Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed concern over the continued detention of Comrade Alalade Bukola Felix, popularly known as ‘Machiavelli’, by the police in connection with an alleged political crisis in Osun State.

NANS called for his immediate release or arraignment in court within 24 hours if the police have evidence linking him to any offence.

In a statement issued by the NANS Southwest Coordinator, Comrade Adeyemo Josiah, and Public Relations Officer, Comrade Olugbemi Timothy, the student body said it visited the Osun State Police Command in Osogbo over the matter.

The association said several aspects of the explanation provided by the command were ‘deeply troubling’ and required urgent clarification.

According to the statement, Machiavelli’s wife told NANS that police operatives arrived at their residence at about 1am, allegedly forced their way into the house and took him away without properly informing his family of his destination.

NANS said the suspect was initially traced to the Area Command in Ilesa before he was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo.

The association said the police had alleged that Machiavelli was connected to a violent incident during a political procession and claimed that video evidence existed to support the allegation.

NANS, however, demanded that any such evidence be presented before a competent court.

‘Our position is that if such evidence exists, place it before a competent court and prosecute him according to law,’ the statement said.

The student body urged the police to respect due process and ensure that the suspect’s fundamental rights were protected throughout the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.

‘During our engagements at the Police Command, we sought clarity and credible material supporting the allegations. No such material was presented to me. The mere existence of an allegation cannot become a substitute for judicial scrutiny or an excuse for prolonged detention.

‘We acknowledge the responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force to investigate crime and arrest persons where there is reasonable suspicion of an offence. What we will not accept is a situation where allegation gradually becomes punishment through continued detention without the intervention of a court.

‘An allegation is not a conviction, we therefore call directly on the Inspector-General of Police to urgently take interest in this matter and ensure that the Osun State Police Command and all officers involved act strictly within the law, professionally and without political influence.

‘This is particularly important at a time when Osun State is approaching a sensitive election and public confidence in the neutrality of security agencies must not be allowed to deteriorate.

‘NANS has consistently demonstrated its willingness to work with security agencies for peace. Only recently, the student leadership partnered with the Police through POCACOV in advocacy against electoral violence and social vices.

‘Such cooperation can only survive where there is mutual trust, transparency, professionalism and fairness. Let it also be clearly stated that our intervention has nothing to do with Comrade Machiavelli’s employment, political association or relationship with any government official.

‘He is a former NANS JCC Osun PRO, a former Convention Planning Committee Chairman, an alumnus of the University of Ilesa and an active stakeholder in the student movement.

‘Whatever political interests may surround the allegations against him are secondary to us. Our concern is that a recognised student leader must enjoy the same due process guaranteed to every Nigerian citizen.

‘Our position is simple, within the next 24 hours, either bring Comrade Alalade Bukola Felix ‘Machiavelli’ before a competent court and place the allegations and available evidence before the judiciary, or release him in accordance with the law.

‘We also call on the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, and the senior officers overseeing election security in Osun State to demonstrate, in practice, the fairness and professionalism Nigerians have been promised.

‘Should this situation continue without lawful judicial intervention or satisfactory resolution, NANS will consult its structures and commence lawful, peaceful and organised mass action to demand respect for due process and the fundamental rights of one of our own.

‘We will neither defend wrongdoing nor obstruct a legitimate criminal investigation. But neither will we sit idle while political tension becomes an excuse for the rights of student leaders to be disregarded.

‘Investigate if you must. Prosecute if you have evidence. But let the law, not allegation, determine guilt. The credibility of our security institutions in the days approaching this election will be judged not only by what they say about neutrality, but by what Nigerians see them do.’

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has charged bakers, manufacturers, operators on production process, right labelling, urging them to examine their products to determine if it meets Government standards.

Tunji Bello, the Chief Executive Officer FCCPC gave this charge yesterday in Lagos at the stakeholder engagement forum with bakery and confectionery operators organized by the FCCPC’S South West Zonal office with theme ‘Building consumer trust through quality and safety: A regulatory mandate for industry operators.

Speaking at the event which theme is ”Building consumer trust through quality and safety: A regulatory mandate for industry operators’, he urged every operator to examine their products especially in five areas; reviewing ingredients and inputs, production process, audit what you tell the consumer, strengthen traceability and complaint handling, prepare for the possibility that something may go wrong.

‘After reviewing these areas, there is one useful question every producer can ask: if I knew everything about how this product was made, would I confidently serve it to my own family’?

