Category: The Nation – Nigeria

This is an unusual time – a dreadful one. We are not used to it. Lives are at stake. The anxiety is justified, and there is no dismissing people’s experiences and feelings – not by any inch.

Some have said we are in a state of war. It is their own way of saying it. However, in honor of the dead and to save everyone, this is a time to major only in the major.

So much has been said about the statement of the Nigerian Air Force which was issued yesterday. It has degenerated into arguments. Two things are at issue here: was there a statement on Monday September 29 by the NAF announcing an air strike on enemy position? Yes. The Air Force shared the statement on its official WhatsApp platform at 1:54pm yesterday. Some people claim the statement was not posted on their Facebook or other social handles. Does that invalidate its authenticity? No. Has the NAF disputed it issued the statement since it went viral yesterday? No. There is absolutely no basis for the disputations. Was there a security operation last night in the area of interest? Yes. There are pictures from the secret police, which was heavily involved in the operation last night.

Attached herewith are pictures from the DSS on the operation between Kogi and Kwara, in which several criminals were eliminated, and a screenshot from the NAF WhatsApp platform with editors.

What does the government gain in saying there was an operation if there was none? Many operations happen without getting to the media, legacy or new. When things are shared with the public, it is sometimes to keep our people at ease in times of tension. Nothing more. It serves no general good if we do not operate with minimal trust in times of crisis.

We should focus on the real issue, unite in the outrage against the enemies, and leave ‘fine, fine details’ for the good days. No one should have time for petty partisan bickering and twaddle now.

The other issue is the picture, which accompanied the NAF statement on different platforms. Yes, the NAF didn’t share its statement with the picture. But hey, what does that matter in the context of whether the operation happened? The problem would be if there was no engagement or airstrike at all, and someone just wrote a fiction and attached the picture. The strike happened. It did.

The news reporter in me took it further. At 3:11p.m. this afternoon, September 30, I spoke with the NAF spokesman Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame to confirm to me if he issued the statement. He confirmed he issued it! My call was to satisfy ‘all righteousness’. Multiple authoritative sources had earlier told me the airstrike took place.

News media (including Sahara Reporters) have used pictures from thousands of kilometers away to illustrate their stories – attached herewith are screenshots of news media using old pictures to illustrate new stories. What is the fuss about a picture of a previous air strike in Borno or Alabama accompanying the statement?

Politicians do not miss opportunities to wrong-foot their opponents. Average citizens who are concerned about all of us getting out of this crisis stronger and better as a community should not join such chitchat. It is not worth it.

Finally, and this is in good faith, there is no truth to the claim that DSS withdrew weapons from the forest guards at any time. The leadership of the forest guards has disputed this claim. The DSS, for its part, has expressed strong reservations about the demoralising, albeit false, claim which was made in a viral video. We pray to God to console the bereaved woman- and every other ones – but her claim is not true. This clarification does not in any way delegitimise her grief. Not at all. May God uphold her and others in her position.

We will get out of this stronger and safer. Let us remain United and calm, and refuse to be at daggers-drawn with ourselves. That will be a road to the Golgotha.

A non-governmental organisation aimed at cutting maternal mortality and improving reproductive health care, Maternal and Reproductive Health (MRH) Collective, has called on government, stakeholders, and institutions to intensify efforts in implementing formal maternal care among pregnant women and girls.

MRHC made this call at its Iyaloju initiative dissemination meeting on Monday, held at Sojourner by Genesis Hotel, Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja, Lagos.

The meeting was held to analyse the progress of the Iyaloju project, an initiative aimed at improving the use of primary health care for maternal services in Nigeria, where pregnant women lack access to skilled care.

The hall was full às government officials and community stakeholders, and civil society organisations strategising on the way forward.

Those who directed the event were Ðr. Olajumoke Oke, Mrs. Funmi Owosho, Dr. Chiamaka Uwalakà, and Ms Fehintoluwa Aluko.

