Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The Arewa Youth for Peaceful Coexistence has dismissed as false and mischievous reports that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is lobbying to become the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council.

The group, through its National Chairman, Haruna Bature, described the report as a calculated attempt to tarnish Wike’s political image and create unnecessary tension within the country’s political space.

Bature said the claim had no basis in reality, stressing that Wike had neither lobbied nor expressed interest in becoming the APC presidential campaign DG.

According to him, Wike remains committed to the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and is focused on delivering on his responsibilities as FCT Minister, as well as contributing to the President’s political success in Rivers State and the FCT.

He said Wike, who is currently holidaying in Spain, had just concluded about 30 days of commissioning projects across the country, arguing that his recent activities were evidence of his focus on governance rather than lobbying for political appointments.

‘Wike never lobbied,’ Bature declared, adding that the minister had dismissed the report as a total lie and urged Nigerians to disregard the allegation.

The Arewa youth leader accused unnamed political actors of deploying what he described as ‘hypocrisy, duplicity and fabricated lies’ against Wike in an attempt to score cheap political points and cause friction between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said the alleged campaign was part of a broader attempt to distract Wike from his duties and obstruct the minister from carrying out what he described as his good work in the nation’s capital.

Bature argued that Wike’s political influence in Rivers State and his record in infrastructure development had made him a target of political attacks, insisting that his achievements should be judged on their merits rather than through unsubstantiated reports.

‘Falsehood may fly on the wings of the wind and spread to every corner of the earth, but truth, though slow and solemn, will always catch up with it,’ he said.

The group described Wike as a major political force in Rivers State and an ‘irreplaceable asset’ in leadership, particularly in view of his role in the ongoing transformation of the Federal Capital Territory.

Bature said the Arewa Youth for Peaceful Coexistence remained proud of Wike’s achievements and urged him to remain focused on delivering projects and supporting national development, while calling on Nigerians to reject political propaganda capable of deepening divisions in the country.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on Wednesday that it has recovered more than N115 billion in statutory levies owed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by defaulting oil companies between 2021 and 2023.

Francis Oka-Phillips Usani, an EFCC representative, disclosed this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts in Abuja.

Usani said the amount comprised N76.883 billion and $81.076 million in outstanding liabilities.

The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, is investigating queries arising from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) 2021-2023 Oil and Gas Sector Audit Report.

Usani said the EFCC investigated 43 oil companies, of which 24 operating in the Niger Delta were found to have outstanding three per cent statutory levies payable to the NDDC.

He said the remaining 19 companies were cleared after the investigation found no outstanding liabilities against them.

‘At the commencement of the investigation, EFCC invited 43 oil companies, out of which 24 operating within the Niger Delta were found to have outstanding liabilities in the sums of N76,883,705,907.17 and $81,076,655.00, while the remaining 19 other oil companies were given a clean bill of health,’ Usani said.

He added that, following the investigation and mounting pressure on the affected companies, some paid their outstanding liabilities directly to the NDDC.

According to him, the companies paid N6.709 billion and $16.994 million directly to the commission.

Usani further disclosed that N73.373 billion and $67.070 million recovered by the EFCC on behalf of the NDDC had been released to the development commission, leaving N3.510 billion and $14.005 million in the EFCC’s recovery account.

Explaining the scope of the investigation, Usani said the EFCC focused primarily on unpaid three per cent statutory levies due to the NDDC, as identified in the NEITI audit report.

He, however, said the commission was also mindful that other statutory obligations and taxes could be outstanding from the affected companies and payable to the Federal Government.

Meanwhile, the committee rejected an attempt by TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited to defend queries raised against it in the NEITI audit report, citing under-representation.

The committee consequently directed the Managing Director of TotalEnergies to appear in person before it at a date to be fixed next week.

It also gave the managing directors of South Atlantic Petroleum Limited, Oando Oil Limited, Famfa Oil and Green Energy International Limited a final opportunity to appear physically before the committee.

Dankwambo said that the investigation would continue on Thursday.

The National Coordinator of The Disciples of Jagaban, Honourable Comrade Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as one of Nigeria’s most experienced and influential political figures of contemporary times.

