Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The Anambra South Senatorial candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Chief Ebuka Onunkwo, has said he has no disagreement with Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, describing him as his ‘elder brother’.

Onunkwo said he would work with Soludo if elected to the Senate to advance the interests of Anambra South and the state.

He spoke at the weekend in Nanka, Orumba North Local Government Area, during the community’s New Yam Festival at Agbiligba Square.

His comments followed remarks by Soludo at Ekwusigo Local Government Area during the commissioning of a 1.03km road project, which Onunkwo was said to have contributed financially towards.

The governor had described Onunkwo as a businessman who should focus on his business rather than politics, among other comments.

The Nation gathered that Onunkwo contributed N170 million to complete the road project.

Reacting to the development, the NDC candidate said he would not respond to or attack the governor despite their membership of different political parties.

‘The only thing I can say about our governor is that we belong to different political parties today, but the ultimate priority to me today is to pursue my current ambition of going to the Senate.

‘Soludo is my elder brother and my governor; whatever he describes me to be is not my concern. The only thing that should occupy my time now is the coming election, and when I win, I will work closely with him to bring dividends of democracy to the zone and the state,’ he said.

On his chances against the incumbent senator representing the district, Onunkwo said the electorate would ultimately determine who was popular and capable of representing them.

‘The electorate are the only ones to determine our popularity. They will vote for whoever they see as popular and who they think can represent them well.

‘I want to go to the Senate to represent my people well and lift standards,’ he said.

Onunkwo previously served as coordinator of Senator Emmanuel Nwachukwu’s campaign council and chairman of Soludo’s campaign council in Ekwusigo Local Government Area before joining the NDC.

He was subsequently denied the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) senatorial ticket during the party’s primaries before moving to the NDC.

Dr. Funmi Olotu, National Coordinator of the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO), has received four international honours in the United States.

The awards recognised her leadership, public service, and contributions to social protection, inclusion, and human dignity.

The UNESCO Centre for Peace and its partners presented the honours during the high-level week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The recognitions include one from the United States Congress, another from the governor of Maryland, a presidential medal, and the UNESCO Centre for Peace Award, alongside her designation as a peace ambassador.

According to the organisers, the honours recognise Olotu’s leadership in strengthening Nigeria’s social protection architecture, particularly efforts to improve the identification of poor and vulnerable households, strengthen social protection data, and build more responsive systems for vulnerable populations.

Her work at NASSCO has also helped advance an integrated approach to social protection that connects strong institutions and reliable data with resilience, economic inclusion, and improved opportunities for vulnerable households.

Olotu is the second Nigerian to receive this combination of honours from the UNESCO Centre for Peace and its partners.

The honours were presented during the high-level week of the UN General Assembly, placing Nigeria’s social protection experience within the broader global conversation on resilience, inclusion, peace, and sustainable development.

For Olotu, the honours represent not only a personal honour but also an acknowledgement of collective efforts to build stronger institutions and ensure that vulnerable Nigerians are reached with dignity, responsiveness, and opportunity.

‘This recognition is an affirmation of the importance of strengthening social protection systems that understand vulnerability, respond to changing needs, and create pathways to greater resilience and opportunity. Ultimately, the true measure of our work is the difference stronger institutions can make in the lives of the people they are designed to serve,’ Olotu said.

Immediate past Federal Character Commissioner for Anambra State, Rev Uche Ibeabuchi, has given reasons why President Bola Tinubu deserves to be reelected in the 2027 general elections.

He said Tinubu has demonstrated courage and visionary leadership, which he attributed to numerous achievements he had recorded within the period of his tenure.

Speaking to newsmen on Friday, the former Commissioner argued that great nations are not built on convenient decisions but rather forged through willingness to confront structural challenges head-on.

According to him, progress required collective vision, adding that nations that achieved industrial development endured necessary periods of transition and fiscal adjustment.

‘President Tinubu’s reforms represent the deliberate choices required to secure a self- sustaining economy.

‘By dismantling long-standing structural inefficiencies, expanding social safety programmes, and investing heavily in youth, housing, and infrastructure, the President is demonstrating the resolute leadership needed to guide Nigeria toward enduring economic prosperity.

‘For decades, Nigeria stood at a critical economic crossroads, relying on unsustainable fiscal policies and short-term palliatives that deferred structural growth.

‘When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office, he inherited an economy in need of urgent restructuring.

‘Rather than adopting soft measures to preserve short-term political popular appeal, President Tinubu chose the path of statesmanship.

‘He initiated structural economic reforms designed to shift Nigeria from consumption to sustainable production.

‘Real national growth requires initial sacrifices, but the foundations being laid today are laying the groundwork for a prosperous future,’ he stated.

Ibeabuchi listed Tinubu’s achievements that qualified him for a second term to include the end to fuel subsidy, Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which he said empowered thousands of youth with higher education and technical skills, mass housing and infrastructure development, tax reforms, among others.