Also àt the event were Mr. Uçhe Azubuike, Ms Damilolà Busari, Mr. Sodiq Owolabi, ànd Ms Mariàm Oladejo.

Mrs. Funmi Owosho moderated the panel session. Other panelists were Dr Iwayemi, Baale Àmusu Sunday, Mrs. Otiwa Christiana, Dr. Otakpor Uzoyieçhine, Felix Omomobi Oluwole, Dr. Àsiyànbi, ànd Mrs Sanni Afolabi.

With a power-point presentation, the initiative focused on improving the utilsation of skilled health maternal services (primary health care facilities) among vulnerable women and low-income urban women in Lagos State using strategies such as Emergency Obstetric Care training for Doctors and Nurses, Respectful Maternity Care Training for healthcare workers from all cadre, Data audit trainings for Health Information Managers, Community outreaches in communities and participatory forums. This project was implemented across 18 LGAs in Lagos State except for Alimosho and Ikorodu LGAs.

The programme seeks to ensure more women receive the quality care they need during pregnancy and childbirth.

Executive Director of MRHC, Dr. Olajumoke Oke, said that the forum was held to analyse findings, get feedback and insights from stakeholders of the Iyaloju initiative since it began.

She said that the forum was an avenue ‘to discuss and come up with recommendations that will significantly impact maternal health outcomes positively in the state.’

Oke said, ‘As policy makers, leaders and community influencers, your feedback is invaluable. So we are not just here to share our data, we are also here for your feedback, your insights, so that together, we can create a lasting impact on the state. We couldn’t have done any of what we have achieved in these three years alone.

‘That is why we call together all the stakeholders that have helped us to make it happen, from the Ministry of Health and Primary Health Care board who helped us and guided us from the inception, from the design phase down to the implementation stages and the end line, and the primary health care board especially, which played a crucial role in coordinating our activities within the health care facilities.

‘We can’t go on without mentioning also the community influencers who are the stakeholders that helped us to step down and explain our activities to the women that we serve and our media partners present today. We thank you once again, because without you, we might not be able to spread the word to the ends of the nation.’

During the meeting, MRHC discussed its research findings from when it began the Iyaloju Project, comparing baseline and endline data of facility and community evaluation. According to the organisation, a cross-sectional study was carried out among women aged 15 to 49 in 10 local governments in Lagos State based on the population size and low incomes.

MRHC revealed, ‘We used mixed methodology for our result findings, a cross-sectional study among women of reproductive age who have had at least one child or are currently pregnant at the time of data collection. The sampling procedure was a multi-stage one where we selected 10 LGAs based on those that had high population size and low-income communities, and within those LGAs, we identified purposes. We selected households by simple random sampling, then we recruited and interviewed respondents who consented to participate in the research study.

‘For the data collection procedure, the study population focused on women of reproductive age between the ages of 15 to 49 years. The data collection period for baseline was between the 12th of June and to 7th of August. 2023, and the endline was from the 3rd of March to the 9th of May 2025. The instrument used was a structured questionnaire where we asked questions on social demographic characteristics of the respondent, their reproductive history, and care-seeking behaviour during the most recent pregnancy, the place of delivery, and satisfaction with care received at the facility where they delivered. The total number of respondents surveyed in the community for baseline was 3651, and for end line, it was 3509. For the facility survey, the total number of respondents was 927 for baseline, and 963 for end line.’

From its findings, it stated that there was an increase in the perception of respondents in seeking formal maternal care at health centres, with deliveries from traditional birth attendants declining from 30.1% in 2023 to 24.6% in 2025, while deliveries in public and private hospitals rose from 39.1% to 40.7% and 30.8% to 34.7% respectively.

The organisation cited affordability as the main issue causing women to make use of traditional birth attendants, and also revealed that some women had no form of health insurance.

MRHC stated that changing health worker behaviour and community norms was a long-term initiative, adding that there was a need to sustain social behavioural interventions, to enable the norms to be integrated into the community and be institutionalized.