‘If the answer is yes’, said the CEO, represented by the South West Zonal Coordinator of FCCPC, Dr. Olubumi Otti ‘maintain that standard. If there is any hesitation, identify the reason and address it. That is where your compliance work should begin’.

Mr. Bello stressed that consumer trust is not built by advertising alone but also earned through the way a business conducts itself.

He said that consumers develop confidence when the product inside the package corresponds with what is stated on it, when the quantity supplied matches the quantity promised, and when businesses accept responsibility and act promptly when problems arise.

‘That confidence is sustained when standards are maintained consistently, not only when a regulator is present.

‘The bakery and confectionery industry have an unusually close relationship with the Nigerian consumer. Your products enter our homes, schools, offices and celebrations, and ultimately, they are consumed by our families. That creates enormous commercial opportunity, but it also carries a significant responsibility’.

Bello said the FCCPC wants businesses in this sector to prosper. ‘We want to see them expand, innovate, employ more Nigerians and build brands that endure. Sustainable businesses, however, depend on consumer confidence, and that confidence rests on quality, safety, honesty and accountability’.

‘The commitment I ask you to take away from this engagement is therefore practical. Make quality part of your everyday operations. Treat safety as non-negotiable. Be truthful with consumers and give them what you have promised. Above all, make compliance part of the way you do business, rather than something you prepare for only when a regulator is coming’ said the FCCPC CEO.

According to him, If we can establish that culture across this industry, consumers will be safer, responsible businesses will be stronger and public confidence in the sector will grow.

Speaking further, he noted ‘It is particularly important for us to engage with an industry whose products are part of the daily lives of millions of Nigerians. From the neighbourhood bakery serving its community every morning to the large-scale producer supplying thousands of retail outlets, you are entrusted with something very important: the confidence that what you produce and sell is safe for consumption’.

He noted that bread and other baked products are among the most familiar items on Nigerian tables, yet every purchase requires the consumer to place considerable trust in the producer. Consumers do not ordinarily know where the ingredients came from, how they were stored, or the conditions under which the products were made. They do not inspect the production environment or equipment. They depend on the producer to maintain proper hygiene, use appropriate ingredients, represent the product truthfully and supply the quantity promised’.

‘Our purpose here today is to reinforce a simple principle: that trust must be justified by conduct. The theme of this engagement, ‘Building Consumer Trust Through Quality and Safety: A Regulatory Compliance Mandate for Industry Operators,’ therefore goes beyond the subject of today’s meeting. It speaks directly to the standard expected of every operator in this industry’.

Furthermore the FCCPC CEO said ‘We often speak about consumer protection in terms of complaints and redress. However, by the time a consumer has eaten unsafe food and suffered harm, the most important opportunity to protect that consumer has already been lost’.

‘Effective consumer protection must therefore begin before the product reaches the shelf. It starts with the source and quality of ingredients and continues through production, hygiene, handling, packaging, labelling, storage, transportation and display. It also covers what businesses tell consumers about their products, the quantity they promise and actually supply, and how they respond when something goes wrong’.

According to Bello, ‘This is particularly important in your industry because your products are ingested and consumed every day by adults and children alike. A defective non-food product may inconvenience a consumer or result in economic loss. Unsafe food can cause injury or serious harm. For that reason, food safety cannot be compromised in the pursuit of profit’.

He said the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 gives consumers the right to receive goods that are reasonably suitable for the purposes for which they are generally intended, are of good quality, in good working order and free of defects, and comply with applicable standards set by industry sector regulators.

‘For bakery and confectionery operators, these are not abstract legal principles. They should be reflected in the everyday operation of your businesses adding that every input matters: its source, condition and storage. The cleanliness of your equipment matters. The hygiene of personnel matters, as do the integrity of your packaging, handling and transportation processes’.

He said that Consumer protection does not benefit consumers alone but ‘Effective regulation also protects businesses that invest in doing things properly. Consider two bakeries’

The executive Vice chairman of the Commission therefore warned that where businesses expose consumers to unsafe products, engage in deceptive practices, disregard applicable standards or otherwise violate consumer rights, the FCCPC will act within its statutory mandate and, where appropriate, in coordination with the relevant sector regulator.

Bello reiterated that our ‘objective is not to punish legitimate enterprise. It is to protect consumers and ensure that businesses do not gain an unfair advantage by violating their rights. Responsible operators should expect effective regulation because every business allowed to profit from misconduct places those who bear the legitimate cost of compliance at a disadvantage’.