The Lagos State First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has appealed to residents to be patient with the government over delays in refuse evacuation across the state.

She assured that the government was working on a new strategy to address the challenges confronting waste management in the state.

Sanwo-Olu spoke while monitoring the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the Mafoluku area of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area.

Residents of the area had complained about delays by Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators in evacuating waste, as well as increases in waste collection charges.

The First Lady attributed part of the delay to operational challenges faced by waste operators at dumpsites.

She said, ‘The turnaround time for the trucks to dump the dirt at the dumpsite takes a long time. They are in the queue for like two, three days before they dump it and then come out, because it’s just one way.’

According to her, the government was working to address the challenges, adding that all stakeholders were committed to ensuring that Lagos remained clean.

‘Our prayer to our people is that they should be patient. We know we have this teething problem; we will overcome our teething problem with time,’ she said.

Sanwo-Olu commended Mafoluku residents for bagging their refuse instead of dumping it beside drainage channels.

She, however, called for improved waste separation at source, noting that recyclable materials were still being mixed with wet and dry waste.

‘The importance of separating the waste is very important. We noticed that we need to advocate more on that, because some of the waste we saw today, we had bottles with dry waste, wet waste,’ she said.

She also commended schoolchildren’s participation in the sanitation exercise, saying the initiative would help instil environmental consciousness in them from an early age.

Assessing the impact of the exercise six months after its commencement, Sanwo-Olu said the state had yet to attain the desired level of cleanliness but noted that public awareness was improving.

‘Six months since we started, we haven’t got to where we want to be. It’s a work in progress. But I can see that the awareness is there. People are conforming,’ she said.

She disclosed that the Ministry of Environment would soon introduce competitions and awards for the cleanest communities as part of efforts to sustain the initiative.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Head of Service, Olabode Agoro, who monitored the exercise in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, said residents’ participation had improved since the initiative began six months ago.

Agoro urged residents to take ownership of the exercise rather than waiting for government officials to arrive before cleaning their surroundings.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, also said public participation had increased significantly since the monthly sanitation exercise began.

He urged residents to embrace waste separation at the source, noting that recyclable materials such as plastics and paper could generate income.

Moses Simon reached a major milestone during the Super Eagles’ 2-1 win over Madagascar in Friday’s 2027 AFCON qualifying clash at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Paris FC winger became the fifth Nigerian player to reach 100 appearances for the Super Eagles after coming on just after the half-hour mark during the hard-fought victory over the Barea.

Simon started the game on the bench but was introduced for Akor Adams, who had struggled to make an impact up until that point. The appearance saw Simon join Alex Iwobi as the second active Nigerian player to reach the 100-cap mark.

The Super Eagles eventually got back on level terms in first-half stoppage time when debutant George Ilenikhena found the net.

Another debutant, Moses Usor, then completed the comeback with a superb solo effort to seal a 2-1 victory for Nigeria.

Moses Simon reflects on 100 Super Eagles appearances

The 32-year-old made his Super Eagles debut in 2015 after progressing from the U20 side and has now reached 100 appearances for the senior national team across all competitions.

After the game, Simon expressed his appreciation to everyone who has played a part in his journey with the national team and explained what has motivated him so far.

‘First of all, I would like to say thanks to the coach for the opportunity, thanks to every coach that gave me this opportunity and also thanks to you all, the journalists’, Simon said post-match, via Tribal Football.

‘Of course, this gave me joy and it’s a great privilege to play for the Super Eagles. It’s a dream come true. I never believed I would be there, I never believed I would play 100 games, but I just believe one thing: whenever I’m called up, I will be there to give my 100 percent.

‘The secret to my 100 caps is my family, my friends, Nigerians, journalists, because when I see the passion you journalists have for football, I’m ready to give everything.’

More states are in the process of deploying additional Compressed Natural Gas ((CNG) buses for cheaper public transportation as the October 1 cut in fares initiative of the federal government begins to take shape.

Some others are either about to take delivery of more of such buses or place order for them, according to reports from our correspondent across the states yesterday.

But the possibility that all the states will meet the October 1 deadline looked unlikely last night.

President Bola Tinubu had, in a September 18 directive, asked state governments to accelerate the deployment of CNG and electric mass transit systems with a view to delivering measurable reductions in transportation fares from October 1.

The President, in an update on the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme yesterday, had said Nigeria, as a gas-rich country, must insulate itself from volatility in the international energy market by expanding cheaper domestic alternatives rather than reverting to petrol subsidies, which he said consumed trillions of naira and left the economy vulnerable to movements in global oil prices.

He said more than 120,000 vehicles have already been converted to CNG under the programme, while over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 CNG refueling stations are currently operational across the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FTC).

