Category: The Nation – Nigeria

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday demanded at least two permanent seats for Africa on the United Nations Security Council.

He said the continent could no longer remain excluded from the body’s permanent membership while bearing much of the burden of conflicts on its soil.

Tinubu, in a speech delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, also called for five non-permanent seats for Africa, with permanent membership carrying the same rights and responsibilities as those of existing permanent members, including the veto for as long as it remains in existence.

He said Nigeria was also seeking reform of the international financial architecture to ease debt pressures on developing countries, while demanding predictable climate finance and technology transfer to enable African countries to pursue development without compromising climate goals.

The President further urged stronger international cooperation against terrorism, organised crime, cyberattacks and illicit finance, saying military victories alone could not guarantee lasting peace without addressing poverty, exclusion, injustice and lack of economic opportunities.

He also called for greater use of diplomacy in resolving conflicts, particularly in Sudan and other war-torn countries, and warned against the use of propaganda to obscure responsibility for attacks on civilians.

Tinubu said UN reform should begin with the Security Council.

He said: ‘The reform of this institution must begin with the reconstitution of the Security Council, for the world of 2026 cannot remain captive to the distribution of power in 1945.

‘Africa cannot continue to fill the Council’s agenda while remaining absent from its permanent membership.’

The UN was founded in 1945 after World War II.

Tinubu said: ‘Nigeria demands, in accordance with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, at least two permanent seats for Africa, with all the rights and responsibilities of permanent membership, including the veto for as long as it exists, and five non-permanent seats in total.

‘The authority to speak for humanity carries an obligation to represent it.’

Tinubu said Nigeria was prepared to assume greater responsibility in international peace and security, citing the country’s contributions to peace operations and regional security initiatives.

‘From Liberia and Sierra Leone to Darfur, Mali and The Gambia, we have committed personnel and resources when international solidarity required action,’ he said.

He added that Nigeria continued to support mediation, democratic governance, counter-terrorism and maritime security through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and Gulf of Guinea partnerships.

The President linked Nigeria’s foreign policy to its domestic economic reforms, saying the country was pursuing sound macroeconomic management, stronger institutions, private-sector development and strategic public investment.

On climate change, Tinubu rejected what he described as a false choice between development and climate action.

‘Developing countries must industrialise, eradicate poverty and expand energy access through low-carbon pathways supported by technology transfer, capacity building and climate finance,’ he said.

He noted that Africa contributes less than four per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions but suffers disproportionate consequences of climate change.

Nigeria, he said, remained committed to the Paris Agreement and an equitable energy transition that took account of historical responsibility and the varying capacities of countries.

Under Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, Tinubu said the country was working towards net-zero emissions by 2060 while expanding access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy.

He said the strategy included renewable energy, clean cooking, gas as a transitional fuel, climate-smart agriculture and nature-based solutions.

But he stressed that climate finance should be based on equity and shared responsibility rather than charity.

‘Finance must be governed by equity and shared responsibility rather than charity, with international commitments translated into accessible, predictable and adequately funded mechanisms enabling developing countries to pursue climate action without compromising development objectives,’ he said.

Tinubu also defended the responsible use of artificial intelligence, urging countries not to allow fear of the technology to prevent its potential benefits.

‘We refuse to surrender our technological future to paranoia,’ he said.

He compared AI to a knife, saying the same invention could cause harm or save lives depending on how it was used.

‘We can deploy artificial intelligence to wage war or use it to transform healthcare, education, agriculture, governance and economic productivity,’ he said.

He said Nigeria was investing in digital public infrastructure, broadband connectivity, innovation ecosystems, research institutions and technology entrepreneurship.

The President invited international partners to work with Nigerian youths to harness AI for development rather than destruction.

On financing for development, Tinubu said inadequate funding remained one of the greatest obstacles to sustainable development, particularly as developing countries devote substantial resources to servicing debts that could otherwise fund education, healthcare and infrastructure.

‘Nigeria therefore calls for reform of the international financial architecture, wider access to concessional financing and debt sustainability frameworks that recognise developmental needs,’ he said.

He also backed private capital, blended finance, South-South cooperation and strategic partnerships to fund sustainable development, climate adaptation and resilient infrastructure.

Tinubu described the African Continental Free Trade Area as one of Africa’s most transformative opportunities, saying it could strengthen regional value chains, increase intra-African trade, promote industrialisation and attract investment.

He urged African countries to move away from exporting raw materials towards greater value addition, manufacturing, technological innovation and knowledge-driven growth.

‘Our abundant natural resources must become engines of shared prosperity rather than sources of perpetual dependency,’ he said.

On security, the President said terrorism, organised crime, cyberattacks and illicit finance exploited gaps between national responses.

He said Nigeria’s experience in fighting Boko Haram, ISWAP and other armed groups had demonstrated that military action must be complemented by development and accountable governance.

‘Military victories require enduring foundations in education, economic opportunity, accountable governance and communities whose rights and dignity are protected,’ he said.

Tinubu called for greater intelligence sharing, stronger institutional capacity and measures to disrupt the financing of terrorism and prevent the movement of weapons across borders.

He said insecurity in the Sahel had demonstrated how instability in one country could affect neighbouring states through displacement, disruption of commerce and threats to democratic governance.