‘It’s very key for development, to invest in community engagement and health worker mentoring to ensure women feel comfortable with the formal health care system. Then there’s an urgent need to increase awareness around health insurance, especially for pregnant women and women in the communities generally. I think that the government should be able to lead this charge while we can support as much as we can.

‘We also recommend a strengthening of the accountability systems at the facilities, largely to evaluate the quality of care. What kind of care is being given? How are health workers interfacing with clients? Things of that nature should be evaluated, and there should be some form of accountability in the system. And in that way, we’ll see, and we’ll begin to record even better, respectful maternity care in the facilities’.

Giving an overview of the project, Chief Operating Officer of MRHC, Mrs. Funmi Owosho, said that the organisation aimed to create the opportunity for every African woman and girl to access information, resources, and quality health care that she needed to live a healthy and prosperous life.

Owosho said, ‘Our work at MRHC is anchored on three strategic pillars. We have the research arm, the programmes, and the advocacy arm. For research, we conduct rigorous studies to uncover the root causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria and across Africa. This includes examining barriers to accessing healthcare and assessing healthcare delays in emergencies. These insights guide the design of impactful interventions. Our research portfolio covers evaluations and feasibility studies, health system mapping, implementation, and participatory research, as well as clinical trials.

‘Currently, we have research projects being carried out across Nigeria, across Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, and Gombe. Our programmes are community-focused, and these community-based interventions are designed to reach and support the most vulnerable women. And we’re currently implementing three flagship initiatives. First is the Iyaloju initiative, which is why we’re here today. And one major objective of the Iyaloju initiative is to generate demand for maternal healthcare by engaging communities to shift norms and increase health-seeking behaviour.’

Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement Manager of the MRHC, Dr Chiamaka Uwalaka, reiterated that the policy stakeholders meeting would ‘share insights from our intervention activities and research activities to policy makers, so that with the information we give to them, they can use it to also influence decision making.’

Uwalaka said, ‘We had this meeting in 2023 and in 2024 as well, and this is a policymakers meeting as well, but we brought up different other stakeholders to be part of it, because this is the closeout ceremony of the project’.

Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. Oluwakemi Ogunyemi, acknowledged everyone present at the event, stating that the organisation had achieved a lot through the Iyaloju initiative.

She stated that no individual organisation could achieve milestones alone, hence the need for stakeholders, community leaders, and civil society members to always work together.

Ogunyemi also emphasised the commitment of her office in promoting policies that prioritise the well-being of women and children in the community.

Baytur-Rahmah Orphan Foundation has paid fees of N3.8 million to orphans for the first term of 2025/26 academic session.

Speaking at the New Session event at As-Siddiq Schools, Ketu, Chief Executive, Sherifah Yusuf-Ajibade, said N6 million was spent in 2024 on the welfare and education of orphans.

She said most of the fees were paid into the schools’ account

She said the intervention was continuous to ensure orphans are not denied quality education that will mould them into better members of society.

‘This journey is not one-off. It is a commitment to support orphans until they get the requisite education to ‘fish’ for themselves,’ she said.

She added the intervention run is for basic and tertiary.

‘We support 34 orphans from 20 families. Ten are in tertiary schools, while others are in nursery, primary, and secondary’, she said.

She said sponsoring orphans is one of the deeds that benefits Muslims after death.

‘Part of what continues to benefit a Muslim after death are benefits they brought to others. Sponsoring an orphan is one of such,” she said.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has been barred by the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Abuja from cutting supplies of petroleum products to the $20 billion Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals in Lagos.

Justice Emmanuel Subilim issued the order yesterday while ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by the refinery’s management. The motion was argued by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) George Ibrahim.

Also to be affected by the order are the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd, (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC),which are respondents to the motion.

The Federal Government also yesterday said the strike by PENGASSAN over the sack of 800 workers by Dangote Refinery was a matter of security concern.

The union members yesterday barricaded the entrances to the NNPCL, NMDPRA and NUPRC offices in Abuja, preventing their officials from gaining access till the Dangote Refinery recalled the sacked workers.