Kano State, which launched 222 CNG and electric vehicles for public transportation back in May, has now been joined by Akwa Ibom and Cross River which have deployed 50 and 10 buses respectively.

Ondo State is awaiting the delivery of 100 CNG buses and Delta 50 while Edo prepares to unveil 50 on October 15.

Scheduled to perform the ceremony is First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, said at the launching of the vehicles in Kano that the initiative was aimed at building a more resilient and economically competitive Nigeria.

According to him, the adoption of CNG and electric mobility had become necessary to reduce transportation costs and lessen dependence on expensive traditional fuel systems despite Nigeria’s huge gas reserves.

‘Transportation costs affect food prices, businesses, manufacturing, logistics and ultimately the lives of ordinary Nigerians. President Bola Tinubu understood that Nigeria could not continue to depend entirely on expensive traditional fuel systems while sitting on over 200 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves,’ he said.

Shettima described Kano as the ideal location for the northern rollout of the initiative, noting that the state remains a major commercial and transportation hub linking markets across Northern Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

He commended the leadership of PI-CNG and EV under Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed for driving the programme and expanding its mandate to include electric vehicles in line with global transport innovation.

The Vice President also disclosed that private firms including Greenville LNG, AY Shafa, NIPCO, AA Rano, Rolling Energy and others were already investing heavily in gas infrastructure across Northern Nigeria.

In his remarks, Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, described the initiative as a bold intervention that would ease transportation challenges and create economic opportunities for residents.

He said Kano embraced the programme because transportation remains central to the state’s economy and commercial activities.

A’Ibom crashes transport fares with 50 CNG buses

Akwa Ibom Information Commissioner Aniekan Umanah said in Uyo that the CNG buses were operational in the state’s 31 local government areas to ease public transportation.

‘Governor Umo Eno is very intentional and committed to the holistic implementation of his ARISE Agenda as regards easing the transportation burden faced by residents of the state,’ he said.

He added: ‘The removal of fuel subsidy by the President Bola Tinubu administration is a welcome development and it has brought quantum benefits to the nation’s economy but some discomfort on commuters.

‘This informed the Governor’s decision to bring in the CNG buses, fifty of them, to ease the burden. Akwa Ibom State is a model in terms of transportation and ease of movement.

‘Every nook and cranny of the state is linked by good roads and I trust that residents of the state would not have any challenges with regards to human and vehicular movements.’

Govt intervention still unraveling in C-River, says commissioner

Transport Commissioner Kingsley Egomi said the Cross River State government has in its possession 10 CNG buses for the take off of the initiative.

Further details will unfold in due course, he told The Nation.

‘When I came back from Abuja from the stakeholders meeting on CNG, I tried to brief the Governor, but later on he travelled. It’s only when he comes back that I’ll know the state’s position fully.

‘Actually, the intervention aims to reduce transportation costs, so our first port of call is the CNG conversion centres because without the conversion centres, you’ve done nothing.

‘We’ve started the conversion centers already. Also, for the Electronic vehicles, we have about 10 already, so I need to meet with my boss (the governor) before I can have a full brief.

Abia State to increase CNG bus fleet to 60

The Abia State Government plans to increase its CNG bus fleet to 60 by the end of the year to take the total to 100.

Governor Alex Otti commissioned the first 20 last December and another 20 last month.

The buses currently operate mainly in Umuahia the state capital and the commercial city of Aba.

The bus service is to be expanded to cover Umuahia-Bende-Arochukwu, Umuahia-Umunneochi, Umuahia-Okigwe-ABSU, Umuahia-Michael Okpara University-Ikwuano, Aba-Ukwa and Aba-Owerri among other routes.

Fares on the Green shuttle from Umuahia to Arochukwu is N2,000 while private operators charge N5,000 for the same journey.

Benue Gov’s CPS: We’re on track

The Benue State Government said it is working round the clock to make the scheme a success in the state.

It has placed order for more buses including CNG vehicles for public transportation, Kula Tersoo, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia told The Nation.

He said government had earlier procured 100,100 Toyota buses for the state-owned transport company, Benue Links Nigeria Limited.

When the additional buses arrive and are put into use, the transport sector will be heavily subsidized, leading to a significant reduction in transport fares across the state, Tersoo said.

Afegbua: The buses will be near-free in Edo

Edo State Government said its planned roll out of 50-CNG buses into the state transport ecosystem will force down transport fares across the state.

Information and Strategy Commissioner Kassim Afegbua said the buses would be distributed across the three senatorial districts and the 18 local government areas.

‘The buses will be near-free because of the very cheap fare that would be charged per commuter,’ he said.

‘The very low fare will force other public transporters to cut down on their fares.’

Delta awaits 50 CNG buses as Asaba, Warri terminals near completion

The Delta State Government is awaiting the arrival of 50 CNG-powered buses approved for the pilot phase of its MORE Mass Transit Scheme, Commissioner for Transport, Mr Onoriode Agofure, has said.

