Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has called on facilitators of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) to disclose the names of beneficiaries of over 40 employment slots reportedly offered to indigenes by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Stephen Nmane, MOSOP also demanded a probe into alleged oil production activities ongoing in parts of Ogoni without the community’s consent.

The group was reacting to an ODC statement titled ‘Setting the Record Straight on the Ogoni Dialogue Process,’ which it said failed to address concerns over secrecy and accountability in the dialogue process, and had instead deepened suspicion among the Ogoni people.

MOSOP said the ODC’s failure to publish the NNPCL-approved list of beneficiaries had fuelled speculation that most of those selected were nominees of influential committee leaders and their loyalists, and it queried the alleged inclusion of non-indigenes at a time many qualified Ogoni graduates were unemployed.

The group argued that jobs offered as part of a confidence-building arrangement for an oil-producing community should not be treated like ordinary national recruitment, and questioned the ODC’s claim that NNPCL insisted on selecting beneficiaries from its national merit pool.

MOSOP further alleged that oil production was continuing in Ban-Ogoi and Alesa-Eleme without the community’s consent, faulting the ODC for reportedly investigating only the Alesa-Eleme case while ignoring reports from Ban-Ogoi. It claimed youths who protested at drilling sites were advised by engineers to approach an ODC official instead.

On contracts for confidence-building projects, the group said its concern was not the ODC’s mandate but the identities and competence of contractors, demanding disclosure of project scope, specifications and milestones.

MOSOP said it was not opposed to the resumption of oil production in Ogoni, provided the process was transparent and protected the people’s interests, urging the ODC to address these concerns before confidence in the dialogue process eroded further.

The Rivers State Police Command has arraigned two of the four policemen who allegedly shot and killed Anthony Nwobodo, a graduate of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), before a magistrate’s court sitting in Port Harcourt.

Nwobodo was shot dead on August 27, 2026, around Ada George Junction in Port Harcourt by policemen who accused him of refusing to stop when they flagged down his vehicle.

Those arraigned on remand were Corporal Alfred Louis and PC Michael Ejekwu; ASP Fabian Kpeanabari and Inspector Solomon Nworgu were not arraigned.

When the case was mentioned, the trial Chief Magistrate, Helen Hardy, did not allow the charge to be read, took no plea, and ordered that the accused be remanded in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.

Hardy directed that the case file be referred to the Chief Registrar for reassignment and adjourned the case to the 22nd of September for plea and possible trial.

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has launched a new programme to move Nigeria’s insurance industry into a broader phase of growth, with greater attention to digital distribution, younger customers, women, small businesses and improved service to policyholders.

The Insurance Sector Strengthening Programme (ISSP), launched in Abuja in partnership with NAICOM on Thursday, is expected to build on the industry’s recently completed recapitalisation exercise by focusing on the next major challenge: taking insurance products to millions of Nigerians who remain uninsured or under-insured.

Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of NAICOM, Olusegun Omosehin, said the industry could no longer rely mainly on large offices in major cities while ignoring changing consumer behaviour and the growing importance of digital platforms.

He said the sector must now develop distribution and sales systems that can reach young Nigerians and other underserved groups wherever they are.

‘The focus in the last 12 months has been on the underwriting end,’ Omosehin said, referring to the recapitalisation exercise. ‘Now it is the turn of the industry to help us channel proper distribution techniques and frameworks that will enable Nigeria to enjoy the benefits of the change.’

The Commissioner said the industry risked losing the opportunity created by recapitalisation if operators failed to understand how the younger population interacted with financial services.

‘If we continue to focus more on building gigantic offices across the big cities and we do not understand the dynamics of how distribution, how sales and engagement with the youth is changing, everyone has lost it,’ he said.

The shift in emphasis comes shortly after NAICOM completed the recapitalisation exercise, with 43 insurance and reinsurance companies meeting the new capital requirements. The Commission has also begun issuing new licences to compliant operators.

Omosehin said the new programme was designed to ensure that stronger insurance companies translate their improved financial capacity into wider market coverage, better products and stronger customer service.