On global conflicts, the President said Nigeria remained committed to peaceful dispute resolution under the UN Charter.

He called for urgent diplomacy over the war in Sudan and other conflicts, insisting that parties must comply with international humanitarian and human rights law, protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access.

‘Within and beyond our continent, no claim to security can justify starving children, denying relief to civilians or erasing communities from the land they call home,’ he said.

Tinubu also criticised the use of propaganda to shield perpetrators from accountability.

‘We should all be afraid of a world in which we can no longer tell the victim from the aggressor,’ he said.

‘When our investment in propaganda shields perpetrators from justice to the point that telling the truth becomes a crime, the promise of this institution stands betrayed.’

He said Nigeria believed lasting peace required dialogue, reconciliation and inclusive political processes rather than military victories alone.

He urged the UN to strengthen peacekeeping while giving greater attention to peacebuilding, mediation, institution-building and sustainable development.

‘Prevention must command greater resources and political attention,’ he said.

Tinubu said Africa’s youthful population, natural resources, expanding markets and resilience could make the continent a major driver of global growth.

He said developing countries should be treated as indispensable partners in finding global solutions rather than primarily as recipients of assistance.

The President said Nigeria would continue to support a UN that was inclusive and responsive to changing global realities.

‘Institutions that adapt preserve their relevance; those that resist change imperil it,’ he said.

He called for cooperation over confrontation, dialogue over division and partnership over isolation.

‘Whatever our differences, we must remember that humanity is our oldest citizenship, and peace is the inheritance we owe every child,’ Tinubu said.

The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has granted a Mareva injunction freezing the bank accounts and restraining the assets of Kofa Energy Limited and two other oil and gas companies over an alleged outstanding debt of $1.602 million and N1.314 billion.

The other companies are Redstar Oil and Gas Limited and Halkoff Logistics International Limited.

Justice Stephen Dalyop Pam made the orders in suit FHC/PH/CS/163/2026, following an ex-parte application argued by ThankGod Nwugha, counsel to Gimbrowns Marine Security Oil and Gas Limited, the plaintiff/applicant.

The court restrained the defendants, jointly and severally, from withdrawing, tampering with or dissipating funds in their respective accounts in any bank or financial institution in Nigeria up to $1,602,000 and N1,314,470,000.

It also extended the restraining order to all the defendants’ assets, including movable and immovable property, shares and funds held in financial institutions.

Justice Pam further directed banks in Nigeria to disclose on oath the sums standing to the credit of each of the three defendants in their custody within seven days of being served with the order.

Mr Nwugha told the court that the sums allegedly owed arose from the hire of barges and tugs for the storage and transportation of 150,000 metric tonnes of crude oil, which was stored in his client’s barge, MICLYN 301, at Cawthorne Channel 2, OML 18, within Nigeria’s territorial waters.

In freezing the companies’ accounts, Justice Pam, after listening to the submissions of Mr Nwugha, ruled:

‘After reading the Affidavit in support of the Motion paper sworn to by Patric Otuya, adult, male, Christian, Nigerian citizen of No. 2B New Heaven Estate, Off Mandela Car Wash, GRA Phase 3, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and filed at this Court’s Registry.

‘AND after hearing ThankGod Nwugha Esq., Learned Counsel for the Plaintiff/Applicant, moved in terms of the Motion paper;

‘And this Honourable Court having ruled this 23rd day of September, 2026.

‘IT IS hereby ordered as follows:

‘An order of Mareva Injunction is hereby granted restraining the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Defendants jointly and severally from withdrawing, tampering with or otherwise dissipate the funds in their respective bank accounts in any bank or other financial institutions within Nigeria up to the sum of $1,602,000.00 USD (One Million, Six Hundred and Two Thousand United States Dollars) only and the sum of N1,314,470,000.00 (One Billion, Three Hundred and Fourteen Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira) only being unpaid sums accruable to the Plaintiff for the hire, professional services and storage of the 150,000 metric tons of crude oil on board the Plaintiff’s Barge MICLYN 301 at Cawthorne Channel 2, OML 18, Port Harcourt Coastal waters within the territorial waters of Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in this suit.

‘An order of Mareva Injunction is hereby granted restraining the Defendants from dealing with, dissipating, transferring, selling or otherwise tampering with any assets (be it movable or immovable), shares, funds in any financial institution (howsoever described) pending the hearing and final determination of the motion on notice.

‘A consequential order is hereby granted directing all banks within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court to depose on oath the sums standing to the credit of the Defendants respectively in their custody within 7 days from being served with a copy of the order of this Honourable Court.

‘This case is accordingly adjourned to the 9th day of October, 2026 for mention.’

As the war of attrition between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State continues ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship and House of Assembly elections, it is easy to think that it is a two-horse race in the Gateway State. But that is far from reality.

A couple of months ago, when the PDP was caught in the web of its internal wranglings and contradictions, the main opposition party was the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Then came the State Congress held in April 2026. Things fell apart and the centre could no longer hold. Through some deft political manoeuvring, the contending forces were able to hold primary elections into various offices under the supervision of electoral panels sent by the national headquarters of the party.

However, when it came to the collation and announcement of results for the governorship primary election held on May 22, 2026, another crisis erupted.