Agofure said the government is currently constructing bus terminals in Asaba and Warri.

The buses are scheduled to arrive once the terminals are completed.

He said the initiative was part of the state government’s efforts to provide safer, more affordable and efficient public transportation while addressing the growing demand for organised mass transit.

According to him, the government’s assessment of public transportation patterns in seven major cities of Asaba, Warri, Ughelli, Agbor, Sapele, Abraka and Oleh showed that about 80 per cent of residents depend on public transport.

He said the finding underscored the need for a more structured and dependable transport system capable of meeting the daily mobility needs of workers, students, traders and other residents.

Agofure said the 50 CNG buses would constitute the pilot fleet for the MORE Mass Transit Scheme and would provide both inter-city and intra-city transportation services.

He said the scheme was expected to ease the burden of daily commuting, improve mobility and contribute to a more efficient public transportation system across the state.

The commssioner said the development of the bus terminals was an important component of the scheme, as the facilities would provide designated points for the operation and coordination of the new mass transit services.

Ondo seeks 100 CNG buses to cut transport costs

The Ondo State Government has requested 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses from the Federal Government as part of measures to reduce transportation costs and cushion the impact of rising fares on residents.

The state also requested 100 CNG-powered tricycles.

The Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Transport, Muyiwa Ogunyemi, told The Nation that the requests followed a meeting in Abuja involving commissioners of transport from the 36 states, the Presidential Implementation Committee on CNG and Electric Vehicles and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

He said the state submitted its report and requests following the meeting, although there was no guarantee it would receive the full number of vehicles requested.

‘We requested for 100 CNG buses. We also made 100 requests for tricycles. Even though it was just a request, we don’t know if they will give us up to that,’ he said.

Mr Ogunyemi said the success of the programme would be measured by its impact on commuters rather than the number of vehicles acquired by the government.

According to him, the lower operating cost of CNG-powered vehicles should reflect in transport fares rather than become another reason for operators to increase charges.

‘The buses that governments purchase or buy, how do they cushion the effect of transportation that translates to the reduction of transportation fees?’ he said.

He revealed that the state was also exploring partnerships with private-sector operators and vehicle dealers to ensure that buses acquired under the programme were CNG-compatible.

Ogunyemi said the state was already engaging private companies on the establishment of facilities for converting existing petrol-powered vehicles to CNG.

He explained that the state needed adequate conversion workshops, trained personnel and reliable gas-supply infrastructure before the CNG programme could operates effectively.

‘Do we have a workshop where they can convert those buses? Those that have existing fuel-driven automobiles, both private and commercial, can go there to convert their existing vehicles,’ he said.

The Special Adviser said the government was considering setting up a conversion and training facility while encouraging private investors to establish similar facilities in the state.

He said the government’s role should principally be to create an enabling environment for private-sector participation rather than permanently run the business.

Ogunyemi also said the state was engaging ‘Matrix Oil’ on the expansion of CNG infrastructure, saying the company had indicated plans to visit the state to discuss a possible partnership with the state government.

He added that Ondo already had a CNG facility in Ore where motorists could access gas, but additional infrastructure would be required if the number of CNG-powered vehicles increased substantially.

Lagos: We’re still discussing with FG

Lagos State, which has the most extensive public transport system in the country, is understood to be still in talks with the Federal Government on the cut in public transport fare.

‘Lagos State believes in the bold reforms initiated by the President Bola Tinubu administration and will support all efforts to enhance the living conditions of our citizens,’Information and Strategy Commissioner Gbenga Omotosho said yesterday, giving no further details.

Ebonyi, Imo, Anambra, Ogun and Osun state governments are in a similar situation.

Ebonyi State Transport Commissioner Collins Igboke said the state government was working with transporters and other stakeholders on ways to cut down the cost of transportation across the state in line with the President’s directive.

The newly appointed Deputy Chief of Staff to the Imo State Governor, Chief Enyinnaya Onuegbu, said that apart from the provision of free transport for civil servants the state government has also revived the moribund Imo Transport Company (ITC), which he described as an important component of the state’s public transportation system.

‘Imo State Government under Senator Hope Uzodimma resuscitated the moribund Imo Transport Company. It is no longer being hijacked by franchise owners; it is now run as a profitable company in Imo State,’ he said.

The Deputy Chief of Staff also said the state was working towards expanding the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered vehicles as part of measures to reduce transportation costs, although he did not disclose the number of vehicles involved, routes targeted or when the scheme would become operational.

Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), FUTO chapter, Dr Chinedu Ihejirika, said the university was also making efforts to take advantage of the CNG infrastructure to reduce transportation costs within the institution and promote cleaner energy.

