Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Two people have been killed and four wounded outside a Manchester synagogue packed with worshippers on a Jewish holiday, United Kingdom (UK) police said, adding they shot dead the suspect in the ‘terrorist attack’.

Two other people were arrested after the car and stabbing attack, which occurred as Jewish communities around the world mark the Yom Kippur holiday, the holiest in the Jewish calendar.

Police said the two dead victims were Jewish, and declared the attack a ‘terrorist incident’ in the northwest English city.

They revealed they had ‘established the identity’ of the dead suspect, but it was too soon to release it publicly.

The attack also came days before the second anniversary of Hamas’ October 7, 2023 raids on Israel which sparked a fierce offensive in Gaza, inflaming passions in Britain.

‘It’s a very sad day. I live here for like seven years; I’ve seen nothing but kindness and love from the Jewish community. Very, very good people,’ said engineer Sam Martin, 41.

Pupils in selected schools in Abuja displayed brilliance at the annual spelling bee hosted by My Hero Community Development Initiative (MHCDI) in Maitama.

Nine schools and over 200 participants were present, making it a vibrant educational gathering in FCT this year.

The schools included JSS Garki Area 10, JSS Wuse Zone 3, JSS Kado Kuchi, JSS Gwarinpa, JSS Garki II, and JSS Jabi.

It served not only as a test of spelling ability but also as a platform for pupils to showcase confidence, mental alertness, and eloquence.

Winners included first runner-up, Oluwasina Eunice from JSS Garki Area 10; second runner-up: Agwara David from JSS Wuse Zone 3 and third runner-up Omojola Zion Akorede from JSS Kado Kuchi.

Organisers, Damilola Fabolu and Chris Olusa, noted importance of nurturing literacy and self-confidence in young Nigerians.

They noted that competitions like this go beyond spelling, as they instill life skills such as perseverance, discipline, and public speaking in participants.

The atmosphere at Merit House was filled with excitement, cheers, and applause as the pupils rose to the challenge, proving that ‘every letter counts.’ The event underscored MHCDI’s commitment to education, youth empowerment, and building a brighter future for the next generation.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027. He is from the Southwest.

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has zoned its presidential ticket to the South, although there is still controversy over the push for micro-zoning.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is yet to open talks on zoning. But discerning Nigerians know that the camp that came out of the PDP split is better described as ‘Atiku Democratic Congress,’ because the former vice president who is the lead visioner of the inexplicable coalition is likely to be the presidential candidate. The eminent politician is from the Northeast.

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) of Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso appears to be in a fix. A section is rooting for mass defection to the APC from where the former Kano State governor defected some nine years ago. But notable figures are resisting his move to return to base. All presidential candidates covert the highly populous and electorally viable Kano.

If Kwankwaso stays on in NNPP, he would be firing arrows from a weak point.

Labour Party (LP) is still in disarray, the judgment that affirmed the leadership of the National Caretaker Committee (NCC) headed by Senator Esther Nenadi-Usman notwithstanding. The party is the best bet for Peter Obi, who is from the Southeast.

The question is: what are the Northcentral groups, which are also agitating for the presidency, up to as the country warms up for 2027?

If each of the six geo-political zones could have its way, the target is the presidency, the towering base of power and influence. Thus, their leading lights are building up arguments and justifications for rotation and power shift.

The NorthCentral is not left out. Leading the agitation in the region is the Northcentral Renaissance Movement (NCRM), a coalition that has called on the major political parties in the country to cede the presidential ticket or at most, the vice presidential slot to the region during the next general election.

The movement has also declared that APC, PDP and ADC will lose votes from the zone if they fail to acede their demand.

Its chairman and convener, Professor K’tso Nghargbu, urged other geo-political zones to support the Northcentral quest for presidency.

The grouse of the zone, according to the campaigners, is that it has never produced an elected president and vice president since independence.

According to members of the movement, the last time the region produced a president was between 1967 and 2975 when Gen. Yakubu Gowon from Plateau was military Head of State and between 1985 and 1993 when Gen. Ibrahim Babangida was military president. Both were not elected.

Other former Nigerian leaders are President Nnamdi Azikiwe (Southeast), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Northeast), Muritala Mohammed (Northwest), Olusegun Obasanjo (Southwest), Sheu Shagari(Northwest), Muhammadu Buhari (Northwest), Ernest Shonekan (Southwest), Umaru Yar’Adua (Northwest), and Goodluck Jonathan (Southsouth).

The vice presidents are: Alex Ekwueme (Southeast), Atiku Abubakar (Northwest), Jonathan (Southsouth), Namadi Sambo (Northwest), Yemi Osinbajo (Southwest) and Kashim Shettima (Northeast).