After exhausting the internal conflict-resolution mechanism of the party without success, the contending forces resorted to litigation, as provided in Section 285 (14) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

On July 23, 2026, the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, delivered a judgment in which it affirmed the return of Otunba Jimi Adebisi Lawal (JAL) as the validly elected governorship candidate of the ADC.

Not satisfied, his opponent lodged an appeal. Again, on September 18, 2026, a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja unanimously upheld the judgment of the lower court and reaffirmed JAL’s mandate.

Enter, the third force

There is a sense in which political pundits see JAL’s entry into the governorship race as the third force that may upset the apple cart.

While APC’s Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (a.k.a. Yayi) and PDP’s Ladi Adebutu are at daggers drawn over issues of indigeneship and the appropriateness or otherwise of another an Iperu-Remo man taking over from a fellow Iperu-Remo man, ADC’s Jimi Adebisi Lawal (JAL) has quietly crept into the race, discreetly selling his policies and programmes to the people.

Political pundits say a number of factors may count in his favour.

The first is the war of attrition between the two other candidates.

The second is the fact that he is from Ijebuland, which has not had the opportunity of governing the state since 1983, when the civilian administration of the late Chief Bisi Onabanjo was truncated by the military. That is some 43 years ago!

Being a holder of two of the most prestigious titles in Ijebuland, the Ajiroba and Olootu Ifore of Akile Ijebu, bestowed on him by the immediate past Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Dr. Sikiru Kayode Adetona, JAL is seen as the answer to the age-long desire of the Ijebus to have one of their own at Oke-Mosan. He is also the Giwa Adinni of Ijebu-Ode Central Mosque.

But beyond the foregoing, his five cardinal programmes seek to demystify governance and take it to the grassroots, such that the people in each of the 236 wards will take ownership of it.

From Economic Development to Human Capital Development, Infrastructure to Security, and Good Governance, the clarity of thought with which he explains his policies shows that he has a strong grasp of state administration.

For instance, in the area of Economic Development, he says each of the 236 wards will be encouraged to produce a product in commercial quantities or render a service in an area in which they have a comparative advantage – for local consumption and exportation.

Not only that, whatever business is established will be run by a ward-based Economic Management Board. The same applies to Education and Healthcare under Human Capital Development. The public schools and Primary Healthcare Centres will be run by ward-based Education and Health Management Boards.

On good governance, JAL is committed to accountability, guaranteeing the autonomy of local governments by complying with the judgment of the Supreme Court on the direct payment of local government allocations, performance monitoring and feedback, as well as transparent local government elections, as was done in Kaduna State, where he served as Senior Adviser/Counsellor and Chairman, Kaduna State Economic Development Council.

As JAL makes his way through the labyrinth of the soapbox in the next couple of days, weeks and months, with his ‘Make Ogun Great Again’ (MOGA) agenda, it remains to be seen if the third force will become the main force to be reckoned with.

The Presidential, National Assembly and State House of Assembly Campaign Council in Edo State, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to establish the Nigerian Army’s 83 Division headquarters in Benin City is one of the reasons Edo people will reelect him next year.

Director of Media of the campaign council, Mr John Mayaki, who hailed Governor Monday Okpebholo for accelerating preparations for the take-off of the Division, said Edo people understand the strategic value of the military formation and the significance of the cooperation between the Federal and state governments.

President Tinubu approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions, including the establishment of the 83 Division in Benin City, with responsibility for Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states. The Presidency said the restructuring was intended to improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making and enable faster responses to emerging security threats.

Mayaki said: ‘When some people ask what President Tinubu has done that directly affects our state, the 83 Division is one concrete example we should put on the table.

‘This is not merely another military barracks. We are talking about a major Army command headquartered in Benin City and covering Edo, Delta and Bayelsa.

‘For a state confronting kidnapping and other security challenges, the significance of strengthening military command, coordination and response capacity should not be underestimated.’

Mayaki thanked Tinubu for the decision, saying Edo should not take the establishment of the Division for granted.

He also praised Okpebholo for what he described as the governor’s determination to ensure that the presidential approval was translated into an operational military formation.

The Edo government provided a temporary facility at Teboga in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, where rehabilitation of existing structures, environmental clearing and other preparatory works have been undertaken.

During an earlier inspection, Okpebholo gave contractors two weeks to prepare the facilities, while the Commander of 4 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Balogun, said the work was in furtherance of Tinubu’s directive for the operationalisation of the Division.

Mayaki said: ‘I commend Governor Okpebholo because he understands that presidential approval must be followed by state preparedness.

‘Mr President has made the strategic decision. Governor Okpebholo is providing the enabling environment to ensure that Edo takes full advantage of it.

‘The governor is not sitting in Government House celebrating an announcement. He is going to the site, inspecting the work and pushing for the facilities to be ready.

‘That is the kind of Federal-State partnership that Edo needs.’

Mayaki said the interest shown by Delta State in hosting the headquarters should further encourage Edo people to appreciate its strategic importance.

Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has appealed to Tinubu and the Nigerian Army to locate the headquarters in Delta, arguing that his state was strategically positioned to host it and offering land, temporary facilities and other support.

Mayaki said Delta should not be criticised for advocating for its interests, adding that Edo people should instead learn from the seriousness with which its neighbour was pursuing the military formation.

