Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The Delta State Government has directed the Obi of Ubulu-Uku, His Royal Majesty Obi Chukwuka Noah Akaeze, to return from abroad and resume physical administration of his kingdom.

The directive was issued during a conflict-resolution meeting with members of the Ubulu-Uku Council of Chiefs, convened by the Special Adviser to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor.

Uzor said the monarch’s physical presence was necessary for the effective administration of the kingdom and urged him to return promptly and discharge his traditional responsibilities.

He also cautioned the monarch’s uncles, relatives and other persons close to the palace against interfering in the administration of the kingdom.

The Special Adviser advised them to channel their concerns and advice through the appropriate traditional structures to avoid actions that could worsen tensions in the community.

The government also declared null and void the recently conducted online election of the Ubulu-Uku Development Council (UDC).

Uzor said the election contravened the Delta State Regulation of Community Development Associations Law 2021 and relevant guidelines issued by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development.

He directed that a fresh, inclusive election be organised in consultation with the community and under the ministry’s supervision.

The government also overturned Obi’s suspension of the Onishe of Ubulu-Uku, Chief James Asika Onwordi.

Uzor said the suspension did not comply with the statutory procedure for suspending traditional chiefs in Delta State.

The government’s position aligns with its earlier statement that the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and Chiefs Law regulates the power to suspend a traditional chief and that the power cannot be exercised outside the prescribed procedure.

Uzor said the interventions aimed to restore order, uphold established traditional structures, and promote peace and stability in Ubulu-Uku.

The decisions followed petitions and counter-petitions regarding the kingdom’s administration and the disputed status of the Onishe and the UDC leadership.

Six people have been killed and several others injured in an attack on Tashan-Rimi, near Godoro in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incident, which occurred around 1a.m. on Wednesday, formed part of continuing clashes between Fulani and Kamuku groups in the area, according to local sources.

The village head, Alhaji Garba Mohammed Bissalla, confirmed that Fulani herders attacked residents including Musa Bahago and his son Hamisu Musa, adding that the violence claimed six lives.

Bissalla linked the incident to earlier disputes that have already left many families bereaved, expressing concern that previous efforts by state, local government and traditional authorities had failed to stop the bloodshed.

He added that while Kamuku leaders had urged peaceful coexistence in line with calls from the state governor, attacks and livestock theft had continued.

The Niger State Police later confirmed that suspected armed men invaded Godoro and Angwan-Bisala communities under Katako District at about 1:30 a.m. the same day.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, a report received from Kagara stated that four people lost their lives and two others sustained serious injuries, adding that officers had visited the scene, taking the injured to hospital.

He also stated that investigation was ongoing.

Katsina State Governor and Chairman of the Northwest Governors’ Forum, Malam Dikko Radda, has urged investors and development partners to inject more private capital into the Northwest, saying economic opportunities are critical to defeating insecurity in the region.

Radda said the Northwest could not achieve lasting peace through military operations alone, stressing that security must be matched with jobs, investment and improved livelihoods.

The governor spoke at high-level events on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he presented Katsina State’s experience in development financing and the Northwest Peace, Security and Development Framework.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula, Radda said the challenge was no longer the availability of development financing but the difficulty of attracting private capital into public development projects.

He said Katsina had benefited from 11 World Bank projects worth about $430 million, covering education, water, agriculture, rural roads and environmental development.

The African Development Bank, he added, was financing the state’s Agro-Industrial Processing Zone with $30 million, while the Islamic Development Bank was providing $60 million for the first phase of the Integrated Agricultural Development Hubs.

Radda identified stronger public-private partnership frameworks, de-risking mechanisms, reliable counterpart funding and transparent monitoring as key measures required to unlock more private investment.

At a separate high-level event on the Northwest Peace, Security and Development Framework, the governor urged the seven states in the region to work collectively to address insecurity, poverty, displacement and economic challenges.

‘Security must be accompanied by opportunity,’ he said, stressing that military operations alone could not deliver lasting peace.

He urged investors to look beyond the security challenges and tap into opportunities in agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, skills development and enterprise.

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, commended the Northwest governors for presenting a common regional plan and pledged the UN’s support for the initiative.

Mohammed highlighted the Northwest’s strategic importance to food production and called for coordinated financing, stronger institutions, job creation and community-focused investments.

