Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The Olu of llaro/Paramount Ruler of Yewaland Oba Kehinde Ghadewole Olugbenle will clock 60 December 4.

The monarch will celebrate the milestone with his twin brother Pastor Talwo Olumuyiwa Olugbenle on December 23.

The event coincided with Pastor Olugbenle’s retirement from Deepdrill Medical Services Limited in Lagos.

The Diamond Jubilee grand finale will be marked by a thanksgiving service and reception in Ilaro-Yewa Ogun State bringing together relevant stakeholders and family members to celebrate with them.

For the Olu Ilaro the milestone is not merely a celebration of age but also an opportunity to reflect on a life of traditional leadership and service to the people of Ilaro and the wider Yewaland.

A statement by Special Assistant to the Paramount Ruler of Yewaland on Media and Strategic Communications Adeola Adeyemi outlined the activities as follows:

‘The programme will commence at 11:00 a.m. with a church service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Rock of Ages Chapel Private Palace of the Olu llaro and l’aramount Ruler of Yewaland Ilaro-Yewa Ogun State. A reception will follow immediately after the service at Asade Agunloye Pavilion laro Yewa.’

The Chairman of the Planning Committee Otunba Jerry Oluranti Otunba Bobaseto of Ilaro-Yewa has described the occasion as a moment of joy and thanksgiving and prayed for journey mercies for all invited guests travelling to flaro for the celebration.

Technology company Dockhive is developing Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven cloud infrastructure tools to simplify software deployment as AI transforms the technology industry.

Founded by Abdulkereem Opeyemi Kereem and Oloyede Solamipe Akinola the company’s platform features Drone an AI-powered deployment agent designed to help developers build and launch applications.

Its services also include cloud development environments databases storage and workflow automation.

Dockhive is targeting persistent challenges in software engineering including deployment security and infrastructure management even as AI tools increasingly automate coding tasks.

The company is also pursuing a sovereign-cloud approach aimed at giving users greater control over computing infrastructure and data while reducing dependence on third-party cloud providers.

The founders began working together in 2021 after meeting at the TensorFlow Dev Summit in 2019. Their subsequent experience in Web3 and fintech projects influenced their interest in infrastructure development.

However Dockhive’s prospects in the competitive AI infrastructure market will depend on its ability to deliver reliable secure and scalable solutions that meet the needs of developers and businesses.

Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III has called on political parties and their candidates to conduct peaceful and responsible campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He cautioned against actions capable of undermining national unity and stability.

The revered monarch who spoke with reporters after a private meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House Abuja urged political leaders and other stakeholders to exercise restraint as political activities intensify across the country.

The Sultan stressed the importance of maintaining peace throughout the electoral process saying that the responsibility for preserving national stability rested on all Nigerians particularly those seeking political offices.

He urged political actors to place the collective interests of the country above partisan considerations and ensure that their activities did not threaten the peaceful coexistence of Nigerians.

‘We need peaceful campaigns by everybody and we pray to Almighty Allah to grant us peace and stability in our country as we go in for elections’ the Sultan said.

Abubakar expressed optimism that the electoral process would produce leaders committed to advancing Nigeria’s development and improving the living conditions of its citizens.

‘May He Almighty give us the best we deserve in this country’ he added.

President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio has expressed concern over the reported decision to deny Senator Francis Faduyile (APC Ondo South) a ticket to contest the 2027 general elections.

He warned that the exclusion of experienced lawmakers could deprive the National Assembly of valuable contributions to lawmaking.

Akpabio who spoke during plenary expressed surprise that Faduyile might not return to the Senate after completing the tenure of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim who is now Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Nations.

He urged political stakeholders in Faduyile’s constituency to reconsider the reported decision arguing that political parties should give greater consideration to competence experience and the capacity to contribute to national development when selecting candidates.

‘What kind of politics are we doing when we are throwing away our best?’ he asked during deliberations on a motion sponsored by Faduyile at plenary.

Faduyile a former president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is representing Ondo South in the Senate to complete Ibrahim’s tenure.

Akpabio said experienced professionals should be given opportunities to serve in the legislature while noting that others could contribute to governance as ministers directors-general secretaries to government deputy governors or governors.

‘I believe that he’s very sound and people can go to other places. Some people could be made ministers DGs secretaries to government and all that deputy governors or governors or whatever. Others can serve in the legislature. I believe that he’s one of your best’ he said.

The Senate President urged political stakeholders in Faduyile’s community to reconsider their position and ensure that capable individuals were not denied opportunities to contribute to national development through legislative service.