Argentine Maestro Lionel Messi has paid an emotional tribute to his late father, Jorge Messi, days after his death, revealing that the loss has left him questioning whether he will continue playing football much longer.

The Inter Miami captain took to social media to mourn Jorge, who was not only his father but also his longtime representative and a key figure throughout his career.

‘Dad, I still can’t believe you’re gone,’ Messi wrote, describing his father’s death as coming too soon despite knowing that he had been suffering.

Messi revealed that one of his biggest hopes during the 2026 FIFA World Cup was for Argentina to reach the final so Jorge could recover and travel to watch him play.

‘I kept telling you that we were going to reach the final so you could travel,’ he said.

Argentina eventually reached the final, but Jorge was unable to attend. Messi said he had hoped to win the tournament so he could dedicate the achievement to his father.

‘We reached the final, and you couldn’t be there. I wanted to win it so I could bring it to you and show you another one; I couldn’t. My legs just couldn’t give me any more. This time I tried to push beyond what my body could handle, but I couldn’t. I never managed to feel physically right,’ he wrote.

The 39-year-old also recalled how his father supported him from his childhood, taking him to training sessions after work and rarely missing his matches.

Jorge later became closely involved in Messi’s professional career, representing him in negotiations and helping manage his affairs as he rose to become one of football’s greatest players.

‘You were my dad, friend and representative,’ Messi said.

However, Messi said he would remember Jorge primarily as his father, recalling the advice, disagreements and lessons that shaped him both as a footballer and as a person.

‘I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. I don’t know how to keep going,’ he wrote.

The Argentina star also admitted that his father’s death had made him uncertain about his future in football.

‘I only played soccer, and now I have a lot of doubts about whether I’ll keep doing it for much longer,’ Messi said.

Despite the pain of his loss, Messi said Jorge’s influence would continue through his family, particularly in the way he raises his children.

‘I’m going to miss you so much, but you will always be present, especially in the way I raise my children, because I teach and raise them the way you raised me.

‘Rest in peace and watch over us from above, just like you did here. Thank you for everything.

‘I love you, Dad.’

Thousands of travellers were stranded across the country’s major airports yesterday as aviation workers embarked on a strike.

The industrial action, according to them, is over alleged anti-union practices, casualisation of workers and withholding of statutory funds, including the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) by domestic airlines.

The strike, ordered by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), in collaboration with the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), led to suspension, cancellation and rescheduling of flights by airlines. The aviation unions were backed by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC)

At the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 in Lagos, as well as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Terminal in Abuja, officials of the three unions in the early hours of yesterday barricaded entrances of the departure terminals, preventing the airlines from attending to passengers.

The airlines whose flight operations were worst affected included Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, Ibom Air, Enugu Air and Aero Contractors.

Customer Service Officers attached to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) took time to assuage angry passengers who could not undertake their flights on the affected airlines.

ATSSSAN National President, John Ogbe, attributed the strike to the expiration of consecutive 14-day, seven-day, and three-day ultimatums given the airlines on the issues in contention.

The other contentious issues are the airlines’ failure to regularise qualified casual workers and withholding more than N25 billion in statutory funds due to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other aviation agencies.

Ogbe stated that a recent intervention meeting on the issues by the Ministry of Aviation ended without progress after the Airline Operators of Nigeria ( AON) declined to engage.

He warned that if the dispute remained unresolved, the industrial action would expand to all the remaining domestic airports nationwide starting today.

Airlines advise passengers

Air Peace, in a statement, lamented the impact of the strike on its operations.

The airline apologised to its passengers for the disruption and inconvenience caused by the ”circumstances beyond” its control.

The statement reads in part: We wish to inform our esteemed passengers and the general flying public of temporary disruptions to our flight operations arising from the picketing of our airline.

‘Passengers scheduled to travel later today(yesterday) are being contacted and provided with relevant updates as the situation evolves.

”We will continue to closely monitor developments and will provide further updates as necessary.”

United Nigeria Airlines (UNA), said it suspended 32 of its flights to protect the safety of its passengers and crew.

Spokesman for the airline, Chibuike Uloka, said UNA’s eight serviceable aircraft were fully booked before the picketing. He assured passengers that UNA would resume full operations once normalcy returned.

Also, Enugu Air said its passengers were advised to check their email, SMS and official social media platforms for updates,

The airline added it encouraged those requiring assistance on rebooking and other enquiries to contact its customer service team.