Ihejirika told The Nation that FUTO has acquired CNG-compatible vehicles and tricycles to be deployed within the university community, adding that the initiative will provide a cheaper transportation option for students, staff and other members of the institution.

He said the university authorities have also been working to strengthen the CNG facility and ensure that the vehicles acquired for the institution could operate within the campus using the alternative fuel.

The FUTO development provides a practical component to the wider CNG transition in Imo, with the institution deepening its partnership with the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles.

The university has said its technological orientation, research capacity and skilled personnel position it to support cleaner energy, affordable transportation and environmental sustainability.

We’ll soon unveil our plan, says Anambra commissioner

Anambra State Transport Commissioner Edward Obiefuna Ibuzo said the state government was seeking collaboration with private investors to ease public transportation.

‘We’re seriously on it. Last week, we organised 1000 skills acquisition programmes for youths on electric vehicles, especially the CNG for clean and green energy,’ he said..

‘We’re also meeting with private investors for collaboration. We’re currently in communication with Innoson Motors. We will unveil our own soonest.’

Ogun to expand CNG, electric vehicle adoption to crash transport fare

Ogun State said it was working to expand the adoption of CNG and electric vehicles as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs, cut dependence on petrol and diesel, and promote cleaner mobility across the state.

The Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, told The Nation that the Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG) in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) is driving the implementation of the initiative across the country, with Ogun State actively engaging relevant stakeholders to ensure its effective and sustainable execution.

‘The Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG), in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), is driving the implementation of the initiative across the country. Ogun State, alongside other participating states, is actively engaging with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the policy is effectively and sustainably implemented.’

He said Governor Abiodun has directed the introduction of electric vehicles, including cars and motorcycles, as part of the state’s wider commitment to cleaner and more affordable transportation.

According to him, work is already underway to fast-track the programme and establish the the necessary framework to support the transition to cleaner forms of mobility.

Akinmade said the initiative was expected to have direct economic benefits for residents, particularly transport operators and commuters, by reducing fuel and running costs.

He explained that lower operating costs could ultimately translate into more affordable transportation fares, while increased adoption of CNG and electric vehicles would reduce dependence on conventional petrol and diesel-powered vehicles.

He added that the use of cleaner vehicles would also help reduce smoke and harmful emissions on roads across the state.

For the people, the benefits are practical and immediate: lower fuel and running costs for transport operators can translate into more affordable fares; greater use of CNG and electric vehicles will reduce dependence on petrol and diesel; and cleaner vehicles will help reduce smoke and harmful emissions on our roads.’

Osun govt awaits FG’s team

The Osun State Government is expecting a Federal Government delegation later this week to fine-tune plans for the introduction of CNG-powered buses and reduction of transportation fares in the state.

The State Commissioner for Transportation, Sesan Oyedele, told our correspondent on the phone that the Federal Government team would visit Osun as part of its engagement with the states on the CNG initiative.

The commissioner said the state has also developed a blueprint for reducing transportation fares.

The relevant documents on the issue are currently in his ministry, he said.

Oyedele, however, explained that effective regulation of transport fares would depend largely on the availability of CNG buses, in view of the current high price of fuel.

Kaduna ahead in provision of free transportation, says commissioner

Kaduna State Information and Culture Commissioner, Ahmed Maiyaki, said the Uba Sani Administration is already providing free transportation for residents with the CNG buses donated to the states by the Federal Government.

Maiyaki said the initiative commenced on July 7, 2025, initially targeting civil servants, retirees and students from primary to tertiary institutions, but was later expanded to cover other commuters travelling along designated routes across the state.

He explained that the state deployed the CNG buses for the free mass transit programme following their commissioning in Kaduna by President Bola Tinubu on June 19, 2025, adding that the use of CNG has also helped to provide a more cost-effective means of mass transportation.

The commissioner said 3.2 million passengers have so far benefited from the free transportation service, while citizens have collectively saved an estimated N3.5 billion in transportation costs since the commencement of the initiative.

According to him, the buses initially operated on major routes including Rigachikun-Kawo-Kasuwa-Sabo, Rigachikun-Kawo-Independence Way-Yakowa Road and Tudun Wada-Poly Road-Sokoto Road-Kawo, before the service was expanded to other parts of Kaduna metropolis, Zaria and Kafanchan.

Maiyaki said about 30 CNG buses were currently operating daily, serving approximately 200 bus stops between 7am and 6pm, adding that the state government was also constructing 200 modern bus stops to improve the efficiency and accessibility of the transportation system.

He said the free CNG mass transit programme was separate from the Kaduna Bus Rapid Transit project, stressing that while the free buses were introduced primarily as a cost-of-living intervention to reduce the burden of transportation on citizens, the BRT project was designed as a long-term urban transportation infrastructure programme.

Niger, Nasarawa and Katsina state governments were mute on their plans for now while the Kogi State Government plans to meet with the state chapter of the

National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on Wednesday with the issue as one of the items on the agenda.