He said: ‘I do not quarrel with the Governor of Delta State. He is fighting for what he believes will benefit his people. That is what governors are expected to do.

‘But Edo people should ask themselves a simple question: if this Division is insignificant, why does another state want its headquarters? Why is it prepared to provide land, facilities and other support?

‘The answer should make us appreciate the strategic value of what has been designated for Edo.

‘Sometimes, you understand the value of what you have when you see how determined somebody else is to have it.

‘What others consider important enough to compete for, Edo should not take for granted.’

Mayaki said the establishment of the Division should also be viewed from the perspective of ordinary Edo residents rather than merely as a military administrative arrangement.

According to him, security affects farmers, traders, transporters, investors and rural communities and remains fundamental to economic development.

He said: ‘A farmer who cannot safely reach his farm cannot produce. A transporter who is afraid of the highway cannot efficiently move people and goods. Investors will naturally consider the security of an environment before committing their resources.

‘No one should pretend that one Army Division will solve every security problem. But stronger military coordination and quicker response to threats are among the objectives the Federal Government has given for creating the additional divisions.’

Mayaki said the development provided another issue on which Edo voters could assess the relationship between the Tinubu administration and the Okpebholo government.

He added: ‘Our campaign will not ask Edo people to make political judgments on slogans alone. We will put the record before them.

‘When people ask what President Tinubu has done for Edo, we will point to decisions such as this and explain what they mean.

‘When they ask what Governor Okpebholo is doing with the opportunity, we will show them Teboga and the work being done to make the Division operational.

‘Then the people can make their judgment on the evidence.

‘For us, the principle is straightforward: what comes to Edo must be understood; what is approved for Edo must be followed through; and what can strengthen the security and economy of Edo must be translated from an announcement into something that works for our people.

‘We thank President Tinubu for the decision to establish the 83 Division in Benin City. We commend Governor Okpebholo for moving to ensure its take-off.

‘These are among the concrete issues we will place before Edo people as they assess the record of the President and the partnership between Abuja and Benin ahead of 2027.’

The Federal Character Commissioner representing Oyo State, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, has felicitated with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, on the occasion of his 82nd birthday and first anniversary on the throne.

In a congratulatory message issued through his Media Aide, Oladiipo Adegoke, Prince Aleshinloye described the monarch as an accomplished politician, administrator, elder statesman and revered traditional ruler, whose wealth of experience has continued to contribute positively to the development of Ibadanland.

According to him, since ascending the throne, Oba Ladoja has demonstrated exemplary leadership by deploying his vast experience, wisdom and connections to advance the interests of Ibadanland and its people.

He commended the Olubadan for promoting peace and unity, discouraging the excesses associated with the ‘Omo onile’ phenomenon, and redefining the role of traditional institutions by transforming royalty into a platform for meaningful development.

The APC Chieftain further noted that the monarch’s tenure has been characterised by visionary leadership, unity, peace and development, adding that his contributions have strengthened the bond between the traditional institution and the socio-economic aspirations of the people.

The former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Oyo State, prayed for the Olubadan to be blessed with long life, sound health, peace and a long, successful and impactful reign.

He expressed confidence that Ibadanland would continue to witness greater development and progress under the leadership of the revered monarch.

Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan in Lagos will on Saturday, September 26, host an attempt to push a Nollywood premiere into Guinness World Records history.

The film is Black Market. The target is 50,000 simultaneous viewers. The existing benchmark is 43,624 attendees at a single film screening.

If the Lagos gathering reaches its goal and is verified, the result will place a Nigerian production at the centre of a new global cinema record.

But, the numbers tell only the most obvious part of the story. Behind the attempt is a collaboration between Switch Visuals Productions and Rixel Studios, two creative companies trying to build an experience large enough to justify the scale of the promise.

Switch Visuals, led by Chief Executive Officer Damilola Osikoya, is driving the event-production side of the undertaking. Rixel Studios, led by filmmaker Nora Awolowo, is behind ‘Black Market.’

The result is a premiere that looks more like a festival than an industry screening. TBS will host entertainment, food, games and other activities around the film, allowing the audience to experience the venue for hours before attention finally turns to the screen.

Fifty thousand people cannot simply be invited to arrive at the same moment and sit down. The event has to create its own rhythm, absorbing the crowd and turning waiting time into part of the experience.

Osikoya has described the project as particularly meaningful because of what it represents about young people challenging convention. She has spoken about bold ideas, determination and collaboration, three qualities that become practical necessities when a film premiere begins to operate at the scale of a stadium event.

Rixel’s Nora Awolowo brings a similar appetite for experimentation from the filmmaking side. ‘Black Market’ is the studio’s second feature after ‘Red Circle’ and extends its interest in finding new ways for Nigerian stories to connect with audiences.

Directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay and written by Gimsay with Abdul Tijani-Ahmed, ‘Black Market’ features an ensemble cast including Lateef Adedimeji, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Ibrahim Yekini, Scarlet Gomez, Omowunmi Dada, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok and Uzor Arukwe.

The film was shot in Abeokuta, but its most public moment will unfold in the heart of Lagos. TBS gives the attempt both capacity and symbolism. It is a venue associated with national events and huge gatherings, making it an unusually fitting stage for a project that wants its scale to be immediately understood.