She disclosed that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was developing a proposal for a Northwest-led Stabilisation-to-Transformation Programme and Financing Platform.

Radda said the governors were ready to move from planning to implementation, urging development partners and private investors to partner with the region in building a more secure, productive and economically vibrant Northwest.

The Federal Government yesterday said the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu Administration were beginning to deliver greater stability, with the next phase focused on translating the gains into jobs, higher incomes and improved living standards.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said the administration had entered a consolidation phase in which economic stability would be converted into sustainable growth and shared prosperity.

Akume spoke in Abuja at a world press conference to flag off activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1.

The theme of this year’s celebration is: ‘From reforms to stability: Consolidating Nigeria’s renewed hope for shared prosperity.’

According to the SGF, the administration laid the foundation for a stronger economy through structural reforms introduced since 2023 and was now focused on ensuring that their benefits reach ordinary Nigerians.

He said: ‘The task before us today, as leaders and citizens, is consolidation. We must ensure that the gains from reform translate into better opportunities for ordinary Nigerians.

‘Every step is geared towards turning stability into growth, and growth into prosperity for all.’

Akume nnounced that President Tinubu had approved the development of a new National Threat Assessment and a five-year Defence Plan aimed at providing a coherent national security strategy.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the country was moving beyond the most difficult phase of economic reforms towards growth, production and shared prosperity.

Idris said the administration inherited significant structural and fiscal challenges in 2023 but chose to confront longstanding economic distortions rather than postpone difficult decisions.

‘Nigerians have borne real costs. Today, however, Nigeria is moving from reform and stabilisation towards growth, production and shared prosperity,’ he said.

According to him, Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 4.23 per cent in the corresponding quarter of 2025.

He also cited improvements in the country’s external position, foreign reserves, domestic refining capacity, investment and productive activity.

‘The next phase is to translate these gains into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians: more jobs, higher incomes, greater access to education and credit, lower costs and wider economic opportunities,’ Idris said.

He said government interventions in infrastructure, agriculture, education, consumer credit, digital skills, energy and enterprise were designed to promote domestic production and value addition.

‘The principle is simple: Nigeria must increasingly produce what it consumes, process what it extracts, and create opportunities from its abundant human and natural resources,’ he said.

Idris said economic progress must also be anchored on security, justice and the rule of law.

He acknowledged that security challenges remained but said government had increased investment in equipment, intelligence, personnel and inter-agency coordination.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said the reforms were aimed at making deliberate policy choices that would create a larger and more inclusive economy.

‘We are not yet where we want to be. What is important is to identify what are the choices that we need to make so that we can go to where we want to be,’ Bagudu said.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said improved access to farmlands in areas previously affected by insecurity, alongside support for fertiliser and improved seeds, was contributing to increased agricultural production.

Kyari said about 70 per cent of areas that were previously affected by insecurity in parts of the country had become accessible to farmers.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s 66 years of independence, Akume highlighted the country’s survival of the Civil War and prolonged military rule and its uninterrupted constitutional democracy since 1999.

He said Nigeria’s diversity should be harnessed as a strength and urged citizens to remain united in pursuit of national development.

‘From reforms, we have built stability. From stability, let us now deepen growth and opportunity. And from growth, let us extend shared prosperity to every corner of Nigeria,’ Akume said.

Nigeria has secured three strategic partnerships with U.S. companies as the Tinubu administration intensifies efforts to attract investment, technology and jobs into the country’s critical minerals sector.

The partnerships involving Promethean Resources, Vermeer Corporation, Renewvia Energy and Terra Industries will focus on modern mining technology, renewable energy and enhanced security.

The deals are expected to drive technology transfer, local value addition, job creation and sustainable development while further strengthening Nigeria-U.S. economic ties.

Speaking at the U.S.-Nigeria Strategic Investment Dialogue in New York, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to converting investment frameworks into tangible commercial partnerships.

‘Our priority is to translate dialogue and cooperation frameworks into tangible commercial partnerships that advance Nigeria’s industrial ambitions. The partnerships announced at the Nigeria-US Strategic Investment Dialogue mark an important step in that direction: Promethean’s collaboration with Vermeer will bring US equipment and technology to the development of iron ore, tin, lithium and gold deposits, complemented by partnerships with Renewvia for renewable power and Terra for security. Together, these provide a platform for investment, local value addition and deeper Nigeria-US economic ties.’Oduwole stated.