He described the ISSP as a ‘landmark initiative’ aimed at making the Nigerian insurance industry more inclusive, innovative, resilient and trusted, while increasing its contribution to national development.

According to him, Nigeria’s large economy has not translated into a sufficiently deep insurance market, as many Nigerians still lack adequate insurance protection.

The Commissioner attributed the weak level of penetration partly to limited public understanding, lack of trust, capacity gaps and fragmented distribution channels.

He said these problems should be treated as opportunities for the industry to develop new solutions rather than as permanent barriers to growth.

The ISSP will therefore focus on six broad areas: advocacy, policy awareness and education, capacity building, gender inclusion, youth engagement, and MSME and value-chain development.

A major part of the programme will be public education, particularly in rural communities, where limited knowledge of insurance products remains a barrier to adoption.

Omosehin said insurance could not become a widely used financial service if Nigerians did not understand its practical benefits as a means of protecting their income, businesses, property and other assets against risks.

The programme will also promote digital platforms, technology-based solutions and data-driven approaches to make insurance easier to access and more relevant to consumers.

The Commissioner said changing customer expectations made digital transformation a necessity rather than an option.

‘Customers now expect convenience, transparency and personalised solutions,’ he said, adding that the industry must respond to these expectations if it wants to attract new customers.

The digital push is also consistent with NAICOM’s wider efforts to use insurtech to expand access to underserved Nigerians. In June, the Commission licensed an insurtech partner as part of efforts to improve digital distribution of insurance products.

Omosehin said women and young people would receive special attention under the ISSP because of their economic importance and potential to expand the insurance market.

The programme will seek to bring these groups into the mainstream through products designed around their needs, new engagement methods and career development opportunities.

MSMEs will also be a major target because many small businesses operate without sufficient insurance cover despite their importance to employment, productivity and innovation.

The Commissioner said wider insurance coverage for MSMEs would help businesses withstand shocks, maintain operations and achieve sustainable growth.

But while calling for greater innovation and market expansion, Omosehin warned insurance operators that growth must not weaken financial stability or consumer protection.

He said NAICOM would continue to insist on sound financial institutions, ethical conduct, transparency, fair treatment of customers and prompt settlement of genuine claims.

‘Market expansion and innovation will be supported by the regulator, but not at the expense of solvency of our institutions, not at the expense of transparency or public trust,’ he said.

This position is particularly important as the industry enters the post-recapitalisation era. NAICOM has previously said that the new capital base should strengthen financial capacity, governance and competitiveness while enabling insurers to develop new products and deepen penetration.

Omosehin also called for an end to the long-standing public perception that insurance companies are interested in collecting premiums but reluctant to pay claims.

He said the industry must provide Nigerians with real value for the premiums they pay, arguing that improved service and timely claims payment would be central to rebuilding confidence.

‘The era of Nigerians seeing us as very quick at collecting premiums and taking back seats when claims are reported should totally be from our national psyche,’ he said.

For the Commissioner, the success of the ISSP will ultimately depend on whether insurance becomes a service Nigerians trust and actively use, rather than one purchased only when required by law or by financial institutions.

The programme also places strong attention on human capital. Omosehin said insurance professionals would need new skills as technology changes how financial services are delivered and customers demand faster, better service.

The planned training and professional development programmes are expected to improve technical competence, professionalism and performance across the insurance value chain.

The Commissioner also linked the ISSP to the Nigeria Insurance Industry Reform Act 2025, saying the programme supports the law’s objectives of increasing insurance penetration, improving professionalism, promoting innovation, strengthening consumer protection and raising the sector’s contribution to the economy.

The launch also received the backing of the National Assembly. Mr. Victor Inedu, who represented the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, at the event, said the ISSP had come at an important stage in Nigeria’s economic reforms.

He said a strong insurance industry was essential because it protects people and businesses, supports investment, mobilises long-term capital and gives businesses the confidence to take risks and expand.

Abiru commended NAICOM for completing the recapitalisation exercise, describing it as an important step toward building stronger, more resilient insurance companies capable of underwriting large risks and supporting major investments.