Chief Executive Officer of one of the affected carriers, who asked not to be named, called on the Federal Government to investigate the action of the labour unions.

He lamented that the strike impacted his airline’s flights out of Abuja.

He explained that their operations out of Lagos were disrupted because the unions concentrated their picketing at General Aviation Terminal (GAT).

On the cost of the strike on his airline, he said: I can’t say that now. We have to do a study and see the cost of the impact of the strike.

‘This shows that the aviation sector has a bigger problem than we think. If the unions are taking it upon themselves to picket the airlines because they are not paying five per cent, then it has a problem because the agency has means of collecting the five per cent.

‘Nigeria is a country of law, and we are law-abiding citizens. I think the Federal Government should investigate this because people are taking laws into their own hands.’

An official of one of the unions said the latest action followed an unsuccessful attempt by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to broker peace at a meeting between the unions and airline operators on the contentious issues. According to him, the unions attended a meeting convened by the minister, but one of the airlines communicated back that it would not be available for discussions.

He said: ‘The airline has been discouraging other airlines from industrial democracy.

‘Our picketing of its counters is strategic. We have to start with the airline because it’s a major carrier in the country.

‘At present, we are only picketing their Lagos operations. We all know that most airlines depart or land in Lagos.

Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi, has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of allegedly importing political violence into the district ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The Nation recalls that Adeleke had called for Fadahunsi’s arrest over an alleged inciting remark against supporters of the Accord Party following the killing of 12 APC members in the state.

Reacting to the governor at a press conference in Osogbo on Wednesday, Fadahunsi alleged that more than 40 people had been killed in Osun East in the last year, accusing the state government of failing to prevent the violence.

He further claimed that 30 APC members had been killed within the last month, alleging that the attacks were intended to intimidate opposition supporters and discourage them from coming out to vote.

According to him, ‘Adeleke created terrorism from Ede into Osun East, the stronghold of APC, for us to be destabilised, so that people will not go out en masse to cast their votes.’

Fadahunsi, who chronicled several incidents of violence in Ijesaland, alleged that four people were killed while 16 others sustained gunshot injuries during a crisis over the control of local government administration.

He also accused some appointees of Adeleke and the governor’s political allies of being behind some of the incidents, alleging that the violence was linked to political interests in the area.

The senator’s allegations come amid heightened tension in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, following reports of killings and clashes involving supporters of rival political parties.

He said, ‘In the last one year, over 40 people were killed in the district unchecked by either the police or the governor. Members of Amotekun Corps killed 4 people in Akinlalu while six others sustained gunshot wounds.’

Fadahunsi also alleged that some individuals with links to cult groups had been used to perpetrate violence in Ijesa land.

Fadahunsi said the situation had become worrisome ahead of the August 15 election, alleging that opposition supporters had been targeted.

He claimed that 12 APC members were killed within 24 hours in recent attacks, while several others sustained injuries.

‘Go to Wesley Guild, there are corpses everywhere. The former Speaker, Timothy Owoeye, and Remi Omowaiye are in hospital instead of planning for the election,’ he said.

He alleged that the violence was aimed at creating fear among voters in Osun East, while claiming that Ede, the governor’s home town, remained peaceful, saying ‘We observed that it is only Osun East that this governor from Ede is terrorising.’

‘Adeleke created terrorism from Ede into Osun East, the stronghold of APC for us to be destabilised, so that people will not go out en masse to cast their votes.’

Fadahunsi said he had led a protest to the palace of the Owa of Ijesaland to draw attention to what he described as politically motivated killings in the area.

He urged traditional rulers and security agencies to ensure that voters were not intimidated or prevented from exercising their franchise.

‘I want to urge the security agencies to ensure arrest of anyone who may want to prevent our people from coming out en masse,’ he said.

‘If they want to return to power by force, it is not possible. Let us do our election free and fair, not by introducing terrorism in my district to chase away the people,’ Fadahunsi said.

Fadahunsi urged residents of Osun East to remain resolute and participate in the election, assuring APC supporters that their votes would determine the outcome.

He said the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), would emerge victorious in the election.

‘By August 15, when all these have ended, let them be going around to be talking grammar where they feel. The people of Osun State have understood the game that they are devilish and they are ready to reject them. AMBO will win the governorship race,’ he said.

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has approved the appointment of five permanent secretaries.