The grouse of the Northcentral is thst in this Fourth Republic, it has neither produced either the president or vice president.

The understanding of zoning is that power should rotate between the North (Northwest, Northeast and Northcentral) and South (Southwest, Southeast and Southsouth). This means, according to observers, that Northcentral can only push for micro-zoning when the slot is zoned go the bloc North.

The Northcentral is made up of six states – Niger, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa and Kwara State. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, is also part of the zone.

Nghargbu said the current ‘zoning understanding’ has led to the marginalisation of the Northcentral. He said the region is blessed with enormous political resources to solve the leadership challenges confronting the country, especially in the face of the growing bitterness between the far northern political elite and their counterparts from the South.

He said apart from experienced politicians and leaders like Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, who has signified interest to contest for the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the PDP, other top politicians from the zone will be joining the race.

The university don, who spoke with reporters in Abuja, said: ‘Today, we found it dutiful, an act of responsibility towards our people to once more make an appeal to the fact that the North Central geo-political zone seeks, makes requests, makes demand that political parties should cede or rather consider giving a political human capital or human resource from North Central geopolitical zone their presidential ticket.

‘This is important, given the growing disaffection now I’m talking about the political class, growing resentment, growing suspicion, growing bitterness between the northern political elites and their counterparts from the southern part of Nigeria. Once again, the North Central zone surfaces or emerges as the best solution towards national unity.

‘We are appealing to the five other geopolitical zones, and especially the major political parties in Nigeria that they consider giving their presidential ticket to people from the North Central geopolitical zone. We say this with all sense of stewardship to the great country called Nigeria, without any prejudice towards national upliftment and development.’

He added: ‘We say this not as a threat, but emphatically that any political party that despises and continues to despise our position will also be despised by our votes. So Nigerians, Nigerian voting populace, Nigerian political elite, and of course, the major political parties, once again we reiterate that patronising us means having our votes.

‘Despising us means losing our votes. I want to believe that we have spoken adequately to the political conscience of Nigeria, which begs for more peace, tranquilly, and prosperity.’ Nghargbu supported for the move to entrench the independent candidacy in the Constitution, saying it will provide opportunity for aspirants who are denied tickets by political parties to pursue their ambitions independently.

He stressed: ‘The independent candidature is one of the answers. It is one of the solutions that Nigeria is looking towards, checking the excesses of political parties that are money-drunk and godfather-drunk. Let me put it that way. So, the North Central movement is very much in support of the inclusion of independent candidates in the Constitution.’

The group has not elaborated on what it would do that that would affect the chances of parties that ignores its call.

Nghargbu merely warned that ‘any political party that ignores the call will pay at the polls.’

He added: ‘Patronising us means having our votes. Despising us means losing our votes.’

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) have called for greater private sector collaboration, innovation and investment to drive sustainable transformation in Nigeria’s tourism sector.

The call was made as the Chamber joined the global community to commemorate World Tourism Day 2025, themed ‘Sustainable Transformation in Tourism.’

The event convened stakeholders from hospitality, agribusiness, and the creative industries to explore new growth opportunities for Lagos and Nigeria at large.

In his welcome remarks, Vice Chairman of the LCCI Hotel and Tourism Sector and Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Eko Tourism Foundation, Dr. Tunde Lawrenson, stressed the importance of partnerships and investment as vehicles for sustainability.

LCCI President, Gabriel Idahosa, noted that while challenges remain in the sector, collaboration among private players remains a panacea to unlocking tourism’s potential. He cautioned against over-reliance on government and urged stakeholders to leverage Nigeria’s globally recognized creative industry to boost tourism. He also downplayed insecurity narratives, pointing out that several thriving global destinations contend with similar challenges.

In his keynote address, former President of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria, Comrade Hassan Zakari, emphasized deliberate investment in infrastructure and agri-tourism as essential for long-term industry growth.

Other contributors included Pastor (Dr.) Olarewaju Saba, MD/CEO of St. Chris Properties and Investment Ltd; Dr. Amb. Daniel Olabintan, Chairman of the Elders Group, Travel and Tour; and Mr. Aderoju Owosanya, representing the Chairman/CEO of Xtralarge Farms and Resorts.

An interactive panel session allowed participants to engage directly with industry leaders on pressing issues such as youth participation, infrastructure, and the promotion of local tourism.

At the close of the event, a communiqué outlined resolutions such as increasing Gen Z and youth involvement in tourism development, promoting local tourism through music, film, and cultural heritage, strengthening partnerships across agriculture, hospitality, and the creative economy.