He said the new capital requirements should not be viewed simply as a regulatory exercise but as part of efforts to prepare the industry for a bigger role in Nigeria’s economic development.

The senator also disclosed that the Senate has passed the Insurance Regulatory Commission Bill 2026, expressing hope that the House of Representatives would pass the legislation in September.

According to him, the proposed legislation would further strengthen NAICOM and improve its ability to carry out its regulatory responsibilities.

Abiru, however, cautioned that new laws and stronger regulation would not automatically transform the sector.

‘The real test lies in effective implementation,’ he said, adding that reforms must lead to stronger institutions, better governance, improved consumer protection, greater innovation, higher insurance penetration and deeper public trust.

The Senate representative also called for cooperation among the legislature, executive, NAICOM, insurance companies, professionals, practitioners and the public.

Under the arrangement, NAICOM will provide policy direction and oversight, while operators are expected to develop innovative products and wider distribution channels. Professional bodies are expected to support standards and skills development, development partners to provide technical assistance, educational institutions to develop future talent, and the media to improve public awareness.

The Lagos State Task Force has embarked on public sensitisation in Ikorodu and its environs.

The exercise focused on sensitising the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), particularly the MOALS branches around the Ikorodu, Ogolonto and Majidun, to comply with the laws, rules and regulations on commercial motorcycle operations.

The agency’s Chairman, Chief Superintendent of Police Adetayo Akerele, stated that though commercial motorcycle operators were complying with the law, there had been an increase in okada operations on highways, walkways and BRT corridors, routes where their operations are prohibited.

The agency said engaging the leadership of the unions and their members through dialogue, advocacy and sensitisation, could bring compliance.

In a statement, the agency’s Director, Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, said the unions agreed to work with the agency to ensure that their members obey the law.

He listed the following as the resolutions they reached with unions: to support the agency in compelling their members to comply with law, especially on restricted routes.; establishment of a union task force to monitor commercial motorcyclists and ensure compliance with the guidelines; and enforcement would continue to complement enforcement.

Any commercial motorcyclist found plying prohibited highways, bridges, BRT corridors or other restricted routes would be arrested and the motorcycle impounded, they resolved.

The agency noted the cooperation of the unions and other stakeholders and urged commercial motorcyclists to take advantage of the exercise by complying with the laws.

The agency said it remains committed to sustaining an approach of advocacy, public education and enforcement to maintain order, safety and sanity on the roads.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified the circumstances behind Uber’s exit from Nigeria, stating that its discontinuation of operations has nothing to do with a recent disagreement with the airport authority.

FAAN’s clarifications come on the heels of an unfortunate narrative gaining traction in the air travel and related ecosystems.

Speaking in an interview, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr Henry Agbebire, said such a wild narrative deserves to be challenged, not by FAAN, but by Uber itself.

Agbebire said Uber has expressly stated that its decision followed a review of its ‘evolving business priorities and investment focus across Africa.’

He said, ‘More significantly, the company has clarified that its exit is not related to the recent FAAN directive concerning e-hailing operations at Nigerian airports. That should settle the central question. FAAN did not drive Uber out of Nigeria. Uber says so.

Indeed, Uber is exiting Nigeria and Uganda while maintaining that it remains committed to Sub-Saharan Africa and sees long-term opportunities across the region. That points far more convincingly to a corporate investment decision than to an airport dispute in Nigeria.

‘But there is a bigger story Nigerians should consider. This did not begin with FAAN. Uber’s challenges in Nigeria did not suddenly emerge at the airport.’

Investigations reveal that for years, the company and the broader ride-hailing industry have faced questions around regulation, driver welfare, data sharing, passenger protection, accountability and operational control.

Investigations further reveal that Lagos State’s experience with the e-hailing company has been instructive.

The State Government, reports indicate, had to introduce and enforce regulatory requirements covering safety, driver identification, operational standards, and government access to relevant trip information.

Agbebire said in 2024, Uber reportedly resisted or sought additional time over Lagos’ requirement for real-time trip data, while other operators were more forthcoming.

He said, ‘This was Lagos State, not FAAN.’ This shows that the fundamental question of accountability surrounding ride-hailing platforms predates the current airport controversy.