The organisers are also expecting the wider event to attract people beyond the 50,000 required for the simultaneous screening. That broader crowd reinforces the festival character of the day while keeping the Guinness target focused on the specific audience participating in the film screening.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has intensified efforts for a tougher capital and operational requirements for online forex brokers and contracts-for-differences (CFD) operators as part of efforts to strengthen regulation of Nigeria’s retail trading market.

The proposed rules, which include a minimum paid-up capital of N3 billion for market-making forex brokers and N2 billion for straight-through-processing (STP) and electronic communication network (ECN) brokers, will be examined at a dedicated forum during the Lagos Finance Summit.

The summit, scheduled for October 14 to 16 at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, is expected to bring together forex brokers, introducing brokers, CBN-licensed banks, technology providers, legal practitioners and traders to deliberate on the proposed regulatory framework.

In a statement, the Head of Marketing and Promotion of the Lagos Finance Summit, Musa Kabul, said the proposals are designed to strengthen oversight of the retail forex and CFD market through higher capital requirements, stricter operational standards and enhanced protection of customers’ funds.

Technology and platform providers serving the market would also be required to maintain a proposed minimum capital of N5 billion.

Kabul said the Regulation Forum would provide stakeholders with an opportunity to scrutinise the proposals, raise concerns and contribute to the development of an effective regulatory framework.

‘The Regulation Forum will provide a platform for market participants to examine the proposed rules, raise their concerns and make recommendations that can contribute to the development of an effective regulatory framework,’ he said.

The draft rules, published by the SEC on September 1 following the enactment of the Investments and Securities Act 2025, have yet to take effect and remain subject to stakeholder consultations and consideration by the Commission.

Another major provision of the proposed framework is the mandatory segregation of client funds, requiring brokers to keep customers’ money in separate accounts with banks licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The SEC is also proposing greater oversight of offshore trading platforms targeting Nigerian residents, a move that could extend its regulatory reach beyond operators based in the country.

Under the proposed transitional arrangements, existing operators would have three months to apply for registration and six months to comply with the new requirements after the rules become effective.

Kabul said the proposed capital thresholds could have significant implications for existing operators and prospective entrants into Nigeria’s retail forex and CFD market.

The consultation process is expected to shape the final provisions on capital requirements, registration, customer-fund protection and the regulation of offshore platforms serving Nigerian traders.

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to commence emergency repairs on the Benin-Asaba Road, describing the intervention as a major step towards restoring the critical economic corridor.

Oborevwori, who spoke through the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, at the ‘Operation Rescue Benin-Asaba Road’ exercise in Benin City yesterday said the deplorable condition of the highway had subjected motorists, commuters and businesses to prolonged hardship.

Aniagwu said the road was particularly important to Delta and Edo states, describing it as a major artery linking communities, commercial centres and the South-South and South-East regions.

He attributed its deterioration largely to the failure of the concessionaire to meet the objectives of the concession agreement.

‘We are therefore delighted that the Federal Government has today deemed it fit to give life back to this important road corridor, which connects not only the commercial centres of the South-East but also the burgeoning business centres in Delta and Edo states,’ he said.

He commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, for the intervention and urged the Federal Government and contractors to expedite the work.

‘We look forward to seeing the work commence in earnest and to having this important road restored to a standard that will ease the movement of people and goods, revive commercial activities and improve the economic fortunes of our people,’ Aniagwu said.

The commissioner also highlighted Delta’s collaboration with the Federal Government on federal roads, citing the state’s intervention on the Warri-Sapele Road, where it constructed the section from the U-turn at the Spare Parts Market to Ohore Junction with concrete rigid pavement.

He said Delta would continue to support efforts to address critical infrastructure challenges and commended Umahi for the intervention on the First Niger Bridge, expressing optimism about its reopening after major rehabilitation works.

Speaking at the event, Umahi said the emergency rehabilitation was not awarded as a conventional contract but involved the deployment of equipment hired from contractors operating along the corridor, including Hi-Tech, CCECC and CBC.

He said the temporary intervention was expected to restore the road within four weeks, while President Tinubu had directed the redesign of the entire 136-kilometre Benin-Asaba dual carriageway with reinforced concrete pavement for long-term reconstruction.

Umahi said the Federal Government had offered the concessionaire three options to continue with the project, but the options failed, prompting the ministry to intervene in the public interest.

He also alleged that the concessionaire lacked the engineering and financial capacity to execute the project and had breached provisions of the concession agreement.

According to him, the emergency works would commence from the Edo axis, with particular attention to the Benin Bypass, while supervising engineers would be deployed to different sections to monitor the work and ensure compliance with standards.

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, thanked President Tinubu for ordering the intervention and urged those handling the project to ensure quality, adherence to specifications and timely completion.

The Benin-Asaba Road, a major transportation corridor linking the South-South and South-East with other parts of the country, has suffered failed sections and severe gridlock in recent months, disrupting the movement of people and goods.

The emergency intervention is expected to provide immediate relief to motorists while the planned redesign and long-term reconstruction of the corridor proceeds.

There is no room for fake results announcement during next year’s election, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, said yesterday.

He urged editors of newspapers and online practitioners to fact-check any information on the polls before publication to avoid misinforming the general public.

Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), spoke on modalities for election results announcement at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) 2026 holding in Enugu, capital of Enugu State.