The announcements bring together Nigerian mining company Promethean Resources and partners across three interlinked area’s security, Infrastructure and Minerals.

Vermeer Corporation, a U.S. equipment manufacturer, and Promethean Resources are exploring a partnership to deploy precision mining equipment across Promethean’s mineral portfolio, including iron ore, tin, lithium and gold.

The proposed collaboration aims to improve operational efficiency, strengthen workforce development and support responsible mineral extraction and processing in Nigeria.

Promethean Resources and U.S.-based Renewvia Energy Corporation will develop renewable energy solutions for mining and processing operations while extending affordable, reliable electricity to surrounding host communities.

The partnership will initially assess priority mining locations and develop scalable solar, battery storage and mini-grid solutions, supporting industrial productivity, energy access and local economic development.

Promethean Resources and Terra Industries have also signed a Letter of Intent to explore the deployment of technology-enabled security solutions at mining and mineral processing sites in Nigeria.

The proposed collaboration will integrate autonomous surveillance towers, unmanned aerial systems and Terra’s Artemis OS platform to strengthen perimeter monitoring, threat detection and incident response.

Initial deployment is proposed for mining operations in Plateau and Kaduna States, with potential expansion to other locations.

Collectively, these announcements highlight three interconnected priorities for Nigeria’s critical minerals sector: modernizing mining operations, expanding reliable energy infrastructure and strengthening the security of mining assets and personnel. They also demonstrate opportunities to connect Nigerian mineral development with international technology, expertise and commercial partnerships, while supporting local processing, value addition and host-community development.

Promethean Resources is a Nigerian minerals extraction and processing company established in 2012 under Managing Director Demola Gbadegesin. The company has built its portfolio around the exploration, exploitation, and processing of tin and other solid minerals, with mining assets and joint ventures across Kaduna, Plateau, and Bauchi States.

The Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) has called on the Code of Conduct Tribunal to probe former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over an alleged undeclared $500,000 foreign transaction made while he was in office.

The call followed revelations contained in a recent International Chamber of Commerce arbitration award on the disputed 3,960MW Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Omoniyi Akinsiju, IMPI said its review of the 616-page arbitral award showed that $500,000 was transferred on January 30, 2003, from China Castle Investments, an offshore company linked to Sunrise Power promoter, Leno Adesanya, into a United States Citibank account belonging to Atiku’s then-wife, Jennifer Douglas.

The group said the payment was made about two weeks before Sunrise Power submitted its tender for the multi-billion-dollar Build, Operate and Transfer contract.

According to IMPI, the tribunal noted the close timing between the payment to Douglas and the alleged award of the BOT contract to Sunrise Power on May 22, 2003.

While Atiku’s legal team argued that the ICC tribunal did not make an explicit finding of bribery against him, IMPI said the tribunal rejected the explanation that the payment was a domestic foreign-exchange swap, citing the absence of supporting financial documentation.

The group said the circumstances surrounding the transaction warranted investigation under Nigeria’s Code of Conduct framework.

The statement read, ‘Under Section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, public officers are strictly prohibited from maintaining foreign bank accounts.

‘If the former Vice President was the ultimate source of these foreign funds routed through a third-party offshore shell entity, or if he maintained undeclared foreign accounts to service his family abroad while in office as evidenced by Adesanya and his former wife, Jennifer, it constitutes a clear constitutional breach.’

IMPI also cited US State Department diplomatic cables reviewed during the arbitration proceedings, which described Adesanya as an ‘Atiku insider’ with direct access to the executive branch and said he accompanied official state delegations to China.

The group noted that although Atiku was not a direct signatory to the procurement process, his position as Vice-President gave him substantial influence over economic affairs.

It argued that undisclosed payments to a public official’s proxy around a critical procurement period raised questions about transparency and conflict of interest.

‘Even where direct quid-pro-quo instruction cannot be proven beyond reasonable doubt in civil arbitration, the existence of unverified, off-record offshore transfers creates an untenable conflict of interest.

‘It compromised the integrity of the original administrative process and set a dangerous precedent for major infrastructure concessions in Nigeria,’ the statement said.