‘Then consider the drivers. For years, Nigerian ride-hailing drivers have complained about commissions, fares, fuel costs, deactivations, insecurity and difficult working conditions. The discontent became serious enough to trigger protests and threats of coordinated shutdowns.

‘There have also been persistent reports of drivers taking passengers offline. Uber’s own rules prohibit such conduct. Yet when drivers believe that commissions, fares and operating costs make an official trip less attractive, the temptation to negotiate directly with passengers increases. When that happens, everyone loses. The passenger loses traceability and platform protection. The regulator loses visibility. The platform loses control of the journey. That is not simply a driver problem. It is a platform-governance problem.’

‘Then comes the accountability question. Uber has also historically maintained a legal distinction between itself and the drivers who provide transport through its platform. That distinction has been tested before Nigeria’s National Industrial Court, including arguments about drivers’ independent-contractor status and Uber’s potential vicarious liability.

‘The broader public-policy question is therefore legitimate: If a company provides the technology, controls the platform, determines its operating rules, facilitates payment, monitors journeys and places its brand between passenger and driver, where should responsibility begin and end when things go wrong?

‘That is not a FAAN question. It is a question Nigeria is entitled to ask of every technology-driven transport operator.’

To deepen the clarification, Agbebire said there is a strong case for FAAN, as airports are not ordinary roads but controlled security environments carrying millions of passengers and thousands of vehicles.

He said FAAN’s position was not that Nigerians should stop using e-hailing services, but that commercial transport operating within airport premises must be identifiable, accountable, and subject to a framework that enables the authority to know who is operating, which vehicles are involved, and how incidents can be managed.

He said, ‘That is not hostility to innovation. It is responsible airport management. The experience with Bolt is particularly revealing. Following engagement with FAAN and resolution of outstanding operational issues, Bolt was cleared to resume airport operations.

‘That tells us something important: the objective was never to eliminate e-hailing. It was to establish the conditions under which e-hailing can operate responsibly within an airport environment.

‘So, why is Uber leaving? Perhaps we should stop asking, ‘Why did FAAN chase Uber away?’ The more appropriate question is: ‘Why did Uber decide that Nigeria no longer fits its investment priorities?’ Uber has answered that question. It reviewed its business priorities. It reviewed its investment focus. It made a corporate decision to leave Nigeria and Uganda while maintaining operations and investment elsewhere in Africa. That decision belongs to Uber.

‘To attribute it to FAAN, contrary to Uber’s own explanation, is to reduce a complex corporate decision to one recent disagreement and, in doing so, mislead the Nigerian public.

‘Suffice to say that Nigeria’s mobility market remains. The passengers remain. The drivers remain. The demand remains. The opportunity remains. Uber’s departure may therefore create space for operators willing to invest for the long term, understand Nigeria’s regulatory environment, work constructively with government, support their driver-partners and, above all, accept that technology does not eliminate accountability.’

Agbebire said Nigeria should welcome innovation while insisting on responsibility.

He said, ‘FAAN does not compete with Uber. FAAN’s mandate is not to run a ride-hailing business. Its responsibility is to ensure that activities within Nigerian airports are safe, secure, orderly and accountable.’

‘An airport authority should not apologise for insisting on that. Uber is leaving because Uber has decided to leave. FAAN’s responsibility is to ensure that anyone operating commercially within Nigeria’s airports does so within a framework that protects passengers and the integrity of the airport environment. Those two facts can and should coexist.

‘Perhaps that is the real lesson from the Uber episode: Technology may connect the passenger to the driver, but the responsibility for keeping Nigeria’s airports safe, secure and accountable cannot be outsourced.’

As Lionel Messi’s international career draws to a close, it is a fitting time to remember some of the great footballers who helped their countries win major trophies.

Messi carried Argentina’s hopes for many years. After several disappointments with the national team, he finally helped Argentina win the 2021 Copa América and then led the country to the 2022 World Cup title.

Maradona was the main star of Argentina’s 1986 World Cup triumph. His goals, skill and leadership helped Argentina win the tournament, cementing his place among football’s greatest.