NADDC moves to standardise CNG, EV training for technicians

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has commenced the technical validation of training manuals designed to standardise the training and certification of technicians working on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Electric Vehicle (EV) technologies in Nigeria.

The Council said the exercise was necessary to ensure that personnel handling the emerging automotive technologies acquire the practical competencies required to install, maintain, diagnose, repair and service CNG- and electric-powered vehicles safely.

The validation workshop, held in Lagos brought together automotive experts and other stakeholders to scrutinise draft instructional manuals developed from approved National Occupational Standards (NOS) for CNG and EV technologies.

Speaking at the workshop, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, represented by the Director, Industrial Infrastructure Department, Mrs Joke Onireti, said the quality of the manuals would determine the effectiveness of training and certification in the rapidly changing automotive sector.

Osanipin said the manuals were being subjected to technical review before their wider application to ensure that they were accurate, practical, current, competency-based and relevant to Nigeria’s automotive environment.

He said the development of the manuals was particularly important as the global automotive industry undergoes a major technological shift towards alternative propulsion systems, including CNG and electric mobility.

According to him, the transition presents Nigeria with opportunities for industrial development, job creation, youth empowerment, technology transfer, local content development and investment.

He, however, said the country could only benefit fully from the transition if it developed a workforce with the technical knowledge and practical skills required to work safely with the technologies.

‘This is why the validation of these manuals is particularly significant,’ he said.

Osanipin explained that the National Occupational Standards set out the competencies required for specific occupations, while instructional manuals provide the practical framework through which those competencies are taught, acquired and assessed.

He urged the experts participating in the validation exercise to scrutinise the manuals for gaps, ambiguities and inconsistencies, stressing that the documents must reflect current industry practices and technological developments.

He identified technical content, sequencing, learning outcomes, practical exercises, safety requirements, assessment components, terminology, illustrations and overall usability as areas requiring close examination.

Particular attention, he said, must be paid to occupational health and safety because of the risks associated with high-pressure CNG systems, high-voltage EV systems, battery technology, charging infrastructure, vehicle diagnostics and maintenance procedures.

‘Safety must remain a fundamental component of competency in these emerging technologies,’ Osanipin said.

He added that the manuals should be sufficiently practical to support trainers, assessors and different categories of learners, rather than serving merely as reference documents.

The NADDC boss also urged stakeholders to ensure that the materials reflected the realities of Nigerian training institutions, workshops, automotive businesses, conversion centres and other industry operators.

He said the Council expected the final documents to serve as credible national reference materials while remaining adaptable to future developments in automotive technology.

The President of the Automotive Sector Skills Council (SSC), Engr. Best Nnodim, said the development of the manuals had become necessary because of the rapid changes in Nigeria’s automotive industry.

Nnodim said the increasing adoption of CNG-powered vehicles, electric mobility and other electronically controlled vehicle systems required technicians who were not only knowledgeable but also practically competent and capable of working safely.

He said the manuals should therefore go beyond theoretical instruction and become practical tools for instructors, trainers, assessors and technicians.

According to him, CNG training must adequately cover gas systems, installation, inspection, leak detection, maintenance, diagnostics and safety.

Convener of the Paradigm Shift Conference (PSC) 3.0, Dr Stephen O. Enike-Matthew, has challenged Nigerians and Africans to reject limiting beliefs and embrace the possibilities inherent in leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and personal transformation.

Speaking at the third edition of the conference at Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja, Enike-Matthew said the theme, ‘Impossibility Is Nothing: Yes You Can’, was more than a motivational slogan, describing it as a call to action to reshape mindsets, inspire excellence and nurture a new generation of transformational leaders.

The conference attracted personalities from government, business, academia and the development sector, including former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Frank Mba (Rtd.); founder of the Jennifer Ubah Women and Children Initiative (JUWACI), Chief Jennifer Hembafan Alih; traditional rulers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, captains of industry and emerging leaders.

Enike-Matthew described PSC 3.0 as more than an annual gathering, saying it was a movement focused on unlocking human potential and helping individuals overcome perceived limitations.

‘Welcome to history,’ he told participants, describing the conference as ‘not just an event, but a collision of destinies’ built around one vision, one world and endless possibilities.

He said economic hardship, social background and environmental circumstances should not be allowed to determine an individual’s future.

‘The world has told you Nigeria is too hard to build wealth, your background determines your future and your dreams are too big. Today, we tear that report apart and write a new one,’ he said.

Enike-Matthew argued that impossibility was often a matter of perception rather than reality.

‘Impossibility is not a fact; it is an opinion. Your opinion of yourself is more powerful than the world’s opinion of you,’ he said.

He explained that the conference’s global-impact vision was centred on developing and deploying transformational leaders equipped to drive sustainable growth, disruptive innovation and organisational resilience across industries and nations.