IMPI also urged anti-corruption agencies to strengthen safeguards against the negotiation of major infrastructure projects outside statutory ministerial frameworks.

On possible sanctions, the group said that upon a successful prosecution, the CCT could order property forfeiture and impose a 10-year ban from holding public office, alongside possible criminal proceedings.

Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Dr. Abiy Ahmed, and the President of the Republic of Djibouti, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, have hailed the Dangote Group’s $660 million Damarjog-Dewele Oil Terminal and Pipeline Project as a transformative investment that will strengthen regional integration, improve energy security, create jobs, and accelerate economic growth across the Horn of Africa.

The two leaders spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony of the landmark project held at the Damerjog Industrial Development Free Trade Zone in Djibouti, where they praised the vision and commitment of African industrialist and President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, for championing one of the region’s most significant privately funded energy infrastructure investments.

The project comprises a modern 120-kilometre multiproduct pipeline linking marine and coastal storage facilities at Damarjog in Djibouti with inland storage and distribution facilities at Dewele in Ethiopia. Upon completion, it will facilitate the efficient transportation of refined petroleum products, enhance supply chain reliability, and support the growing energy needs of Ethiopia and the wider region.

President Guelleh described the project as a milestone in Djibouti’s ambition to become a leading logistics, industrial, and energy hub for Africa.

‘Today marks an important chapter in Djibouti’s journey toward becoming a premier centre for logistics, energy, and industrial development. The Damarjog-Dewele Pipeline Project is not merely infrastructure; it is an investment in the future prosperity of our region,’ President Guelleh said.

According to the Djiboutian leader, the project will stimulate economic activity, expand port operations, attract new investments, and create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities.

‘This investment will generate significant value for Djibouti through increased trade volumes, stronger commercial activity, and enhanced investor confidence. It will create jobs, support local businesses, and further strengthen our position as a critical gateway connecting regional economies…

‘We are proud to partner with the Dangote Group in delivering a project that demonstrates the strength of African-led investment and practical African solutions to African challenges,’ he added.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described the project as a strategic infrastructure development that will significantly strengthen Ethiopia’s energy security while supporting the country’s industrialisation agenda.

‘Ethiopia’s continued economic expansion depends on reliable and efficient access to energy resources. This pipeline will provide a modern, dependable, and cost-effective system for transporting refined petroleum products into the country, thereby enhancing our energy security and reducing supply-chain vulnerabilities,’ Prime Minister Abiy stated.

He noted that the project would eliminate transportation bottlenecks, improve efficiency within the petroleum distribution network, and ensure a more stable supply of fuel for key sectors of the Ethiopian economy.

‘The impact of this investment extends beyond the energy sector. Reliable access to petroleum products will support aviation, transportation, agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and broader industrial development. It will improve product quality control, reduce losses associated with long-distance transportation, and enhance the competitiveness of our economy.’

The Ethiopian leader also emphasised that the project reflects the longstanding economic partnership between Ethiopia and Djibouti.

‘The relationship between Ethiopia and Djibouti has always been anchored on shared prosperity and mutual development. This pipeline is another demonstration of our commitment to regional cooperation and the development of infrastructure that serves the interests of our people…It illustrates how African nations can work together to unlock opportunities, improve connectivity, and deliver sustainable development,’ he said.

Speaking at the ceremony, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, said the Damarjog-Dewale Pipeline Project aligns with the Group’s broader vision of building transformative infrastructure that supports Africa’s economic development and self-sufficiency.

‘This project is designed to enhance energy security, improve supply-chain efficiency, and create sustainable economic value for both Djibouti and Ethiopia. It underscores our commitment to investing in infrastructure that enables African countries to maximise their economic potential,’ Dangote said.

He explained that the project would boost economic activity in Djibouti while guaranteeing a more reliable supply of refined petroleum products to Ethiopia.

‘Djibouti will benefit from increased port activity, higher revenues, and new employment opportunities. Ethiopia will gain stronger energy security and fewer logistics bottlenecks. It is truly a win-win outcome for both countries, while local businesses across the value chain will benefit from expanded economic activity.’

Dangote noted that the Djibouti corridor currently serves as the primary route for Ethiopia’s imports and exports, including petroleum products, making it one of the most strategic economic corridors in Africa.