Pelé played a major role in Brazil’s rise as a football powerhouse. He won three World Cup titles and became one of the most famous and respected footballers in the world.

Zidane was one of France’s biggest stars during its successful period. He scored twice in the 1998 World Cup final as France won its first World Cup title.

Ronaldo became the face of Portugal’s national team for many years. He helped the country win Euro 2016 and later played a key role in Portugal’s 2019 Nations League victory.

Beckenbauer was a strong leader and an outstanding defender. As captain, he led West Germany to the 1974 World Cup title and became one of the most respected players of his generation.

Casillas captained Spain during its most successful period. He helped Spain win Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.

Cafu was one of Brazil’s most important players during a successful period for the country. He played in three straight World Cup finals and captained Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title.

Zoff made history by captaining Italy to the 1982 World Cup title at the age of 40. His calm approach and leadership made him one of Italy’s greatest goalkeepers.

Iniesta was a key figure in Spain’s golden era. He scored the winning goal against the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final, securing Spain’s first World Cup title.

The Chairman/Chief Executive, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), has charged investigators and prosecutors of the agency to intensify efforts at tracing, seizing and recovering the proceeds and instrumentalities of narcotics trafficking, insisting that the war against drug cartels can no longer be won through arrests and seizures alone.

According to a statement by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Marwa gave the charge yesterday, while declaring open an Advanced Capacity Building Programme on Financial Investigations, Asset Tracing, Forfeiture, Recovery and Management of the Proceeds and Instrumentalities of Narcotics Trafficking and Related Organised Crime, organised by the agency in Abuja.

The NDLEA boss noted that the depth of participation at the programme reflects a shared commitment to the understanding that drug trafficking is fundamentally an economic enterprise, sustained by financiers, facilitators, money launderers and professional enablers operating behind every drug shipment.

‘If we arrest the courier but leave the financier untouched, seize the drugs but allow the proceeds to remain with the criminal enterprise, or secure a conviction without recovering the illicit wealth, we have addressed only part of the problem,’ he stated.

He observed that criminal organisations are exploiting technology, cryptocurrencies, complex corporate structures and legitimate businesses to conceal the ownership and origin of illicit wealth, stressing that the agency’s response must evolve with equal sophistication.

According to him, NDLEA investigators and prosecutors must be equipped to analyse complex transactions, trace assets across borders, establish beneficial ownership, exploit digital evidence and build financial cases capable of supporting forfeiture and recovery.

Marwa said the NDLEA’s next imperative, having made significant progress in seizing narcotics and prosecuting traffickers, is to dismantle the economic foundations of the drug trade and make narcotics trafficking a high-risk, low-profit enterprise.

‘The sophistication of organised crime demands a corresponding sophistication in our response. We must move from crime detection to crime disruption; from arresting offenders to dismantling criminal enterprises; and from confiscating drugs to depriving traffickers of the wealth that motivates and sustains their activities.The drug trafficking ecosystem intersects with money laundering, corruption, cybercrime, human trafficking, illicit arms trafficking and other forms of organised crime.These intersections make sustained cooperation, within the NDLEA and among our partner institutions, not merely desirable, but indispensable,’ he stated.

He called for stronger synergy among the agency’s directorates of intelligence, investigation, prosecution, forensics, and asset and financial investigation, describing them as interconnected links in one enforcement chain that must work as one agency rather than in isolation.

He extended the same call to inter-agency collaboration, noting that no single institution possesses all the information, expertise or capacity required to confront sophisticated criminal networks.

The NDLEA chairman commended the calibre of resource persons at the programme, including Judge Michael Hopmeier, recently retired Circuit Judge at Southwark Crown Court, United Kingdom; Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation; Calvin Wilson, Global MLCFT Adviser; Jason Sandoval, Head of European Operations at Asset Reality, and his colleague, Nick Francis; Fernandez Marcus-Obiene, cryptocurrency expert and Special Assistant to the President on Justice Sector Reform; and Chioma Chikelu, a crypto-police specialist, among other resource persons drawn from sister agencies.