Dangote Refinery, in an affidavit supporting its motion at the industrial court, claimed that in recent times, it noted incidents of sabotage by some of the employees in the Lagos-based plant that raised issues of grave health concern and safety of human lives.

The company added that it came to an irresistible conclusion that there should be re-organisation in the plant, which led to 800 of its 3,000 workers losing their jobs last Thursday.

The management stated that it was surprised to see online reports the following day(Friday) that the workers were laid off because they joined PENGASSAN.

The company said it refuted the report via a statement in which it also explained it was not averse to employee unionising.

The management added that by a letter dated last Friday and allegedly circulated online by PENGASSAN through its General Secretary, Lamumba Okugbawa, the union wrote Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo, warning that its members would take action that would force the refinery to its knees if the sacked workers were not reabsorbed.

It added: ‘The first defendant issued a press statement on the 26th day of September, 2025, wherein it erroneously referred to the laying off of the workers by the claimant as anti-labour practices, alleging that the workers were being victimised because they joined the 1st defendant(PENGASSAN) as members of the union, which is not correct.

‘The first defendant is going to make good its threat to shut down operations of the claimant, knowing the strength of its membership across the country, unless the court intervenes.

‘The claimant’s plant was constructed with over $20 billion by its promoters to solve the energy problem of Nigeria that has been lingering for decades and has been sailing with good results to consumer satisfaction and have been making significant contribution to the economy of Nigeria, but the first defendant if allowed to make good its threat will undoubtedly plunge Nigeria into the dark days of energy dearth and crisis and again, jeopardise the livelihood of the Nigerian’s end users and consumers and negatively impact on the economy

‘The first defendant has not engaged the claimant with respect to a dispute, if any, before championing and calling for an industrial action against the claimant contrary to the extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’

Ruling after listening to Dangote Refinery’s lawyer, George Ibrahim (SAN, Justice Subilim held that the balance of convenience is in favour of the claimant as the continuation of the strike would irreparably damage its business and cripple the provision of essential services to the Nigerian public.

The judge was of the view that it was in the interest of justice for the court to restrain the respondents to preserve the industrial peace and further aid the continuous provision of essential services to the public pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

Justice Subilim, while granting the restraining order, directed that copies of the order be promptly served on the respondents, along with motion on notice.

He subsequently adjourned till October 13 for the hearing of the motion on notice.

PENGASSAN action is security concern to Fed Govt

Labour and Employment Minister Muhammad Dingyadi said yesterday that the strike by the PENGASSAN posed a significant security and economic concern to the Federal Government.

Before the meeting between the oil unions’ leaderships, Dangote Refinery representatives and the Government team went into a closed-door session, Dingyadi promised that the government would ensure that the strike didn’t escalate into a national emergency.

The meeting had Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and top officials from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in attendance.

Dingyadi admitted that the government initially underestimated the scale of the industrial action.

He said: ‘We didn’t know the magnitude of this strike. Initially, we thought it was just about Dangote Refinery, but we have now been informed that it has extended to affect NNPC and other subsidiaries in the oil and gas industry.

‘What is happening today(Monday) is of concern to this country, our economy, and the security of our nation.

‘PENGASSAN has always been very peaceful, and we know for a very long time they have never done this kind of thing.

‘We consider them as friends and as people who wish this country well. Their action must be understood as a reflection of deep concerns that deserve urgent and sincere attention.

‘We want to make sure that this face-off is not extended to the ordinary citizens of the country.

‘That is why we are taking urgent steps to act as conciliators, to resolve this issue amicably for the good of our workers, our economy, and the spirit of our nation.’

As at few minutes to midnight, the meeting was still ongoing.

Dangote Refinery assures consumers of steady supply

Also yesterday, the refinery authorities assured Nigerians of uninterrupted supply of petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene and cooking gas.

The assurance came amid alleged planned attack on the refinery by some PENGASSAN members and hired thugs.