With Lagos as a focal point, this year’s celebration spotlighted agri-tourism and infrastructure investment as critical to repositioning Nigeria’s tourism industry for sustainable growth and global competitiveness.

Nigeria’s longest-running law reporting publication, the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports (NWLR), has assured Nigerians that the publication has remained consistent with the vision and focus of its founder, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN).

Established on October 1, 1985, by Chief Fawehinmi, the NWLR has remained consistent for four decades, making it the longest consecutive weekly law report in Nigeria and across Africa.

Addressing reporters yesterday at the Nigerian Law Publication House in Ikeja, the Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee and Editor of the NWLR, Mr. Oluwole Kehinde, said the publication has stayed true to the vision of its founder.

‘Chief Fawehinmi dreamt that the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports would continue even after his demise, and since September 5, 2009, that dream has been sustained,’ Kehinde said.

To mark the milestone, a public lecture will hold on October 9, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, chairing the event, while a former Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), will deliver the keynote address.

The lecture, with the theme: Safeguarding the Legacy of Law Reporting and Embracing the Future in a Technological Era, will examine the role of law reporting in judicial history while charting a path forward in the digital age.

The NWLR has undergone a lot of transformation. Before independence, colonial courts issued official law reports, while private initiatives such as the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (1964-1977) struggled with sustainability.

By the late 1970s, access to Supreme Court judgments was limited to a privileged few. Fawehinmi petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Chief Justice over the practice, which led to a historic 1984 declaration that Supreme Court judgments are public property.

This paved the way for the birth of the NWLR the following year.

Since then, the NWLR has been published uninterrupted for 40 years and has earned recognition beyond Nigeria, especially across Commonwealth countries that practice common law.

In 2019, the report went online, broadening access for legal practitioners, academics, and the general public worldwide.

Kehinde said the publication’s focus is to preserve Nigeria’s legal heritage while embracing innovation in an increasingly technological era.

Former Super Eagles stars, Samuel Sodje and Benedict Akwuegbu, have criticised Nigeria’s World Cup qualification campaign, insisting that the team does not merit a place on the global stage given the country’s poor football management and preparation.

Speaking in separate interviews, both expressed frustration over Nigeria’s repeated struggles to qualify for the Mundial, blaming systemic issues rather than just players’ performances.

Akwuegbu, a 2002 FIFA World Cup participant, was blunt in his assessment.

‘For me, I think the truth is to say whether we qualify or not, we don’t deserve to be at the World Cup,’ he said in an interview on Brila Fm. ‘The football federation is not properly run and unless things change, it will only get worse.’

The former striker lamented Nigeria’s lack of planning and continuity in coaching, noting that managerial instability has derailed the team’s progress.

‘We crossed the wrong line years ago and changing managers has only made things worse. Preparation has been poor, and it affects everyone,’ he added.

Sodje, who represented Nigeria as a defender, echoed similar concerns, stressing that administration and governance failures have put the Eagles at risk of missing another World Cup.

‘I don’t think we deserve to be there, very clear,’ Sodje remarked. ‘From day one, things have not been done properly. If you don’t put things right at the top, the players will always suffer.’

Both men emphasized that football is about long-term planning, investment, and giving opportunities to young coaches, warning that Nigeria’s footballing future would remain bleak if urgent reforms are not carried out.

Sir: The insecurity in the Southern part of Kwara State in recent time is becoming unbearable with the last despicable incident at Oke-Ode in Ifelodun Local Government in the early hours of Sunday September 28.

Reliable reports suggest that guns were retrieved from local security men under a questionable circumstance a day before. The guns are barely a month old; the town’s security committee acquired and licensed them for community use because of the recent attacks on neighbouring towns and villages.

Behold the hoodlums/bandits struck; killing 15 security men which include the Baale of Agboayo community and several other people were kidnapped. As we speak now, most towns and villages around us are deserted and the people are now taking refuge in Ilorin and Lagos (wherever their relatives are).

The state government is yet to show any concern for the security of lives and property in the whole of Kwara South. The government is more on reaction after every attack than being proactive from available security reports.

Communities like Oke-Ode have resorted to self-help with the empowering of local

vigilante group because the state government seem to be bereft of any idea to deal with these criminal elements.

Most suspected and arrested kidnappers are usually released thereafter. Can you imagine the state commissioner of police releasing a press report saying that ‘about 40 suspected kidnappers who were seen and arrested riding motor cycles in our forest have all been released after profiling them and finding nothing incriminating on them’.

So riding a bicycle in the forest is now a private expedition with no aim or destination.

What a country and what a double standard on crime and criminality?