Alawuje, in a statement issued on Wednesday, urged Nigerians to assess political leaders and alternatives based on competence, experience, ideas and measurable value rather than sentiments, ethnic considerations or political loyalty.

He acknowledged that no government or political leader was perfect, stressing that criticism, disagreement and opposition remained legitimate components of a democratic society.

According to him, however, political opposition should go beyond criticising the government by presenting Nigerians with clear, realistic and convincing alternatives capable of addressing the country’s challenges.

‘I am not saying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is perfect. No leader is perfect. The important question is whether those presenting themselves as alternatives have been able to convince Nigerians, beyond sentiments and political loyalty, that they have a better and more realistic plan for the country,’ he said.

Alawuje said the political experience accumulated by Tinubu over several decades remained an important factor Nigerians should consider when assessing his administration and the country’s broader political landscape.

He challenged supporters of major opposition figures, particularly Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, to engage in substantive debates on policies, programmes, experience, governance and their respective visions for Nigeria rather than relying mainly on political rhetoric.

The National Coordinator also urged politicians and their supporters to avoid rhetoric capable of deepening ethnic, religious and political divisions, while expressing concern over attempts to involve foreign governments or political figures in Nigeria’s domestic political disagreements.

‘Nigeria is a sovereign nation. We can disagree among ourselves, criticise our government, challenge policies, and demand accountability. But our political disagreements should not become an invitation for external forces to determine our domestic political affairs,’ he stated.

Alawuje maintained that the opposition had an important role to play in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, provided it remained constructive and focused on offering credible alternatives, adding that supporting Tinubu should not mean refusing to acknowledge shortcomings in government, just as opposing the administration should not mean wishing the country failure.

He called on Nigerians to focus political debates on competence, character, policy, experience, accountability, economic development, national unity, security and citizens’ welfare, stressing that ‘grumbling is allowed, criticism is allowed, opposition is allowed, but patriotism must remain paramount.’ He reaffirmed The Disciples of Jagaban’s commitment to democratic participation, responsible political engagement and the promotion of national development.

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has assured residents that all necessary measures have been put in place to guarantee a free, fair, and credible poll.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, urged residents not to entertain fear, stressing that adequate security arrangements had been made to ensure a safe atmosphere for registered voters to exercise their civic rights.

He disclosed that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, had approved the deployment of 10,000 police personnel to oversee the election under the supervision of a Deputy Inspector-General of Police.

‘The Nigeria Police Force has announced plans to develop a comprehensive roadmap for the effective management of security during elections as part of efforts to strengthen the security architecture ahead of the 2027 general election,’ Iniedu said.

He reiterated that the police remain impartial and that officers deployed to Osun have been adequately trained to strictly follow the rules of engagement.

A Nigerian Army Headquarters committee, led by Brig. Gen. K.O. Bukoye, Commander of 401 Special Forces Brigade and Sector 1 of Operation Whirl Stroke, has inspected a proposed Army Barracks site at Imande Dura in Turan District, Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State.

The inspection was led on the ground by Kwande Local Government Chairman and Benue ALGON Chairman, Vitalis Terhile Neji, who said his sustained efforts to address insecurity in Kwande drew state and federal attention, leading to the decision to site the barracks in Turan District.

He thanked Governor Hyacinth Alia and President Bola Tinubu for the intervention, urging community leaders to cooperate with the committee for speedy delivery of the project.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Turan Development Association (TUDA) President, Ahaa Bichi, endorsed Imande Dura as the site and thanked the chairman, governor and president for prioritising the community’s security concerns.

Maj. Gen. Raymond Utsaha, who oversees implementation of new Army divisions in three states including Benue, and Maj. Gen. M.K. Gara, pioneer General Officer Commanding of 5 Division, briefed traditional rulers on the barracks’ expected benefits and called for collaboration from elders and stakeholders. Utsaha said the barracks would help address the security situation in Kwande, including concerns around the Nigeria-Cameroon boundary, and pledged the Army’s commitment to expedite the project.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has cautioned bakery and confectionery operators against compromising food safety or misleading consumers amid rising production costs.

