructure could significantly improve the quality of life of residents.

According to him, his interventions before assuming public office were motivated by a genuine desire to serve the people and demonstrate what effective representation should entail.

‘If I can use my personal money to finance projects for the public, then I believe I will do well with government funds. Government funds are meant for the people and my priority will be to ensure that such resources are channelled into projects that will improve their lives,’ he said.

Amuzu said his vision went beyond individual projects, noting that his ultimate goal was to build a federal constituency where residents could point to tangible developments and take pride in their communities.

He maintained that representation should not be limited to political activities and promises during election periods but should translate into meaningful interventions that address the everyday needs of the people.

He added that, if elected, he would facilitate projects capable of creating lasting value across Abeokuta South, while collaborating with relevant government agencies and stakeholders to attract more development to the constituency.

The newly commissioned borehole at Laloko Compound is part of a series of community-focused interventions associated with Amuzu, particularly in the areas of access to water and other basic amenities.

He urged residents to take ownership of the facility, maintain it properly and use it responsibly for the benefit of the entire community.

Amuzu reiterated his aspiration to see Abeokuta South emerge as a federal constituency where government presence would be felt through practical projects, improved infrastructure and initiatives that respond to the real needs of the people.

‘My desire is to see a federal constituency that the people will be proud of,’ he said.

The event was attended by the Ogun State PDP Secretary, Alhaji Semiu Shodipo, community members and other stakeholders, who welcomed the borehole project as an intervention aimed at addressing the need for accessible water in the area.

Dar es Salaam. At first glance, the Vodacom Coastal Classic may appear to be a race about speed, endurance and the battle for the podium.

But as 147 cyclists from Tanzania and other countries rode the 109-kilometre route from Julius Nyerere International Airport to Bagamoyo, the event demonstrated that cycling in Tanzania is becoming more than a sporting contest.

It is increasingly being used as a platform to promote tourism, nurture talent, create economic opportunities for young people and support communities through education, health and environmental initiatives.

That wider role is what gives the Vodacom Coastal Classic and the Nyerere Cycling Tour significance beyond the finish line. The Coastal Classic, held on October 4, 2026, served as a precursor to the Nyerere Cycling Tour, which begins its 1,500-kilometre journey from Dar es Salaam to Butiama on October 5.

Together, the two initiatives provide a model of how sport can be connected to tourism and corporate social responsibility while creating opportunities for athletes and communities.

Cycling as a tourism platform

The route of the Vodacom Coastal Classic was itself part of the attraction. Starting at Julius Nyerere International Airport and ending in Bagamoyo, the 109-kilometre course exposed participants and followers of the race to Tanzania’s coastal landscape and the historical character of Bagamoyo.

For the cyclists, the route was a test of endurance. For Tanzania, it was also an opportunity to showcase its attractions through sport. This is where cycling has an advantage over many traditional sporting events.

A football match takes place in one stadium, but a cycling race moves through towns, villages, roads and landscapes, allowing communities and attractions along the route to become part of the sporting experience.

That makes cycling a potentially powerful tool for sports tourism. The Guest of honour, National Sports Council (NSC) senior sports officer Charles Maguzu commended the organisers and partners for using sport to drive social and economic development while strengthening Tanzania’s position as a sports tourism destination.

A representative of Bagamoyo District Commissioner Ramadhani Rashid Katanga also highlighted the broader importance of the race, saying cycling was helping promote healthy lifestyles, nurture young athletes and showcase Tanzania’s tourism attractions.

‘The Vodacom Coastal Classic is a testament to the growing role of cycling in promoting healthy lifestyles, creating opportunities for young athletes and showcasing Tanzania’s tourism attractions,’ Katanga said.

From competition to opportunity

The strongest immediate benefit of the Coastal Classic for cyclists was the opportunity to turn talent into income. Uganda’s Charles Kagimu won the men’s category, while compatriot Mary Aleper emerged winner of the women’s race. Both took home Sh10 million.

Jordan Schleck finished second in the men’s category, while Tanzania’s Boniface Ngwata claimed third place. In the women’s category, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Siton a Munu finished second, with Kenya’s Mercy Elegay taking third. Second-place finishers received Sh7 million, while third-place winners earned Sh3 million.

Cyclists finishing between fourth and tenth positions in both categories received Sh1 million each.

The prize structure is important because it demonstrates that cycling can provide direct financial rewards for athletes. For young people looking for opportunities through sport, such competitions can offer an incentive to train, compete and develop their talent.

The participation of cyclists from different countries also gives Tanzanian riders the opportunity to compete against athletes from outside the country, providing exposure and experience that can contribute to the growth of the sport.

Taking cycling beyond the race

The bigger ambition, however, is reflected in the Nyerere Cycling Tour. The tour will cover 1,500 kilometres from Dar es Salaam to Butiama will end on October 14, taking cyclists through different communities before reaching the home of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.

The journey is deliberately designed to be about more than cycling. It combines sport with activities focused on education, health and environmental conservation, bringing social programs closer to communities along the route.

This makes the bicycle more than a sporting tool. It becomes a means of connecting people, places and communities.

Nyerere Cycling Tour founder Gabriel Landa says this wider purpose has been part of the initiative from the beginning.

‘From the beginning, the Nyerere Cycling Tour has been about more than cycling. It is about connecting people with communities, celebrating the legacy of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and using the journey to create a positive impact along the way,’ Landa said. His message captures the central idea behind the tour: the journey matters as much as the destination.