It is imperative now for our local and state government to wake up from their slumber and stop their deceptive attitude to the current state of insecurity in Kwara State.

Our people need to be alive to vote as 2027 election seem to be more important to the state government now than securing the lives of our people.

Stop taking us (Igbominas) for granted, you may be making the greatest mistake of

I plead with Governor Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman to leave up to expectation and prove me wrong that elements in his administration are not aiding and abetting criminals in our land.

Posterity and history shall judge the governor in this regard. This is the right time for him to right the wrong. We need to be secured in our land. Enough of bloodshed in our land.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the book ‘Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum,’ by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, will provide guidance and serves as a road map for the nation to build a safer future.

Tinubu said this when his spoke as the Special Guest of Honour during the launch of the book at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, on Friday.

Represented by the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, Tinubu said Irabor has demonstrated that ‘leadership in war is not solely about firepower, but also about intellectuals’.

He said, as Theater Commander, Irabor confronted an existential threat to our national identity with the desired determination and pragmatism.

‘Scars tells a story. It reminds us of pain but it also proves that survival is possible. Therefore, the scars we carry as a nation are evidence of our resilience.

‘They remind us of the sacrifice of our heroes past, soldiers, displaced families, and communities,’ Tinubu said.

The President emphasised that the book encourages learning from past experiences to build a safer, more stable future. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to this vision, highlighting the Renewed Hope Agenda’s goal of transforming Nigeria into a nation of peace, opportunity, and unity.

Tinubu emphasised that security is central to his vision, highlighting efforts to modernize the armed forces with cutting-edge technology and platforms.

‘We are also streamlining intelligence gathering capability and deepening regional partnership to boost collective security.

‘We are investing in a whole-of-society approach to security so that peace is not only won on the battlefield but sustained in daily life with participation of the citizens.

‘Let all Nigerians be aware that we will not rest until we defeat all indices of insecurity,’ the President said.

He praised the book as a powerful testament to the importance of ideas in addressing challenges, noting that General Irabor’s work reminds us to cherish and pursue peace, never forgetting the cost of achieving it.

‘Let us use this occasion not only to acknowledge the book but also to affirm our commitment to working together toward a future where every Nigerian can live without fear, thrive in peace, and contribute to the nation’s greatness,’ the President said.

Former National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, called for a collective action against Boko Haram.

Monguno identified defective governance and impaired national cohesion as factors hampering peace in the country.

He said the struggle for power within the state, share of resource allocations and fear of domination by ethnic nationalities were making it impossible to address the issue of insecurity.

He said the challenges can be addressed through national cohesion.

‘You cannot address insecurity in the absence of national cohesion. The issue of national cohesion is very important.

‘You cannot legislate love, and you cannot enforce affection, it is something that must come from within,’ Monguno said.

All is set for the flag off of the Ibom Ignite Conference 2025 with a target of empowering over 1500 youths on leadership and entrepreneurship.

A statement by the Chairman of the Central Planing Committee, Pastor Imo-abasi Jacob, indicates that the conference is slated for today Friday and Saturday, October 3 and 4, 2025, and will take place at the

Ibom LED Centre in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Parts of the statement read: ‘Ibom Ignite is the premier youth leadership and entrepreneurship gathering, returning with a bold theme: ‘Ignite to Accelerate.’

‘This conference is set to transform youths in leadership and entrepreneurship in Akwa Ibom State. It will empower over 1,500 participants with the tools, networks, and insights needed to turn ideas into tangible impact.’

The statement also disclosed that registration had long been concluded both for the conference and the highly anticipated Ibom Ignite Entrepreneurship and Innovation Grant, a funding opportunity designed to propel startups and bold ideas into scalable ventures.

The event will feature seasoned speakers, fireside chats, intimate, thought-provoking conversations on leadership, innovation, and resilience, panel discussion sessions, as well as Innovation and Pitch Opportunities.

‘Ibom Ignite is not just an event but a movement of possibilities. To accelerate, you must first be ignited. Ibom Ignite 2025 is about sparking bold ideas and giving them the momentum to grow into solutions that transform communities.

‘The theme, Ignite to Accelerate, captures the essence of the 2025 edition: before acceleration can happen, there must first be ignition, a spark that fuels growth, vision, and transformation,’ the statement added.

The Federal High Court sitting in Warri has ordered the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to maintain the status quo in the ongoing legal dispute over the enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy.

The order was given Friday in Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025, filed by lawyer, John Aikpokpo-Martins, against the IGP and the NPF.

NBA Publicity Secretary Bridget Edokwe said the court specifically directed the police to respect judicial processes and refrain from any action that could undermine the pending case.