FCCPC’s Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tunji Bello, gave the warning yesterday in Lagos at a stakeholders’ engagement with bakery and confectionery operators. The event was organised by the commission’s Southwest Zonal Office.

Bello said rising costs of flour, sugar, energy, transportation, packaging, equipment and financing could put pressure on businesses, but stressed that such challenges could not justify practices capable of endangering consumers. Bello was represented by the commission’s Southwest Zonal Coordinator, Mrs. Olubunmi Otti.

‘When input costs rise, businesses cannot resort to unsafe substitutes, harmful or prohibited additives, poor-quality ingredients, compromised hygiene, manipulated expiry information or other shortcuts that transfer commercial risks to consumers,’ he said.

He said businesses could respond to changing economic conditions through legitimate commercial decisions, but must not deceive or endanger consumers.

The FCCPC boss also warned operators against inaccurate product claims, particularly on weight, ingredients, shelf life, allergens, storage conditions and other material information.

He said what businesses told consumers on product labels, packaging, social media, at points of sale or through conventional advertising must accurately reflect what they offered.

According to him, consumers should not be made to pay for value that has not been supplied.

Bello said the commission’s position was particularly important because bakery products were consumed daily by millions of Nigerians, including children.

He said food safety could not be sacrificed in pursuit of profit, noting that consumer protection must begin before products reached the market.

‘Quality cannot simply be checked at the end of the production line. It has to be built into the entire production process,’ he said.

Bello urged operators to ensure proper sourcing, storage and handling of ingredients, maintain hygienic production environments and equipment, and strengthen staff practices.

He also advised businesses to establish effective traceability systems capable of identifying affected production batches, ingredients used and the destinations of products in the event of a safety concern.

The FCCPC chief executive further urged bakers to treat consumer complaints as early warning signals rather than attacks on their businesses.

He said repeated complaints could expose problems involving defective batches, poor packaging, improper storage, problematic ingredients or discrepancies between declared and actual product weights.

Bello said manufacturers and distributors that became aware of unforeseen hazards associated with products already in the market had an obligation under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, to notify the public and withdraw affected products.

He added that businesses must be prepared to isolate affected products, investigate problems, protect consumers, notify relevant authorities where required and take corrective action.

The FCCPC boss said effective consumer protection would also protect responsible businesses from unfair competition by operators that cut corners to gain commercial advantage.

He said the bakery and confectionery industry should compete on quality, efficiency, innovation, service and value rather than on the ability to evade consumer protection obligations.

‘The FCCPC wants businesses in this sector to prosper. We want to see them expand, innovate, employ more Nigerians and build brands that endure,’ Bello said.

He warned that sustainable businesses depended on consumer confidence, which in turn rested on quality, safety, honesty and accountability.

Bello said the commission would continue to engage businesses constructively and provide regulatory clarity, but stressed that engagement should not be mistaken for reluctance to enforce the law.

He said the FCCPC would act within its statutory mandate where businesses exposed consumers to unsafe products, engaged in deceptive practices, disregarded applicable standards or violated consumer rights.

The executive vice-chairman challenged operators to return to their businesses and review their operations from the sourcing of ingredients to production, labelling, distribution and complaint handling.

‘If I knew everything about how this product was made, would I confidently serve it to my own family?’ he asked, urging operators to use the question as a practical test of their compliance culture.

Bello said building consumer trust required more than advertising, noting that confidence was earned when products matched their descriptions, quantities matched what was promised and businesses accepted responsibility when problems occurred.

He urged operators to make quality and safety part of their daily operations rather than standards they prepared to meet only when regulators visited.

He said sustained compliance would make consumers safer, strengthen responsible businesses and improve public confidence in the bakery and confectionery sector.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has urged traditional rulers across the state to deploy their influence at the grassroots to mobilise their subjects for peaceful, responsible and informed participation in the 2027 general election.

Prince Abiodun gave the advice yesterday while inaugurating the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, as the new chairman of Ogun State Council of Obas, at the Obas’ Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The governor advised the monarchs to educate their subjects on the importance of civic participation and encourage them to shun violence, thuggery, hatred and other acts capable of threatening the peace and stability of the state before, during and after the elections.