The theme of the conference is: ‘The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive.’

He said under the Electoral Act, the statutory authority to declare election results rests exclusively with INEC.

Amupitan added: ‘Amplifying unverified, privately collated figures published by political actors on social media creates conflicting public narratives that undermine official outcomes. In national elections, it is vastly more important to be right than to be first.’

At the conference, the guest speaker, Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja John Cardinal Onaiyekan called for the setting up of special election tribunals for resolving election disputes within clearly defined timeframe.

Also, while former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), said Nigeria should find ways of reducing courts’ involvement in electoral outcomes, Prof. Pat Utomi emphasised the importance of building democratic institutions.

Amupitan warned that synthetic disinformation poses an existential threat to public trust and democratic stability ahead of the polls, urging newsroom leaders to erect an unyielding firewall of rigorous fact-checking and digital verification against artificial intelligence-driven deepfakes.

He also warned against rushing to publish unverified election results in the name of being the first to break the news, insisting that such publications or broadcast can have negative impact on public trust.

Amupitan, who was represented by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, also warned against publishing election results generated by political actors and posted on the social media, saying that such results are capable distorting facts.

He said generative AI, voice cloning, and deepfake video synthesis had democratised mass deception, enabling political saboteurs to produce photorealistic videos of election officials, cloned audio files, and doctored result sheets designed to incite public outrage and delegitimise democratic outcomes.

The INEC boss stressed the need to institutionalise specialised fact-checking desks, deploy forensic image analysis software and strictly adhere to statutory protocols requiring that official election results be verified exclusively through INEC before publication.

Amupitan said: ‘Malicious operatives no longer need a printing press or broadcast license to deceive millions. With modest computing power, they can produce a photorealistic video of an electoral official purportedly declaring false results in a dark room; a cloned audio file of an INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner instructing staff to manipulate voting devices on election eve;

‘Manipulated result sheets engineered to mimic official security features, flooded onto social media minutes after polling closes to create an illusion of fraud before collation even begins.

‘The primary danger of synthetic disinformation is not merely that it tricks citizens into believing a specific falsehood, but it causes the systemic destruction of public trust. When everything can be faked, citizens begin to doubt genuine, verified facts provided by constitutional authorities.’

He added: ‘When deepfakes render lies believable, real truth is greeted with skepticism. Cynicism replaces civic engagement, leading voters to ask: Why stand in line for hours if the outcome is already manipulated on a screen? That mental retreat is where democracy begins to decay.

‘Disinformation attacks the electorate’s cognitive sovereignty, turning elections from a peaceful contest of ideas into a volatile battleground of manipulated emotions, ethnic tension, and pre-packaged outrage.

‘For an election management body, administrative success on the ground can be instantly erased on a smartphone screen by a well-timed, algorithmically boosted

Amupitan disclosed that INEC had transitioned from defensive anxiety to a proactive technological offensive by establishing a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division within its ICT Department and deploying automated AI auditing tools within the Results Management process to detect discrepancies before final verification.

Noting that automated checks remained strictly governed by a five-pillar AI Governance Framework and subjected to mandatory human auditing, he cautioned media organisations against publishing or amplifying privately collated election results ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

He said such reports could create conflicting narratives and undermine confidence, urging editors to ensure that their platforms does not become channels for unverified election figures.

Amupitan added: ‘Let’s resist premature result declarations. Under the Electoral Act, statutory authority to declare election results rests exclusively with INEC. Amplifying unverified, privately collated figures published by political actors on social media creates conflicting public narratives that undermine official outcomes.

‘We should use our platforms to educate citizens on spotting synthetic content, fake letterheads, and algorithmically generated rage-bait.’

Apparently reacting to a statement credited to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, that the party would establish its own election viewing portal similar to the IREC, the INEC chairman warned that amplifying unverified, privately collated figures published by political actors on social media could create conflicting public narratives capable of undermining official election outcomes.

He said the media should protect the integrity of the electoral process, because artificial intelligence and social media are making it increasingly difficult to distinguish authentic information from manipulated content.

Amupitan said: ‘The pressure on modern newsrooms to be first is immense. But in national elections, it is vastly more important to be right than to be first.

‘Rushing to publish unverified, sensational claims whether a fake result sheet on social media, a doctored video, or an unconfirmed statement grants institutional legitimacy to deliberate deception, causing damage to public peace that is almost impossible to reverse.

‘I appeal to the Nigerian Guild of Editors to view media gatekeeping as a critical component of national security and democratic defense. To effectively combat AI-driven disinformation before, during, and after elections, we must build a collaborative firewall.’

Drawing attention to the economic conditions of Nigerian journalists, he said: ‘A poorly compensated journalist is vulnerable; a financially neglected newsroom is fertile ground for compromise.’

He stressed that journalists who receive decent remuneration and structured welfare are better positioned to resist financial inducement, interrogate false narratives and report elections objectively.

Amupitan said the commission has applied a similar principle to its own workforce by introducing measures aimed at improving the welfare of election officials.

He disclosed that the Commission established the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), thereby separating its workforce from the regular Civil Service salary structure with effect from January 1, 2026.

Onaiyekan National Assembly to establish special election tribunal

Cardinal Onaiyekan urged the next National Assembly to establish a special election tribunal for resolving electoral disputes within a clearly defined timeframe.