A statement signed by the Head of Civil Service, Abigail Waya, said the appointments were made, following the governor’s bid to invigorate public service delivery.

Those appointed include Isa Osama from Doma Local Government, Adamu Akpa from Obi Local Government, Bilkisu Adamu from Keffi Local Government , and both Justina Allu and Ahmed Tsaku from Nasarawa Eggon Local Government.

The statement said the appointees would be sworn in at a date to be announced in due course.

The Action Peoples Party (APP) candidate for Imo East Senatorial District, Mazi Chima Amadi, has called for an end to the cycle of poverty in Imo State, saying poor Nigerians should not be condemned to remain poor in a country endowed with abundant human and material resources.

Amadi challenged women in Imo East to use their numerical strength and grassroots influence to demand accountable and effective representation through the ballot.

He spoke at the annual August Meeting of the Women’s Wing of Okpulla Amakaohia Development Union (OADU), in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, where he commended the women for their contributions to community development.

According to a statement by his spokesman, Cajetan Duke, the academic and social entrepreneur from Umuekwenne, Ngor Okpala, lamented what he described as the worsening socio-economic conditions across communities in the state.

He listed poor healthcare delivery, infrastructural deficits, declining standards in public schools, bad roads, unemployment and economic hardship among the challenges confronting residents.

According to him, the situation reflects years of poor representation and misplaced priorities, stressing that governments and elected representatives at all levels must be more responsive to the needs of ordinary citizens.

‘The poor can’t continue to remain poor while a privileged few continue to prosper from our collective resources. Our mothers cannot continue to struggle with medical bills, our children cannot continue to learn in dilapidated schools, and our young people cannot continue to roam the streets without jobs and opportunities. Government must work for the ordinary people,’ he said.

The APP candidate said women were among the worst affected by economic hardship because of their central roles in families and communities.

He urged them to translate their influence into political power by voting for leaders capable of delivering tangible development.

Amadi expressed concern about the declining state of public education, warning that the continued deterioration of public schools could widen inequality and deny children from poor families opportunities to improve their lives.

‘As a son of nobody who is a proud product of public schools, I weep daily seeing education gradually becoming the exclusive preserve of privileged members of the society,’ he said.

‘Public education gave people like us the opportunity to dream beyond the circumstances of our birth. We must rebuild a society where the child of the poor has the same opportunity to dream, learn and succeed.’

The event took an emotional turn when Amadi encountered an elderly woman with a conspicuous growth around her throat.

Moved by her condition, he donated N500,000 towards her medical evaluation and treatment.

He said the incident underscored the plight of citizens who are unable to afford basic health care, insisting that access to medical treatment should not depend on a person’s financial status.

‘What we have seen here today is beyond politics. It is about our common humanity. Nobody should have to carry an illness for years simply because she cannot afford medical attention,’ he said.

Amadi also announced a N3 million donation towards the development initiatives of the Okpulla Amakaohia Development Union.

He praised the women for sustaining the traditional August Meeting, describing it as an important platform for community development, social cohesion and women’s participation in grassroots affairs.

The candidate, however, warned against a situation where communities are forced to take over responsibilities that should ordinarily be funded and delivered by government.

He urged the women to demand accountability from elected officials and scrutinise how public resources are deployed, stressing that elections provide citizens with an opportunity to reward effective representation and reject non-performing leaders.

Responding, the National Vice President of OADU Women’s Wing, Mrs Victoria Ugochi Chukwu, thanked Amadi for identifying with the community and supporting its development aspirations.

Chukwu particularly appreciated his N3 million donation and intervention on behalf of the elderly woman, describing the gestures as evidence of compassion and concern for the welfare of ordinary citizens.

Amadi was accompanied to the event by members and leaders of his campaign organisation and the APP, including Chief Henry Onwukwe, Director-General; Michael Crown Njoku; Chief Denis Okwu; Chief K. K. Ikeh; Cajetan Duke; Prof. Uche Nwosu; Emeka Onwukwe; Lady Chyna Ugwuadu; Chief Uju Ugochukwu; Obioma Onwuegbucha; Sir Denis Nneji; and Emma Soronnadi, among others.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has commended the management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, led by Prof. Idia Ize-Ize-Iyamu, for improving patient care by upgrading critical infrastructure.

It described Prof. Ize-Iyamu as a beacon of hope and a trailblazer, as the hospital’s first female Chief Medical Director.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, delivered the commendation after touring the hospital and unveiling projects completed in the past year.