‘Take my message back to your community that you should put your best foot forward. Try to reconsider the decision’ he told Senator Adegbonmire who acknowledged the intervention saying: ‘Your advice is well noted sir.’

Akpabio returned to the issue in his closing remarks thanking Faduyile for sponsoring the motion and questioning the value of lawmakers serving for short periods without sufficient time to make meaningful contributions to legislative business.

‘I must also further thank Professor Francis Faduyile and say that what I said was serious. That is not good for a senator to come and just be in the Senate for one year’ he said.

He argued that political parties should carefully consider the consequences of denying experienced lawmakers another opportunity to serve particularly when their professional expertise could strengthen legislative deliberations and policy development.

‘It is important that the political parties take a good look particularly where we have very serious-minded people who can make serious contributions to legislation and by implication to Nigeria. Taking tickets from such individuals robs us of his experience’ Akpabio said.

The Senate President specifically cited Faduyile’s professional background and experience as a former NMA president as assets that could benefit the Senate.

He added that his intervention was not motivated by the politics of Ondo State noting that he was not familiar with how political interests were distributed in the state.

‘But I know that as a former President of the Nigerian Medical Association you have a lot to contribute to this legislature. And I’m not a politician from your state; I don’t know how you share things’ he said.

Akpabio’s remarks underscored his concern that the loss of experienced legislators could weaken the Senate’s institutional knowledge and deprive the country of their contributions to lawmaking.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the reinstatement of M.S. Danjuma Permanent Secretary Finance (Special Duties) Federal Ministry of Finance with effect from October 21 2026.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Olumuyiwa Enitan Abel conveyed the President’s approval in a letter dated October 22 2026.

Danjuma was suspended on August 21 2026 along with two other permanent secretaries after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) submitted a report.

The report concerned the activities of a purported agency known as the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office allegedly promoted by George Buchi Nwabueze with the suspected involvement of public servants in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

According to the statement Tinubu approved the lifting of Danjuma’s suspension after due diligence and directed the Head of Service to recall him to duty immediately.

Danjuma is expected to resume his official responsibilities in line with the Public Service Rules applicable regulations and ethical standards governing the Federal Civil Service.

The Taraba State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG) China to cooperate on solid minerals development heavy equipment supply infrastructure expansion and technical capacity building.

Governor Agbu Kefas and Mr Hanson Liu Vice President of XCMG signed the MoU after the governor and his delegation paid a high-level working visit to the company’s headquarters in Xuzhou China.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation Barrister Zainab Usman Jalingo disclosed this in a statement.

The statement says the agreement identifies several priority areas for collaboration to strengthen Taraba’s mining and infrastructure sectors through access to modern equipment technical expertise and strategic investment opportunities.

The MoU covers the supply of infrastructure equipment solutions mining production equipment solutions sanitation equipment solutions and new energy equipment solutions as well as after-sales support and services maintenance assembly and commissioning of equipment supply of spare parts and components technical support warranties and the establishment of local warehouses and offices in the state.

The partnership is expected to facilitate access to modern cost-effective and energy-efficient machinery; strengthen responsible mining and infrastructure operations; accelerate road construction and urban renewal; promote technical skills transfer and employment opportunities for Tarabans; and attract foreign direct investment into the state’s solid minerals and infrastructure sectors.

The state government reiterated its commitment to strategic global partnerships that promote responsible resource development expand economic opportunities and translate the state’s natural wealth into sustainable prosperity for its people.

The Ogun State Police Command has arraigned seven men before the Ilaro Magistrate Court over alleged unlawful possession of firearms abduction of Amotekun operatives and stealing of a locally made single-barrel gun valued at N150000.

The defendants are Dosunmu Amos 34; Abisekun Seun 22; Ojo Olanrewaju 32; Joseph Aremu 33; Alao Ileyemi 30; Akeem Ege 45; and Elijah Eriwole 32.

They were arraigned before Chief Magistrate I Ilaro presided over by Mrs F.A. Ojelade on Friday on six counts of conspiracy unlawful possession of firearms abduction stealing and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

According to the charge sheet No. M/27/2026 signed by ASP Adeboye Olayiwola the defendants and others still at large between October 14 and 15 2026 at Alagbon area Owode-Afon in the Ilaro Magisterial District allegedly conspired to commit felony to wit: unlawful possession of firearms.

Count two stated that on October 14 at about 4 pm they unlawfully had in their possession one locally made single-barrel gun without a licence contrary to the Firearms Act.