According to him, the initiative seeks to equip leaders with the mindset, systems and skills required to build sustainable businesses, foster innovation and strengthen organisations capable of contributing to national transformation.

‘Our mission is to help leaders and entrepreneurs see and believe in what is possible, build wealth that is sustainable and organic, and create total transformation in life and business without limits,’ he said.

The conference focused on four strategic pillars: mindset, leadership, business and wealth creation, and women empowerment.

On mindset, Enike-Matthew said meaningful change begins with how people think.

‘You cannot lead beyond the level of your thinking. You cannot innovate beyond the limits of your imagination. You cannot transform a world you have concluded is impossible,’ he said.

He urged participants to move from survival to significance and from managing poverty to creating organic wealth.

On leadership, he said Africa’s challenge was not a lack of resources but the need for resolute leadership capable of translating vision into development.

‘Africa does not lack resources. It has lacked resolute leadership,’ he said, adding that leadership was not a title but the willingness to take responsibility for the possibilities one sees.

The conference also examined entrepreneurship and wealth creation, with Enike-Matthew encouraging participants to explore entrepreneurship, agribusiness and global career opportunities as pathways to sustainable prosperity.

‘It is not spiritual to be broke. Poverty is not humility; it is a failure of strategy,’ he said.

Two books authored by Enike-Matthew, Beyond Survival and The Art of Dreaming Big, were also launched at the event.

The conference featured the Africa Leadership and Development Initiative (ALDI) Awards, which recognised individuals and institutions for their contributions to leadership, development and nation-building.

The organisers said the awards were founded on the philosophy that ‘what you celebrate, you replicate’, with the aim of encouraging the emergence of new leaders.

In his closing charge, Enike-Matthew urged participants to become active agents of change rather than passive attendees.

‘Do not be visitors; be participants. Do not merely take notes; make decisions. Network intentionally and connect deliberately,’ he said.

He called on leaders across Africa to think bigger, act boldly and collaborate towards building societies driven by innovation, enterprise and transformational leadership.

‘If anyone tells you it cannot be done, look them in the eye and say: Impossibility is nothing. Yes, I can,’ he declared to a standing ovation.

One person has died following a lone accident involving a commercial Volkswagen bus along the Ojuelegba axis of Surulere, Lagos.

The accident occurred at Ogunlana Junction, inward Ojuelegba, by the Fallout area of Surulere, when the bus, with registration number LND 130 XR, reportedly careered into a median pole.

LASTMA, in a statement by its spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq, said the driver was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and had been driving recklessly shortly before the crash.

Other motorists approaching from behind reportedly had to exercise caution to avoid colliding with the erratically driven bus.

LASTMA said a male passenger, apparently attempting to escape from the moving vehicle, jumped out and sustained serious injuries.

The passenger later died from those injuries.

LASTMA personnel conducting traffic surveillance in the area quickly mobilised to the scene after spotting the crash.

The officers secured the scene, managed traffic and removed the damaged vehicle and the remains of the deceased from the carriageway to prevent a secondary collision.

Security personnel from the Area C Police Division, Ojuelegba, provided security cover at the scene, while officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEHMU) evacuated the remains of the deceased.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the incident as a reminder of the dangers associated with driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving and the use of mechanically defective vehicles.

Bakare-Oki urged commercial and private motorists to carry out proper mechanical checks on their vehicles before embarking on journeys.

He specifically advised motorists to pay attention to braking systems, tyres, steering mechanisms and other critical safety components.

The LASTMA boss commiserated with the family of the deceased and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to prompt response to road crashes, traffic management and quick clearance of accident scenes.

He urged motorists and other road users to report accidents, vehicle breakdowns, traffic incidents and obstructions through LASTMA’s toll-free short code, 3367.

The Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Alabi Olanite Oyeditan, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for reconstructing the long-abandoned Frontier Road, describing the project as a major intervention that could open up Imeko-Afon Local Government Area and transform its economic fortunes.

The monarch spoke at the weekend ahead of this year’s Agbinrekoti Festival, an annual cultural gathering he said would help preserve the heritage of the Imeko people, draw attention to the area’s development needs, and strengthen ties with Ketu communities across the border in the Republic of Benin.

According to Oba Oyeditan, the Frontier Road dates back to the colonial era, when it was conceived as a major corridor linking Idofoi through Imeko and extending towards other parts of the country.

He said the road, which began from Idofoi in 1900 and reached Imeko in 1906, was originally intended to extend towards Bida and Kebbi, before plans were later made in 1918 to connect it to Badagry.

The monarch regretted that the original route was subsequently altered, resulting in what he described as years of infrastructural neglect for communities along the frontier corridor.

He said the present administration’s Sokoto-Badagry road project, although not following the original alignment exactly, brought major road infrastructure back through the frontier corridor.