Kachollom, represented by the Managing Director of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dr Philip Ugbodaga, praised the UBTH CMD for what she termed prudent management, visionary leadership, and efforts to improve infrastructure and clinical services.

She said the achievements recorded within 365 days demonstrated her commitment to transforming the hospital and improving healthcare delivery in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

On her part, Prof. Ize-Iyamu said the infrastructural and service upgrades were intended to improve patient care and experience.

She said the projects were designed to provide patients with safe, dignified and world-class healthcare services.

The CMD stated that UBTH remained a one-stop tertiary healthcare institution with specialist services covering neurosurgery, oncology, dentistry, eye care, renal services and other complex medical needs.

Among the facilities inspected were a renovated security house, a 65-bed Accident and Emergency complex, an expanded mortuary upgraded from 72 to 460 chambers, a multi-faith centre, premium and regular renal dialysis units, a child-friendly paediatric clinic, a revitalised oxygen plant, a geriatric ward, a 160-slice CT scanner, a special investigation unit, dental and oncology centres, and improved theatre facilities.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has urged the Federal Government to fast-track the establishment of state police, saying political concerns should not be allowed to prolong Nigerians’ suffering from insecurity.

TUC President-General, Festus Osifo, made the call yesterday in Abuja while addressing journalists on economic and social issues affecting Nigerian workers.

Osifo said politicians constitute less than 0.1 per cent of the country’s population and should not stand in the way of security measures that would benefit the remaining majority. He urged the government to work with the National Assembly to fast-track the constitutional and legislative processes required, and to secure states’ support for the proposed legislation.

‘Nigeria is in a state of war today. When a nation is not secure, you cannot start talking about building hospitals, building roads,’ he said, calling for deployment of technology and modern equipment to complement security efforts.

On the economy, Osifo said improved macroeconomic indicators had not sufficiently translated into relief for workers. He described the naira, trading around N1,380 to the dollar, as still undervalued against a fair value of N900 to N1,000, saying a stronger exchange rate would eventually ease inflation and market prices.

He opposed halting food importation until insecurity is resolved and farmers can safely return to their farms.

On aviation, Osifo backed the ongoing strike by unions including the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association over alleged anti-union practices and non-remittance of a five per cent ticket charge owed to workers, put at about N25b. He urged airlines to resolve the dispute.

Osifo called for private-sector participation in refinery management, with government retaining a maximum 49 per cent equity, to reduce political interference in commercial decisions.

He commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for recent arrests of suspected terrorists and bandits, praising the Federal Government’s 50 to 80 per cent salary increase for military personnel, while calling for similar improvements for other Nigerian workers.

The volume of waste generated in Lagos State daily has risen to about 17,000 tonnes from about 13,000 tonnes.

Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat made this known yesterday while featuring on ‘Daily Digest with Jimmy Disu’, a radio programme on Nigeria Info FM.

The programme was monitored by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Dr Hamzat highlighted the growing pressure on the state’s waste management system.

He said increase in waste volume had placed additional strain on Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and other operators.

The deputy governor said the situation had made effective planning and service delivery more challenging.

‘The government initially estimated that Lagos generated about 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, but we have now discovered that the figure is approximately 17,000 tonnes,’ he added.

Hamzat attributed the surge to population growth, urbanisation and increased number of residents operating within the informal sector across the state.

He said Lagos had about 420 Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators engaged in waste collection at the moment.

He said operational disruptions affecting waste collection trucks had also posed a challenge in some parts of the state.

Hamzat cautioned residents against placing blame solely on LAWMA, saying the agency was dealing with a scale of responsibility that exceeded earlier projections.

‘We must understand that the scale of the challenge has changed. It is not something that can be handled the same way it was initially planned,’ he said.

Hamzat emphasised the importance of accurate data in addressing the situation, saying effective planning could only be achieved with a clear understanding of the problem.

He said: ‘You cannot manage what you cannot measure.’

The deputy governor said there was need for continuous review of waste management strategies in line with current realities.

He said building a cleaner Lagos required collective responsibility among the state government, PSP operators and residents.

Hamzat urged residents to complement government’s efforts through proper waste disposal and compliance with environmental regulations.

‘A cleaner Lagos depends on all of us. Government cannot achieve it without the cooperation of the people,’ he said.

He called on Nigerians to embrace a sense of responsibility and patriotism in maintaining a sustainable and healthy environment.