Counts three and four respectively border on conspiracy and abduction at the Ogun State Security Network Agency Amotekun Owode-Afon Outpost on October 15 at about 5:30 pm.

The prosecutor alleged that the defendants abducted two Amotekun operatives AMT Salami Yakubu 31 and AMT Abelewa Soliudeen 37 and prevented any person entitled to have access to them from discovering where they were imprisoned.

Count five alleged that they stole one locally made single-barrel gun valued at one hundred and fifty thousand naira which is the property of the Amotekun Corps.

Count six stated that they conducted themselves in an unruly manner by invading the Amotekun outpost and shooting sporadically into the air causing fear in the neighbourhood.

The court did not take the defendants’ plea.

Prosecution counsel ASP A.S. Abiodun moved a motion pursuant to Section 306 of the ACJ Law of Ogun State 2017 praying the court to remand the defendants.

In her ruling Ojelade held that even though offences in counts 1 2 5 and 6 are within its jurisdiction it is not seized of the power to try offences in counts 3 and 4 and in the interest of justice ordered that the defendants be remanded for a period of 60 days in the first instance.

The case was adjourned till January 15 2027.

Concerned about securing total victory in the 2027 general elections the Youth Support Group (YSG) an independent support group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) since its formation in 2013 has called on the leadership of the APC Presidential Campaign Council to incorporate ’27 Legends’ as a grassroots mobilisation driver.

According to the group’s leader the 27 Legends initiative coordinated by Prince Babatunde Kolawole from Tinubu’s country home in Alimosho Federal Constituency is the product of a careful analysis of party activities at the ward level.

‘It is designed to give more attention to grassroots people where the real votes are to ensure victory for the party at the polls.’

The 27 Legends initiative seeks to institutionalise recognition for ward-level foot soldiers and active participants who are often overlooked after elections.

‘The push aligns with recent comments by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR who advised the APC leadership and the Chairman of Grassroots Mobilisation to prioritise ward-level engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections’ Kolawole said.

The YSG has urged APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and the party’s grassroots mobilisation campaign leader Hope Uzodimma to adopt the framework nationwide.

It said the initiative’s potential to enhance grassroots mobilisation youth development political participation and party cohesion could not be underestimated.

Kolawole noted that participation in APC activities at the zonal ward local government and federal constituency levels offered a model for grassroots mobilisation as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.

A collaborative multi-pronged plan to ease the cost of living for Nigerians was unveiled yesterday after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.

The Federal and state governments will work jointly to achieve the objectives of the plan which is designed for implementation over 90 days.

NEC the highest economic policy coordination body of the government is chaired by the Vice President and comprises members of the Federal Government’s economic team and state governors.

The plan comes amid efforts to cushion the impact of rising petrol prices following the 30-day petrol price discount announced by the Federal Government on October 1.

The emergency measures include making food more affordable accelerating the delivery of projects that will directly improve Nigerians’ welfare and establishing a joint financing framework between the Federal and state governments to support the nationwide deployment of compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles.

The Council also approved a national dashboard to monitor projects across the federation and ensure transparency and accountability in the utilisation of proceeds from the removal of petrol subsidy.

The decisions were reached at the 161st NEC meeting held virtually and presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Presentations were made by Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Taiwo Oyedele; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Mohammed Ali Pate; Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles Ismaeel Ahmed; Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Polio Eradication and Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya; and Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Livestock Development and Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris.

According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications Office of the Vice President Stanley Nkwocha the 90-day action plan identifies five priority areas.

They are food affordability tax harmonisation completion of high-impact projects removal of investment bottlenecks and regulated household support.

The measures are intended to consolidate the gains of economic reforms while ensuring that improvements in macroeconomic indicators translate into tangible relief for households and businesses.

Presenting the economic outlook Oyedele expressed optimism about the administration’s reform programmes identifying the reduction of headline inflation and interest rates to single digits by 2027 as major policy objectives.

He stressed that achieving these targets would require coordinated implementation of economic policies across federal and state institutions as well as interventions to address the immediate challenges confronting Nigerians.

The minister emphasised the importance of improved fiscal coordination targeted support for vulnerable households and the removal of obstacles discouraging investment and economic expansion.

Shettima challenged governors to ensure that the benefits of the administration’s economic reforms were reflected in affordable transportation improved healthcare employment opportunities and greater financial security for Nigerians.

He said economic reforms would ultimately be judged not by official pronouncements or statistical improvements alone but by their impact on the everyday lives of citizens.

‘The first dividend of prosperity should be the confidence to plan a life. Our task is to make such confidence less dependent on fortune’ the Vice President declared.