He said the tribunal wouldrestore confidence in the electoral process and prevent the determination of election outcomes by courts instead of polling stations.

Onaiyekan, who called for an improved legal framework for election, urged the next National Assembly to make electoral reform a priority.

He said the special election tribunal should settle election cases with minimum delay, stressing that prolonged litigation and technicalities should no longer undermine electoral justice.

Onaiyekan said: ‘We need to set up a special election tribunal whose duty will be to do nothing else but to settle all election cases with minimum delay.’

Onaiyekan further proposed that, where the conduct of INEC is being challenged, the burden of proof should be placed squarely on the electoral commission, adding that the present system places an excessive burden on candidates challenging election results.

He also called for anamendment that would allow ordinary voters to challenge election results, adding that citizens whose votes were at stake should have a legal avenue to seek redress.

Onaiyekan added: ‘Our laws should make provision for the citizen as citizen and as electors to challenge results of the election at tribunals. As at now, only candidates have locus standi to challenge election results.’

He said post-election litigation should be concluded before elected officials are sworn- in, stressing that it is unfair for a candidate to assume office and thereafter use state resources to defend the legitimacy of the election that brought him to power.

Onaiyekan added: ‘More seriously, we must do all that is necessary to dispose of all tribunal cases before swearing in any candidate. There should be no room left for clever lawyers to play technical delay tactics in this matter.’

Osigwe, Utomi seek stronger institutions

Osigwe and Utomi called for stronger democratic institutions, clearer electoral laws and reforms capable of restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme is receiving growing support from public institutions, private-sector organisations and employee cooperatives.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has become a frontrunner in the advancement of the homeownership aspirations of workers.

In what has become one of the most ambitious projects of the Federal Government, the Renewed Hope Cities Programme is a major housing initiative being delivered through a public-private partnership involving the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and private-sector development partners such as Ceezali Limited and Citec International Estate Limited, with the objective of providing 100,000 housing units for Nigerians in different parts of the country.

The programme is designed not only to increase the supply of housing but also to create practical pathways through which workers and families can access and finance decent homes.

A significant development under the programme is the participation of NMDPRA staff and their cooperative structures, supported by the commitment of the Authority and its management to facilitate homeownership for its workforce.

Through this institutional support, NMDPRA has provided financial assistance towards the equity contribution required by participating staff, enabling employees to subscribe to housing units under the Renewed Hope Cities Programme.

This support has enabled the first batch of over 428 NMDPRA staff members to participate in the programme and secure allocations across the Renewed Hope developments in Abuja, Kano and Lagos.

The initiative demonstrates how government institutions can complement the Federal Government’s housing agenda by supporting their employees in meeting the initial equity requirements associated with home acquisition.

For NMDPRA, the initiative also represents an investment in employee welfare and provides staff with an opportunity to build long-term household assets through structured homeownership.

The NMDPRA experience presents a potentially replicable model for other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), government-owned institutions, corporations and organised cooperatives seeking practical ways to support their employees in achieving homeownership.

The Executive Management of NUPRC (Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission) and NRS (National Revenue Service) are also committed to providing financial support for their staffs and coperatives members to ensure they participate fully in securing their homes in the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu renewed hope housing projects in different part of the country.

Rather than leaving employees to independently bear the full burden of the initial equity requirement, institutions can explore structured employee-support arrangements that enable qualified staff to access housing while spreading the financial obligation over an agreed period.

Under the NMDPRA arrangement, participating staff have been supported in meeting their equity obligations, while the balance of the property cost can be financed through applicable mortgage arrangements and other instalment payment plans for eligible beneficiaries.

This type of institutional participation can strengthen the ability of organised workers to access housing finance and participate in large-scale government housing initiatives.

The growing participation in the Renewed Hope Cities Programme is also being supported by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Dr. Muttaqha Rabe, who has championed a comprehensive reform agenda for the housing sector, with emphasis on addressing the structural challenges that have historically limited access to housing and housing finance.

The efforts of the Minister have been reflected in the increasing participation of individuals, cooperatives, companies and public institutions. Subscribers have been drawn from diverse sectors of the Nigerian economy, including oil and gas, energy, telecommunications, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), banking and finance, professional services and the public sector.

Public-sector participation has included employees and cooperatives associated with institutions such as the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Ministry of Finance, NDIC, Family Homes Funds Ltd., NSIA, PENGASSAN, NCC, NNPC and SEC, among others.

The programme has also attracted significant participation from private-sector cooperatives, including SEPLAT and NLNG, demonstrating the broadening appeal of structured institutional homeownership.

The participation of mortgage and housing-finance institutions, including FMBN and other financial partners, is also helping to provide financing pathways for eligible subscribers seeking to fund the balance of their housing acquisition.

The private-sector consortium delivering the Renewed Hope developments continues to advance construction across multiple locations.

In Abuja, construction at Karsana has progressed significantly, with approximately 2,500 housing units being developed and completed. In Janguza, Kano, the development has progressed through its initial phases, with 1,000 completed units forming part of the programme’s growing delivery portfolio.

In Lagos, construction is ongoing at the 2004 Estate along the Lekki Coastal Road, providing another major housing destination under the programme.