He added that the pipeline would substantially improve the safety and efficiency of petroleum transportation by reducing dependence on long-distance tanker movements, easing congestion, lowering operational risks, and minimising the potential for product losses and environmental incidents.

Beyond its direct economic impact, the project is expected to create thousands of jobs during construction and operation while facilitating skills transfer and supporting local contractors, suppliers, transport operators, and host communities.

The Damarjog-Dewele Pipeline Project forms part of Dangote Group’s broader Vision 2030 strategy, under which the Group plans to invest $50 billion across Africa in critical industrial and energy infrastructure aimed at boosting regional trade, industrialisation, and economic self-sufficiency.

Dangote reiterated the Group’s commitment to reducing Africa’s dependence on imports and encouraging local production.’Our vision is to support African countries in becoming self-sufficient in products for which they possess the raw materials, market demand, and strategic necessity. This is Africa building the infrastructure it needs to accelerate development and deepen intra-African trade,’ he said.

The project further strengthens Dangote Group’s position as a leading investor in Africa’s energy and industrial sectors, building on the success of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and other strategic investments across the continent.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has set September 24, 2028 target for Nigeria’s domestic gas market to transition to a fully established willing buyer, willing seller framework.

The Authority also tasked industry stakeholders to develop clear markers and deliver on their promise to ensure Nigeria grows its gas production and consumption.

The Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Mallam Rabiu Umar, made this known yesterday at the Gas Market Maturity Workshop, organised under the Decade of Gas initiative at the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Abuja.

He noted that gas must be affordable for Nigerians while supporting President Bola Tinubu’s investment reforms. This transition, he further explained, is in line with the Nigeria decade of gas goal to become a gas powered economy by 2030.

Umar said the transition would be based on measurable conditions that demonstrate the maturity of different segments of the gas market, in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

‘Invariably, this is the first time that we have been bold enough to set a clear target for our gas market transition’ he noted

According to him, the PIA envisages a shift from a market largely coordinated through regulation to one driven increasingly by commercial contracts between willing buyers and willing sellers. He said Section 167 of the Act provides for the gradual movement of the domestic gas market towards a point where price regulation can step back as commercial contracting and competition become stronger.

‘The journey we are starting should lead us to a place where we should target a 24-month at best period within which we will be able to declare the market to be truly a willing buyer, willing seller market,’ he said.

The NMDPRA boss stressed that the transition must not be based on broad statements of intent but on clearly defined indicators, thresholds and safeguards. He identified supply availability and diversity, the number and quality of buyers and sellers, access to transportation infrastructure, strength of contracts, payment reliability, delivery obligations, market information and credible price signals as key indicators of market maturity.

Umar noted that Nigeria’s domestic gas supply remained tight, despite the country’s vast gas resources, stressing that infrastructure development must be matched by sufficient gas molecules to utilise the infrastructure. He also stressed the need to ensure that major gas infrastructure projects, including the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline, have sufficient gas supply to make them commercially useful.

‘If you look at supply, for example, on the domestic side, it is still tight, no matter how you look at it. We have a lot of work to do in our infrastructure space. The focus right now is not just delivering the infrastructure, but ensuring that we have enough molecules to fill the pipeline,’ he said.

He assured that the role of the regulator would also evolve as the market develops, with greater emphasis on establishing market rules, ensuring fair access, protecting competition and monitoring market conduct.

Consequently, the Authority, he said, has commenced consultations on draft regulations on anti-competitive practices, aimed at translating the competition provisions of the PIA into enforceable regulatory rules.

The NMDPRA chief executive also called for a realistic assessment of the different segments of the Nigerian gas market, noting that they were at different stages of development.

He said the sequencing of the transition would require determining which market segments were ready to move first, the thresholds they must meet and the safeguards required before liberalisation.

Umar further disclosed that the authority was nearing the conclusion of the process for the issuance of gas distribution licences, with the exercise expected to be completed in the coming weeks. He said qualified companies would be issued gas distribution licences in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The NMDPRA boss also said the authority was working to deepen the domestic utilisation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG), stressing that increased domestic utilisation of the country’s gas resources would be an important indicator of economic growth.

He said the government was also seeking to expand the use of compressed natural gas (CNG), while several LNG and gas-to-power projects were being developed across the country.

According to him, greater domestic gas utilisation could support power generation, reduce dependence on imports and minimise transmission losses associated with moving electricity over long distances.