He described the 2027 general election as an important democratic transition, stressing that the strength of democracy was measured not only by the votes cast, but also by the peace, responsibility and sound judgment with which citizens exercised their franchise.

According to him, traditional institutions, given their reach and moral authority at the grassroots, have an important role to play in ensuring that the next electoral season does not undermine the peace and development recorded in the state.

He said: ‘Beyond security, I also call on our royal fathers to continue mobilising our people towards responsible civic participation, particularly as we enter another electoral season.

‘Our people should be encouraged to recognise and support the development strides of the government and, when the time comes, translate their appreciation into their democratic choices at the polls.

‘At the same time, you must remind your subjects that elections should never become an excuse for violence, hatred or division. We must continue to uphold the peace we have collectively nurtured and participate responsibly in programmes that advance our ‘Building Our Future Together’ agenda.’

Abiodun said his administration had, over the past seven years, strengthened mechanisms to discourage hooliganism and political thuggery, noting that the recent primary election conducted by the ruling party in the state was peaceful and crisis-free.

He commended the traditional rulers for their continued support for the administration, describing them as strategic partners in maintaining peace, strengthening security and deepening grassroots development.

The governor particularly praised the monarchs for supporting security agencies through intelligence gathering and community mobilisation, noting that their knowledge of local communities remained indispensable to effective security operations.

He said government could provide technology and logistics, while security agencies could deploy personnel, but neither could substitute for the local intelligence and community knowledge available through traditional institutions and citizens.

Abiodun said the partnership had yielded positive results, particularly in the state’s recent security challenges.

He disclosed that security agencies had arrested all suspects linked to the recent abduction of students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, assuring residents that the government would continue to deny criminals any safe haven in the state.

He said: ‘I particularly commend you for the assistance extended to our security agencies during our recent security challenges. Information obtained through our communities and grassroots structures has enhanced security operations and demonstrated what can be achieved when government, traditional institutions, citizens and security agencies work together.

‘I am therefore very pleased to inform our royal fathers that our security personnel have now arrested all the suspects linked to the recent abduction of students of the Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade.

‘Our message is very clear: there will be no sanctuary for kidnappers, criminals, cultists or their collaborators anywhere in Ogun State.’

The governor also enjoined the traditional rulers to make their palaces centres of peace and conflict resolution by deploying their wisdom and moral authority to settle minor disputes before they escalate into wider community crises.

He noted that effective intervention by traditional rulers at the early stages of disputes could prevent avoidable conflicts and preserve peaceful coexistence within communities.

Abiodun said the distribution of 60 Sports Utility Vehicles to members of the State Council of Obas was part of the administration’s efforts to improve the mobility of traditional rulers and enable them to perform their responsibilities more effectively.

He charged the new Chairman of the Council, Oba Gbadebo, to build on the achievements of his predecessor by strengthening unity among traditional rulers and promoting initiatives that would contribute to the advancement of the state.

Ahead of Saturday guber election, a gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Mr Adedamola Adebayo, popularly known as Fryo, has endorsed Governor Ademola Adeleke’s reelection bid.

The Nation recalls that factional PDP conducted a primary in December 2025 where Adebayo emerged as the candidate after polling 919 votes out of 957 cast shortly after Adeleke left the party. But later, the exercise was not recognised by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Meanwhile, Adebayo while addressing newsmen on Wednesday, said the decision to endorse Governor Adeleke, followed extensive consultations, sober reflection and assessment of the political circumstances in the state.

‘I have arrived at this decision based on my assessment of the political circumstances in our state and my conviction that, at this particular moment, this is the direction I am prepared to support.

‘I encourage all PDP members, supporters and party structures across the state who believe in my leadership and judgment to support the emergence of His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, at the August 15 gubernatorial election,’ Adebayo stated.

Adebayo called for a peaceful poll, urging political leaders, candidates and supporters to reject violence, intimidation and hate speech.

‘Osun State is bigger than any individual. Osun State is bigger than any political party. And Osun State is certainly bigger than any election. We must allow the people to exercise their democratic rights freely and peacefully,’ he said

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has recorded significant gains in infrastructure, education and security in less than four years in office.