The consortium is also expanding its development pipeline to other locations, including Jibi and Kagini, both in Abuja, as well as Asaba in Delta State and Ibadan in Oyo State, as part of efforts to extend the reach of the Renewed Hope housing initiative beyond the initial project locations.

These developments demonstrate the programme’s focus on creating housing at scale while responding to demand from organised groups, cooperatives, public institutions, private-sector employees, traders, business owners and individual subscribers.

One of the distinguishing features of the Renewed Hope Cities Programme is its focus on connecting housing delivery with housing finance. The objective is not simply to construct houses but to create a pathway through which eligible Nigerians can acquire them through a combination of equity contributions, mortgage financing and structured payment arrangements.

The participation of institutions such as NMDPRA demonstrates the importance of this approach. By supporting employees with the initial equity requirement and connecting them to appropriate mortgage financing, employers and cooperatives can help bridge one of the major barriers to homeownership.

The NMDPRA experience, therefore, provides an important message to other institutions seeking to support their employees in owning homes. Such support can serve not only as an employee-welfare initiative but also as a strategic investment in workforce stability, financial security and long-term employee retention.

As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Cities Programme continues to expand, there is an opportunity for more MDAs, public institutions, private-sector organisations and cooperatives to participate actively.

Institutions can explore different models of employee support, including equity assistance, cooperative-backed financing, structured contributions and other arrangements that can complement mortgage financing.

Such participation can help transform housing from an individual aspiration into an institutionally supported pathway to homeownership, with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Family Homes Funds Limited and other development partners supporting efforts to make mortgage financing available to beneficiaries.

The NMDPRA model demonstrates what is possible when an institution aligns its employee-welfare objectives with a national housing initiative.

The growing participation of NMDPRA staff, cooperatives, corporate organisations and individual subscribers demonstrates that the Renewed Hope Cities Programme is developing into a broader housing ecosystem involving government, developers, employers, cooperatives, mortgage institutions and beneficiaries.

The success of this model has also depended on the quality of access roads provided, as road infrastructure is a critical component of successful housing delivery.

The implementation of the Presidency’s directives by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has resulted in the provision of significant road infrastructure supporting the Renewed Hope Cities development at Karsana, Abuja.

The completion of the 10.8-kilometre access road infrastructure is particularly important because housing developments cannot function effectively without the supporting transportation and urban infrastructure required to connect residents to employment, commerce, education and other essential services.

The Karsana experience demonstrates the importance of coordination between housing delivery and the provision of enabling infrastructure.

For the 430 NMDPRA staff participating in the programme, the journey towards homeownership has already begun. For other MDAs and organisations, the NMDPRA experience provides an opportunity to consider how institutional support can help their employees participate in the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope housing initiative.

At the event, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr Muttaqha Darma, commended the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for supporting access to affordable housing for its workers under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme.

Darma said the initiative was significant in the face of Nigeria’s huge housing deficit, which he put at more than 16 million housing units needed to accommodate over 100 million unhoused Nigerians.

He said the development demonstrated the importance of collaboration among government institutions in addressing the country’s housing challenge.

Earlier, the NMDPRA Chief Executive, Mallam Rabiu Umar, said about 430 members of staff in Abuja, Kano and Lagos were receiving allocation letters under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme.

Umar described the development as a practical demonstration of how government policies could translate into tangible benefits for citizens.

The NMDPRA boss said the Authority considered staff welfare an important component of institutional performance.

He said workers who had peace of mind and confidence in their personal future would be better positioned to contribute their skills and expertise to the Authority’s national mandate.

Umar commended the Authority Staff Cooperative Society, the Renewed Hope Access to Housing Committee and other institutional partners for facilitating the housing initiative.

The Renewed hope cities project of Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, has received tremendous supports from Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Family Homes Funds Ltd, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Keystone Bank, the only Commercial Bank that has provided support for the project.

Also speaking, the FMBN Managing Director, Mr Shehu Osidi, said the NMDPRA staff had subscribed to 430 housing units in Karsana, Abuja, and Janguza, Kano.

Osidi said 197 National Housing Fund mortgage applications valued at about N8.3 billion were being packaged for submission to FMBN.

He said FMBN had provided a N100 billion off-take guarantee for the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme, commencing with the Karsana project, in addition to N19.9 billion in direct funding.

Osidi said the interventions were designed to give developers greater certainty, facilitate construction financing and enable eligible workers to access completed houses through sustainable mortgage financing.

Meanwhile, the President of the Authority Staff Cooperative Society, Mr Abdullahi Auta, disclosed that more than 1,000 NMDPRA staff had applied for the housing initiative, but about 430 had so far been accommodated.

Auta appealed for continued support to enable more staff awaiting allocation to benefit from the scheme.

The Chief Commercial Officer of Renewed Hope SPV Limited , Mr Dare Makinde said Abuja accounted for 365 units in the first phase, comprising two-bedroom flats, three-bedroom flats and three-bedroom terrace duplexes with boys’ quarters.

According to Makinde, Kano had 14 units comprising three-bedroom and four-bedroom bungalows, fully detached houses and three-bedroom terrace duplexes with boys’ quarters.

He said Lagos had 56 units comprising two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments with boys’ quarters.

Makinde said a second phase of the project would be delivered next year to accommodate some applicants who could not benefit from the first phase.