He added that the authority was committed to creating a predictable, coherent and transparent regulatory environment capable of attracting long-term investment into the gas sector.

Umar said gas projects required substantial upfront investment and long-term contracts before investors and financiers could commit capital.

‘For you to take an FID in a gas investment, you need to have a long-term contract,’ he said, adding that the authority was willing to engage with individual projects to identify regulatory measures that could support their development.

Also speaking, the Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Secretariat, Ed Ubong, said Nigeria could achieve a willing buyer, willing seller gas market before the end of the first horizon of the Decade of Gas programme in 2030.

Ubong said the programme had identified clear markers for achieving the target, including increasing gas supply to 12.6 billion cubic feet per day by 2030.

He said 16 key infrastructure projects were expected to support the growth of the gas market, while more than 60 projects capable of creating about 15 billion cubic feet per day of gas demand had been identified on the demand side.

He noted that a mature gas market would also require the development of a successful gas-to-power market and greater access to cooking gas.

In her speech, the President of the Nigerian Gas Association, Mrs. Yetunde Taiwo, an engineer, said the transition to a willing buyer, willing seller market must be driven by clearly defined milestones.

Taiwo said the NGA had consistently advocated for a commercially driven gas market but stressed that the transition must be properly sequenced to avoid moving either prematurely or too slowly.

She said, ‘As NGA, what we would like to see really is to see those goalposts, those milestones that have been set, that makes it a realistic journey for us to say we have achieved a willing buyer, willing seller status.’

According to her, Nigeria had made significant progress in the gas industry over the past decade, but substantial work remained to be done.

She called for stronger collaboration between government, regulators and industry, with government providing clear policy direction, regulators establishing predictable rules, and industry continuing to invest, innovate and execute projects.

Taiwo said the ultimate objective should be a gas market capable of attracting investment, encouraging greater participation and delivering reliable gas to industries, businesses and consumers.

Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Dr. Obafemi Hamzat has spoken on the role he aspire to play as from May 29, next year.

He said: ‘At 62, I look ahead with renewed purpose, knowing that there is still much to do and an even greater Lagos to build.’

Hamzat, who recently celebrated his birthday, reflected on the journey so far, thanking God and his family for support.

He said:’Today, I woke up in deep reflection of my journey through life. As I celebrate yet another birthday, I’m indeed thankful to Almighty Allah (swt) for His blessings, guidance, protection and good health.

‘To my dear wife Oluremi, I say thank you for holding my hands, cheering me on, and supporting me. Thank you for keeping the sanctity of our home. My dear, the journey ahead is long, and might be challenging, but continue to keep the faith.

‘To my dear children, I say a big thank you for your kind understanding that I was built and made for service.’

The deputy governor also thanked family, friends, associates and Lagosians for their support and vote of confidence in his capabilities and capacity to serve.

He said: ‘Every chapter of my life has been a learning curve, and everyday I wake up with a renewed zeal for commitment to the people I serve.

‘Therefore, at 62, I look ahead with renewed purpose, knowing that there is still much to do and an even greater Lagos to build.

‘I thank the people of Lagos for the trust and support over the years. The journey continues and I am ready for the work ahead.’

The Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria (RTIFN) movement on Wednesday held a town hall, public engagement and grant empowerment programme for residents of Gishiri, Abuja.

The programme brought together the RTIFN executive leadership, community stakeholders, farmers, traders, youths and other residents, with grants presented to farmers, students and traders as part of the movement’s empowerment initiative.

The RTIFN leadership also engaged residents on the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, highlighting areas including agriculture, infrastructure, economic reforms, youth empowerment and social investment.

Discussions at the gathering also focused on the 2027 general elections, with the movement urging participants to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for continuity of his administration’s programmes.

The Director General of RTIFN, Hon. Ahmed Bala, said the engagement was part of the movement’s efforts to connect with communities and discuss government programmes at the grassroots.

Also present were the Deputy Director General, Hon. Zack Orji; Director of Townhall and Special Duties, Hon. Farida Deborah Ibrahim; National Secretary, Amb. Audu Eleojo Obaje; Amb. Dr. Joyce Matthew Andrew; and FCT Coordinator, Comr. Dr. Donald Amagbo, alongside other members of the RTIFN executive and community stakeholders.