The SGF particularly cited the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Road, the transformation of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), expansion of access to tertiary education and ongoing measures to strengthen the country’s security architecture as evidence of the administration’s performance.

Akume spoke in Abuja when he hosted a delegation of the Tinubu National Frontiers (TNF), led by its National Coordinator, Hajiya Yasmin Binta Sabeh, on a visit to his office.

A statement by the Head of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the SGF, Chris Ugwuegbulam, said Akume noted that Nigeria is witnessing unprecedented transformation in road infrastructure, bridges and dams under the Tinubu administration.

‘President Tinubu has made significant strides in revitalizing our infrastructure. The construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and the Sokoto-Badagry Road are developmental projects that will yield high economic and tourism potential.

‘The transformation of Abuja is also clear evidence of Mr. President’s performance. Anyone familiar with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) before May 29, 2023, would be struck by the scale of infrastructural change achieved within one presidential term,’ Akume said.

The SGF also identified the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as one of the administration’s major interventions in the education sector.

He said it had widened access to tertiary education for students, irrespective of their economic backgrounds.

Akume said the student loan initiative has attracted interest from more than six African countries seeking to understudy Nigeria’s model.

‘Access to higher education is no longer determined by circumstances of birth. This administration has emphasised technical and scientific education, with plans to upgrade polytechnics in each geopolitical zone to begin offering degree-equivalent qualifications, with added focus on skills acquisition’, he said.

Focusing attention on security, Akume commended Tinubu’s efforts to strengthen the country’s security agencies, citing the establishment of four additional divisions in the Nigerian Army, the ongoing recruitment of 50,000 policemen and measures to improve the welfare of military personnel.

Sabeh had said the TNF was impressed by what she described as the President’s transformative leadership and improvements recorded by the administration.

‘Since the President assumed office, we have seen remarkable achievements. It is now easy for us to sleep with our two eyes closed. As the TNF family, we do not take this for granted and we are ready to work with you’, she said.

Sabeh reaffirmed the group’s unity and pledged that its members would work with the Presidential Campaign Team towards securing President Tinubu’s re-election for a second term in 2027.

Also, the Oyo State Coordinator of TNF, Mr. Braimoh Adebayo, said the group played a critical role in the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential election.

‘President Tinubu is a progressive leader. As Tinubu National Frontiers, we pledge our full commitment to his re-election as President of Nigeria,’ Adebayo said.

The delegation subsequently decorated Akume as National Patron of the Tinubu National Frontiers Support Group.

Cristiano Ronaldo has married his long-time partner, Georgina Rodriguez, in a private ceremony in Portugal.

The couple, who began dating in 2016 after meeting in Madrid, announced the marriage by sharing a photograph of their wedding rings on Instagram.

The 41-year-old Portugal captain and Rodriguez tied the knot in Cascais, a coastal resort town about 20 miles west of Lisbon. Their five children were reportedly present at the ceremony.

Ronaldo’s marriage comes just four days before his club, Al Nassr, begin their 2026-27 Saudi Pro League campaign.

The Portuguese forward has enjoyed a remarkable career with Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al Nassr and the Portugal national team, scoring nearly 1,000 goals.

He recently featured at his sixth FIFA World Cup, matching Argentina captain Lionel Messi’s record for the most appearances at the men’s tournament.

Ronaldo had earlier confirmed that the 2026 World Cup would be his final appearance at the competition, although he stopped short of confirming his retirement from international football.

‘I’m sad to be leaving the World Cup like this,’ he said. ‘I gave it my all. I did my best. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll now have time to reflect and be with my family. I won’t be making any rash decisions.’

‘I don’t decide anything in the heat of the moment. Now is not important whether I will continue.’

Reflecting on his international career, Ronaldo added: ‘I played 23 years in the national team and won three titles. Before Cristiano, Portugal had not won anything. The Euros was the most important. For me, 2016 has the same dimension as a World Cup, honestly.’

The marriage marks a new chapter for Ronaldo and Rodriguez, who have been together for nearly a decade and have built a family while supporting each other through their respective careers.