‘But thank God for the incumbent President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Sokoto-Badagry now passes through my local government. Though not the original place that it was intended to be before, at least the Frontier Road passes through the frontier corridor,’ he said.

Oba Oyeditan described the development as a correction of what he called past anomalies in infrastructure planning, saying the project had begun to remove Imeko and surrounding communities from decades of isolation.

‘So that is part of the correction the present administration is making to correct past anomalies,’ the monarch said.

He appealed to the Federal Government to complement the road project with the establishment of a tertiary institution in the area, noting that communities in Imeko had historically taken responsibility for providing basic education.

According to him, indigenes, missionaries, and other community members had established primary and secondary schools, but the time had come for the government to provide tertiary education infrastructure.

‘Primary and secondary schools were established by the community. Tertiary institutions should now be established by the government, especially the Federal Government,’ he said.

The monarch argued that Imeko-Afon’s strategic location and proximity to the international border with the Republic of Benin made infrastructure investment particularly important.

He noted that the local government had vast expanses of undeveloped land with significant agricultural and industrial potential.

The reconstruction of the road, he said, had already begun to improve the area’s fortunes by improving access to markets and easing the difficulties previously experienced in transporting agricultural produce.

‘Number one, we are no more obscure. That road will bring us out of being at the backyard of the world. At least the road has opened up the area,’ he said.

Oba Oyeditan added that improved road access would help farmers move their produce to markets in northern and southern Nigeria, reducing losses that occurred when farm products could not be transported quickly.

‘The economic benefit of that road is that all our agricultural produce that used to get spoiled before, we now have access road either to the north or to the rest of the southern part,’ he said.

He further said the improved road network could attract factories and other businesses to the area, as investors would have easier access to land and transport infrastructure.

‘Even for people who want to locate factories, the road is now available. Along the road, land could be purchased or leased, and they could site their factories. So the road has opened the place up,’ the monarch said.

He urged the Federal Government to sustain its intervention by providing complementary infrastructure that would maximise the economic and social benefits of the newly improved road corridor.

The Onimeko of Imeko also called on the Federal Government to establish higher education and healthcare institutions in the border community, saying its historical importance as a frontier headquarters has not been matched by adequate infrastructure.

According to Oba Oyeditan, Imeko was the headquarters of the Western Frontier Preventive Service established in 1899 and historically served as a frontier centre covering the area from Badagry to Shaki.

He said the town’s strategic location and its long association with the Customs Service, immigration, police and other border agencies justified greater federal investment.

‘We are the border going to people across into the Benin Republic. We have Customs, Police, Soldiers, Immigration; we have all of them,’ he said.

He called for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in the community, arguing that Imeko’s status as a border town made such an institution necessary.

He also appealed for the establishment of a Federal College of Agriculture and Development Studies in Imeko, noting that the area was predominantly agrarian and had historically relied on communal and missionary efforts to provide primary and secondary education.

Oba Oyeditan urged the Federal Government to consider a bill sponsored by Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, to establish the institution.

‘As a border community and a border headquarters, the first frontier headquarters in what is known as Nigeria today, Imeko deserves the Federal Government’s establishment of a higher institution of learning.’

Kano State has emerged as the best-performing state in the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO), retaining the position for the second consecutive year.

According to the results released by NECO, 74,413 candidates in Kano obtained at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.

Lagos State came second with 72,496 candidates, while Oyo State placed third with 55,543 candidates.

The State Director-General, Media and Publicity, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, disclosed the figures in a statement.

He said Kano also recorded the highest number of candidates with five credits, including English and Mathematics, in the 2025 NECO examination.

Reacting to the result, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf commended the students, teachers, parents and other stakeholders for the performance, saying it reflected the impact of sustained investment in education.

Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education through increased funding, improved learning facilities, teacher recruitment and training, scholarships and support for indigent students.

The state government spent more than N4.4 billion in 2026 to sponsor candidates for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, with particular attention to students from indigent backgrounds.

The governor said the intervention was aimed at reducing financial barriers and enabling students to participate in the examinations under better conditions.

He said the latest NECO result was part of the improvement recorded in the state’s education sector since the beginning of his administration.

Education has received one of the largest allocations in the state budget under the administration. In 2024, the sector received about 29.95 per cent of the budget, while the allocation rose to N168.35 billion, representing 31 per cent, in 2025.

For 2026, N405.35 billion was allocated to education in the N1.47 trillion state budget, representing about 30 per cent.

Yusuf said the government’s education interventions also covered classroom renovation, teacher recruitment, learning materials, school uniforms and scholarships.

He said the administration would sustain the investment to develop an education system capable of equipping young people with skills for higher education, employment, innovation and leadership.

The governor dedicated the latest NECO performance to students, teachers, parents and residents of Kano State.

The development comes as the state’s latest annual school census recorded more than five million schoolchildren.