According to him deliberations on transportation healthcare police reform and livestock development were fundamentally about improving Nigerians’ quality of life and making government institutions more responsive to their needs.

‘Our separate jurisdictions must serve a common public interest’ he said urging governors to strengthen cooperation with the Federal Government in implementing policies that directly affect citizens.

On affordable transportation the Vice President warned against measuring the success of the National CNG Bus Initiative merely by the number of vehicles deployed insisting that reduced transport fares and accessibility must remain the primary considerations.

‘The cost of reaching a livelihood should never consume the livelihood itself. The passenger’s experience must guide our ambition because the value of public transport resides in the journeys it makes possible. We should assess success through affordability and access rather than fleet size alone’ he stated.

Shettima said Tinubu’s economic reforms were designed to lay the foundation for broader national prosperity but stressed that governments at all levels must demonstrate the capacity to translate policy objectives into improvements in living standards.

‘President Tinubu has made economic reform the instrument of a larger national ambition. Our contribution must give that ambition social depth and productive strength’ he said.

The Vice President urged governors to bring their understanding of local economic and social realities into national policy decisions noting that effective implementation required clearly defined responsibilities among the three tiers of government.

‘Our separate mandates must not become competing excuses. Each Governor carries knowledge that no federal document can supply’ he said.

He urged NEC members to evaluate every policy proposal based on its potential to reduce uncertainty create opportunities and strengthen public confidence in government.

‘Nigerians deserve institutions on which they can organise their lives. Providing that assurance is among the most consequential uses of public authority. That is the assurance we owe them’ Shettima added.

15 states yet to

update Ebola

preparedness plans

Prof. Pate assured NEC members that Nigeria had the institutional capacity to contain the spread of Ebola and prevent a major public health crisis.

He outlined measures being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with relevant agencies and stakeholders to strengthen the national emergency response.

He identified effective coordination surveillance and detection at points of entry laboratory testing the provision of essential medical kits and personal protective equipment and strategic public communication as critical components of the containment strategy.

The minister said 21 states had updated their Ebola preparedness and response plans while urging the remaining 15 to urgently establish the necessary mechanisms to respond to potential infections.

The briefing followed the confirmation of an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which prompted the activation of emergency public health response measures.

NEC intensifies push for polio eradication

NEC directed states to intensify efforts towards eradicating polio particularly in communities affected by insecurity and areas where children had been missed during previous immunisation campaigns.

They were urged to conduct comprehensive post-campaign reviews to identify gaps in immunisation coverage and develop measures to reach children previously excluded from vaccination.

NEC emphasised the timely release of counterpart funds strengthening of routine immunisation programmes and improved cooperation with security agencies to facilitate access to vulnerable communities.

It stressed that sustained political commitment from governors traditional rulers and security agencies would be essential to achieving complete polio eradication.

States back livestock development initiative

The Council acknowledged the livestock development sector’s potential to stimulate economic growth generate employment and improve livelihoods.

It noted that all 36 states had indicated interest in supporting the Federal Government’s livestock development initiatives and resolved to strengthen collaboration to accelerate reforms in the sector.

‘CNG must reduce transport costs’

The Council insisted that the CNG initiative must produce measurable reductions in transportation costs rather than merely increase the number of alternative-energy vehicles operating across the country.

Consequently relevant authorities were directed to engage transport unions and operators to ensure that savings arising from the use of CNG and electric vehicles were passed on to passengers through lower fares.

To implement the resolution NEC agreed to establish a committee to coordinate the proposed financing arrangement engage stakeholders and develop practical mechanisms for delivering affordable accessible and sustainable transportation.

The Southwest House of Representatives Caucus has described the late leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere Pa Reuben Fasoranti as a selfless leader who wanted the best for the Yoruba and other parts of Nigeria.

In a statement by the leader of the caucus James Abiodun Faleke the lawmakers representing Southwest federal constituencies said the exit of the political titan has created a vacuum.

Faleke said the late octogenarian would be remembered for standing for unity justice anfair playay during his tenure as the Afenifere leader.

The statement reads: ‘Pa Fasoranti will be missed not only by the Yoruba whom he led with dedication and forthrightness. He led without bias. His tenure was peaceful remarkable and memorable

‘Pa Fasoranti rallied the race; he led under one united umbrella. He was not controversial. He was forthright in his dealings with his followers and he earned their respect.

‘Baba will be missed not only by his immediate Yoruba race but his absence will also be felt by the entire country.

‘Our condolences go to his immediate family the Yoruba race and the government and people of Ondo State.’