He welcomed the participation of representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the ICPC and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), as well as judges of the Federal High Court, describing their presence as strengthening the link between investigation, prosecution and adjudication.

Marwa reminded participants that asset recovery does not end with seizure or forfeiture, warning that poor management and lack of transparency can diminish the value of recovered assets and undermine public confidence in the recovery process.

He urged that accountability and transparency be preserved from the point of seizure through forfeiture, management and eventual realisation of assets.

He charged officers of the agency to see the programme not as another routine training but as an opportunity to strengthen the NDLEA’s collective capacity, stressing that knowledge gained must not remain within individual directorates but be shared and translated into coordinated action across the agency.

He expressed confidence that at the end of the programme, participants would be better equipped to follow the money, identify assets, strengthen evidence, secure forfeiture, preserve recovered value, and ultimately deprive narcotics traffickers and organised criminal networks of the proceeds that fuel their operations.

In his goodwill message, delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, commended Marwa for the great strides the agency has recorded under his leadership.

He added that collaboration between the Federal High Court, the NDLEA and other law enforcement agencies would put Nigeria in a good spotlight in the international community.

According to him, ‘His Lordship, the Chief Judge, expresses his delights to be part of this programme which is designed to strengthen institutional capacity in financial investigation, asset tracing for future recovery, and management of proceeds and instrumentalities of narcotic trafficking and related crimes, including cybercurrency-enabled money laundering.

‘He is of the opinion that this topic shows how extensive and multifaceted drug crimes are and can be, and their ever-expanding frontiers, which ought to be tackled by effective and sophisticated law enforcement.

‘His Lordship appreciates and commends you, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, for your commendable strides since the assumption of office as the Chairman and Chief Executive. His Lordship believes that collaboration between the Federal High Court and law enforcement agencies, especially the NDLEA, will put this nation on a proper spotlight when it comes to law enforcement in the international circle.’

No fewer than 100 women in Ogun State have received vocational training through a free empowerment programme organised by West African Youth Council (WAYC) Ambassador, Adedoyin Idris Shonuga.

The participants were trained in makeup artistry and traditional gele head-tie styling during a masterclass held in Ilaporu, Ijebu North Local Government Area, with the aim of equipping them with skills to establish small businesses and generate income within their communities.

Shonuga, in a statement, said the initiative was part of her commitment to promoting women’s empowerment and economic independence.

‘As a West African Youth Ambassador and a female leader in the security industry, empowering women is at the heart of everything I do.

‘True security goes beyond installing CCTV systems and physical monitoring. It is about economic independence, self-reliance and personal development. When women acquire practical skills, they build sustainable livelihoods, become financially independent and strengthen their communities,’ she said.

The masterclass combined intensive practical sessions on professional makeup application and traditional gele styling with mentoring on entrepreneurship, personal branding, customer relations and business resilience.

The programme was designed to equip participants with practical knowledge needed to establish and sustain beauty businesses, while providing income-generating opportunities amid prevailing economic challenges.

Shonuga said investing in women had a multiplier effect that extended beyond individual beneficiaries, as economically empowered women could contribute to the wellbeing and development of their families and communities.

She further said, ‘When women succeed economically, families become stronger, communities become more resilient and society becomes safer. Security and empowerment are inseparable.’

Also, in July, Shonuga donated six Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to schools in Ijebu-Ode to boost the safety of pupils after reported kidnappings in parts of the area.

The cameras were installed at St. Augustine Catholic School, Odo-Egbun; Joke Taiwo School, Akpebi; and Muslim Primary School, Ititale.

The security equipment is expected to strengthen surveillance, enhance early detection of suspicious movements and assist school administrators in working more closely with security agencies when necessary.

Shonuga urged governments, corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to invest more in community development to boost education, security and economic opportunities for vulnerable groups.

She said sustainable development required stronger partnerships between public institutions, private organisations and humanitarian groups.

Shonuga said she would continue to support women’s empowerment, youth development and community safety in Ogun communities and outside it.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and his Katsina State counterpart Dikko Radda yesterday lengthened the number of congratulatory messages sent to Vice-President Kashim Shettima on his 60th birthday.