CSR that reaches communities

The involvement of corporate partners gives the initiative another important dimension. Vodacom Tanzania is the main partner of the Nyerere Cycling Tour, with Afro Oil, Stanbic Bank Tanzania, DYD, ABC, Coca-Cola and Huawei supporting the wider initiative.

For Vodacom, the partnership goes beyond putting its name behind a sporting event.

Vodacom Business Director Nguvu Kamando said the Coastal Classic and Nyerere Cycling Tour were helping promote domestic tourism, support education initiatives and encourage positive social impact in communities along the route.n’Beyond the competition itself, the Vodacom Coastal Classic and the Nyerere Cycling Tour help promote domestic tourism, support education initiatives and encourage positive social impact in the communities along the route,’ Kamando said.

He also highlighted the role of the initiative in empowering young people, including girls, through sport. That is significant because corporate social responsibility is increasingly expected to demonstrate practical benefits to society rather than simply provide financial support for events.

Through the cycling initiative, investment can be linked to education, health, environmental conservation and youth development.

The education connection

Education is one of the areas where the wider Nyerere Cycling Tour seeks to create a lasting footprint.

The initiative incorporates education activities along the route, meaning communities do not simply watch cyclists pass through before the event moves on.

The broader programme has included support for education through initiatives such as the provision of desks and classroom improvements. This approach gives the tour a longer-term social dimension. A sporting event lasts for a limited period, but a classroom improvement or educational facility can continue benefiting children long after the cyclists have completed their journey. It is therefore an important part of the argument for using sport as a platform for development.

Young people and the future of cycling

Youth empowerment is another central theme. Tanzania has a large population of young people, and sport provides one avenue through which talent, discipline and determination can be transformed into opportunities.

The Coastal Classic gives young cyclists a competitive platform, while the Nyerere Cycling Tour seeks to expose more young Tanzanians to cycling as a sport and potential livelihood.

Landa wants young people to see cycling differently-not simply as an activity but as an opportunity to develop talent, create livelihoods and contribute to their communities. The involvement of women is also important.

Kamando specifically highlighted the role of the initiative in empowering girls, while the Coastal Classic itself demonstrated that women’s cycling can attract international competitors and substantial prize money. Aleper’s victory provides an example of what is possible when women are given competitive platforms.

Building a cycling culture

The challenge now is to sustain the momentum. One successful race cannot by itself transform cycling into a major sport in Tanzania. What it can do is create visibility.

The 147 cyclists who competed in the Coastal Classic, the international participation, the prize money and the journey towards Butiama all contribute to raising the profile of cycling.

The combination of competition and social impact could make the sport more attractive to young people, sponsors and communities.

The key will be ensuring that these events continue to provide opportunities for cyclists while maintaining the connection with tourism and community development.

More than a race

The significance of the Vodacom Coastal Classic is therefore not simply that Kagimu and Aleper won their respective categories, or that Ngwata gave Tanzania a podium finish. Its importance lies in what happened around the competition.

Cyclists travelled through Tanzania’s coastal landscape. Young athletes received an opportunity to compete for meaningful financial rewards. Communities became part of a national sporting journey. Corporate investment was linked to education, health and environmental initiatives.

And now, with the 1,500-kilometre Nyerere Cycling Tour under way, that journey is moving beyond the coast towards Butiama.

The long-term success of the initiative will ultimately be measured not only by the number of cyclists who participate, but by whether cycling attracts more young people, whether tourism opportunities grow around the routes, and whether communities continue to benefit from the social programmes attached to the tour.

Following brewing political infighting between Kano State Deputy Governor, Murtala Sule Garo and the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin, the Kano state Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa, has cautioned party members and loyalists of the two party chieftains against actions capable of sabotaging the interest of the party in the 2027 election.

Garo and Jibrin, who both hail from Kano North Senatorial District, have been locked in serious power play which many believe can affect the fortunes of APC in Kano North Senatorial District in the 2027 elections.

Supporters of the two political heavyweights in the zone have, in recent times, engaged in show of strength, a display that is gradually dwindling the limelight of APC in Kano North Senatorial District.

However, the state Chairman of the ruling party, Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa, has threatened to take disciplinary action against party members and supporters who continue to perpetrate actions capable of undermining the fortunes and interest of the party in Kano North Senatorial District, and across the state ahead the 2027 general elections.

Doguwa advised the warring factions to, immediately, sheathe their swords, resolve their differences, and work together for the victory of APC at all levels in the 2027 election circle.

Doguwa vowed that APC would accomplish the mandate of delivering all her candidates from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and other party flag-bearers in 2027 polls.

The Kano APC Chairman issued the warning during engagement with party leaders in Kano North.

Doguwa, represented by Zonal Chairman, Kano North Senatorial District, Hon. Abdullahi Magaji Lamba Bichi, noted that commitment of the leadership in the zone must remain absolute and unshakeable.

He further stressed that the party would continue to uphold the principles of loyalty and unity among stakeholders, leaders, members and supporters.

According to him, the party expected its members to uphold discipline, unity, loyalty and respect for constituted authority, warning against activities capable of undermining the party’s cohesion, interest, peace and harmony.

Doguwa further warned that individuals found engaging in anti-party activities, factionalism or attempts to undermine the party and its candidates would face disciplinary measures in accordance with the provisions of the APC Constitution.

He said such measures could include suspension or expulsion where warranted.

Bichi further described Senator Barau I. Jibrin, as the leader of the APC in Kano North Senatorial District, stressing that the party remains united under his leadership.

He called on party leaders, stakeholders and members across the Senatorial District to mobilise and vote for Tinubu as President, Governor Abba Yusuf and Senator Jibrin in the 2027 elections.