Also, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Northern Senators, former Senate President Ahmed Lawan and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President) Stanley Nkwocha joined in felicitating the celebrant.

The congratulators, in separate statements, described Shettima as a bridge-builder, accomplished, detribalised, courageous and selfless statesman who has contributed immensely to national development.

Akpabio, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, said Shettima’s 60th birthday is not only a milestone but an opportunity to celebrate his contributions to Nigeria’s development.

He described the Vice President as an ‘accomplished public servant’ and ‘steadfast patriot,’ noting that his career had taken him from commissioner to governor, senator and Vice President.

Akpabio said that Shettima demonstrated courage and resilience while governing Borno State during one of the most challenging periods in the state’s history, when terrorism posed a major threat to the people and the authority of the Nigerian state.

He said: ‘Yet you(Shettima) remained at your duty post, providing leadership in the face of danger and demonstrating that adversity must never be permitted to extinguish hope.’

The Senate President said Shettima had brought the same resilience, experience and patriotic commitment to his current role as Vice President.

He also praised the partnership between Shettima and President Tinubu in implementing the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as an example of the importance of unity of purpose at the highest level of government.

Governor Zulum said that the Vice-President’s commitment to the nation and track record ‘ continue to inspire us to build further and strive for excellence for our people.”

Zulum lauded him for choosing a low-key celebration, which he said portrays Shettima’s known traits of humility, selflessness, and a resolve to focus on the serious national cause.

He said: ‘I am mindful, Your Excellency, of your recent appeal for a low-key celebration. This request reflects your characteristic selflessness and your conviction that public attention must remain focused on the serious work of national development.

”However, for us in Borno, it is too personal to forgo this auspicious occasion without celebrating.

‘Your Excellency, this milestone offers a profound moment to reflect on a life defined by immense sacrifices for democracy and a lasting legacy of impact in both Borno State and the nation at large.

‘ We deeply honour your courage, wisdom, and steadfast dedication to democratic principles.’

He prayed that ”Almighty Allah (SWT) continues to guide and strengthen the vice-president ”with boundless wisdom.”

Radda, who is Zulum’s counterpart in Katsina State, described Shettima as ‘a dependable hand in nation-building’ whose experiences, resilience and commitments to public service have continued to contribute to national development.”

He also referred to the Vice President as the patriot who has built an enduring record of service, from his years of leadership in Borno State to his present responsibility of supporting President Tinubu in steering the affairs of the country.

According to him, Shettima’s calm disposition, grasp of national issues and ability to connect with people across different backgrounds have remained valuable qualities in the discharge of his responsibilities.

The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) noted in a statement by its Chairman, Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, that Shettima’s progression from commissioner and two-term governor to senator and Vice President was defined by resilience, intellect and patriotic commitment.

The Northern senators said Shettima had distinguished himself as a bridge-builder and voice of reason, particularly during his time in the 9th Senate.

They also commended his performance as Vice President, describing him as a national leader who had served with ‘conviction, competence, and compassion’.

The forum said Shettima, as the leading representative of Northern Nigeria in the present administration, carried the hopes and expectations of millions of people in the region.

The senators also praised what they described as Shettima’s ability to balance loyalty to President Tinubu with his responsibility to articulate the interests of the North.

‘Your balancing role as both a loyal lieutenant to Mr President and a voice for your people is a testament to the political dexterity that has marked your career,’ they said.

Former Senate President Lawan, in his message, referred to Shettima as an ‘outstanding statesman’ who

distinguished himself through his mastery of legislative engagement, eloquence and patriotic zeal while representing Borno Central.

He said the Vice President’s wealth of experience and intellectual depth remained valuable to the Tinubu administration, APC and Nigerians.

Also, Nkwocha described Shettima as a courageous and loyal leader whose humanity, warmth and compassion have remained undiminished by the pressures and privileges of public office.

Nkwocha said his years of working closely with the Vice President had offered him invaluable lessons about leadership, loyalty, courage and responsibility that could not be learnt from books.

He called Shettima ‘a most detribalised Nigerian one can meet’, saying he had remained grounded in his convictions, friendships and sense of duty through difficult moments in public life.

Reflecting on his close working relationship with Shettima, Nkwocha said proximity to the Vice President had enabled him to observe first-hand how he responded to the enormous pressures associated with public service.

‘There are things one learns from books, and there are things one learns only by being close enough to watch another human being travel through difficult moments. Working with you has given me many of the latter lessons,’ he said.

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), has hailed President Bola Tinubu for what it described as a renewed commitment to road infrastructure development.

It said the administration’s investment in the sector is driving unprecedented attention to the nation’s road network.

The agency also praised the Minister of Works, Senator Engr David Nweze Umahi, and the Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, for their leadership and commitment to advancing the Federal Government’s road infrastructure agenda.

The commendation was made on Wednesday during a routine monitoring visit by the FERMA management team to ongoing road interventions in Delta State, led by the Special Assistant to the Managing Director, FERMA, Engr. Dr Emeka Maduagwu.

Maduagwu said the agency was focused on fulfilling its mandate of keeping federal roads safe and motorable, adding that the interventions across Delta were part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to improve connectivity and facilitate the movement of people and goods.

He commended President Tinubu for providing the political will and resources required to give road infrastructure renewed priority, saying the President had demonstrated a clear commitment to changing the narrative in the sector.

‘What you see today is a clear demonstration of the will of Mr President, which he has shown through his investments in infrastructure and his commitment. We are not where we want to be, certainly, we are not where we used to be. The journey is on, the direction is clear and the destination is well within reach, and we are firmly on course ,’ Maduagwu said.

He also commended Umahi and Goronyo for their roles in driving the infrastructure agenda, while praising FERMA’s Managing Director, Engr. Dr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi, for providing focused leadership and ensuring that the agency remains committed to its mandate.

According to him, the leadership of the Ministry of Works and FERMA has created the momentum required to translate the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda into tangible interventions on federal roads across the country.

The team first inspected the ongoing construction of FERMA office along the Benin-Asaba Expressway, which is over 90 per cent complete.

The project, according to the agency, is part of efforts by FERMA and the Ministry of Works to ensure that government assets are fully utilised and derive maximum value, while providing a conducive working environment for improved productivity and effective operations.

The monitoring team later inspected rehabilitation works on the 38-kilometre Kwale-Ebedei-Umutu Road, a strategic corridor linking several communities, including Ebedei and Umukuata in Ukwuani Local Government Area, while also providing a link between Ukwuani and Ndokwa West Local Government Areas.

FERMA’s Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer in Delta State, Kingsley Oshewe, said the agency had undertaken direct-labour rehabilitation on sections of the road, between km 21+000 and 24+000 involving scarification, removal of failed pavement materials, filling with sharp sand and laterite, compaction, stone-base application, priming and asphalt surfacing.

He said several sections of the road had been recovered through the intervention.

The team also inspected the Okumeshi Bridge section, at Km 15 between Ebedei and Umukuata communities in Ukwuani LGA where an embankment washout had threatened to cut off the carriageway.

FERMA intervened by constructing a reinforced concrete retaining wall, backfilling the affected section with laterite and protecting the embankment with stone pitching against further erosion.

Oshewe said the intervention had restored the road to service and protected a critical link between communities.

He urged residents and road users to support the government’s efforts by keeping drainage channels within their premises clear and avoiding activities that could obstruct water flow and cause flooding.

For residents, the intervention has brought relief.

A community resident, Chidimma Moses, recalled that the area was previously unsafe and difficult to access, expressing appreciation for the intervention.

The agency said the repairs were necessary not only to improve movement but also to protect access to communities and facilitate the transportation of agricultural produce.

Maduagwu reiterated that FERMA would continue to monitor its interventions nationwide, stressing that the agency’s responsibility was to ensure that critical road links remain open and safe.

He said the renewed infrastructure drive under the Tinubu administration, backed by the leadership of the Ministry of Works and FERMA, was already producing visible results.

‘Make no mistake about it, we are not where we want to be, but certainly we are not where we used to be. The journey is on and the direction is clear,’ he said.