According to intelligence sources, the plotters intend to disrupt critical units of the facility, particularly those responsible for petrol production.

Sources said that the management has requested heightened protection and surveillance.

One of the sources alleged that the planned disruption was part of a broader strategy to undermine Nigeria’s progress in domestic refining and push the country back into dependence on imported fuel.

‘Despite the sabotaging acts of PENGASSAN and its allies, Dangote Refinery is determined to continue with uninterrupted production and supply of petroleum products to the Nigerian people and businesses,’ he said.

Dangote should apologise, says TUC

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) demanded an apology from the Dangote Refinery management over the dismissal of the workers.

‘We demand the reversal of the arbitrary dismissal of over 800 workers by Dangote. If that is done, the next thing that we demand is a public apology from the Dangote Refinery Management, with an assurance that such won’t be used against the union in the future,” the union said in a statement by its Secretary General, Nuhu Toro.

Toro accused the refinery management of giving the TUC a bad name for calling for the reinstatement of the dismissed workers

‘What Dangote simply did was to give us a bad name. The first thing he did was to violate the agreement we both signed, arising from the previous intervention, that no worker was going to be victimised,” he said.

He also dismissed the claim by the management that the affected workers were plotting to sabotage the firm’s operations

‘For Dangote to react, he has to hide under the guise of sabotage, which is debatable in my opinion, because by the time you say sabotage, you must be able to substantiate and provide evidence of who is sabotaging,’ Toro said.

NLC mobilises affiliates

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday directed its affiliates and members nationwide to immediately mobilise for what it described as a ‘full-scale, decisive engagement’ against the refinery for its alleged anti-worker practices.

The NLC directive is contained in an internal memo by its President, Joe Ajaero.

The NLC stated that the matter has moved beyond the individual struggles of PENGASSAN and NUPENG, becoming a broader fight for workers’ rights across the country.

The memo reads in part: ‘This letter serves as a formal and urgent request in response to the protracted and deliberate anti-worker crusade being waged by the Dangote Group against the Nigerian working class.

‘The ongoing battle with PENGASSAN and NUPENG is merely a symptom of a deeper sickness – a capitalist pathology of union-busting, worker enslavement, and gross impunity that defines the Group’s industrial relations strategy.’ The congress further accused Dangote Refinery of behaving like ‘a state within a state,’ and repeatedly violating Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, flouted International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98, and treated national labour laws with ‘utter disdain.’

It described the company’s operations as ”plantations of exploitation, where the dignity of the worker is systematically crushed to maximise profit for the few.’

The Congress added: ‘The time for pleading and endless, fruitless dialogue is over. The moment for decisive, collective action is now.

‘The impunity of the Dangote Group must be met with the resistance of organised labour.’

Nigeria’s sole representative at the IWF World Weightlifting Championship in Forde, Norway African Games and Commonwealth Games multiple gold medalists, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal will depart the country for the Scandinavian land today.

The competition will start from Thursday this week to 11th October with Lawal aiming to boost her chances of qualifying for the next year’s Commonwealth Games.

The Nigerian is expected to compete in the Women’s 58kg on October 4th and her decision to leave about five days to her event is to enable her to train in Norway and also to get acclimatized to the weather.

The Oyo-born weightlifter represented Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics where she placed fifth in the Women’s 59kg with a total lift of 230kg.

Lawal has been training very hard in anticipation of the competition and she told NWF Media that she’s doing all within her powers to finish on the podium and boost her chances of qualifying for the Commonwealth Games next year.

She said she’s thrilled with the spotlight on her and that she’s convinced she would give a good account of herself in Norway notwithstanding the weather and other factors.

Nigeria ‘s ace golfer Sunday Olapade on Sunday, September 28, won the professional round of the 2025 Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic with an impressive ten-under par score in 54 holes to win the event.

Golf Manager of Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate, Femi Olagbenro, said Olapade had a brilliant spell at the event and came close to breaking the course’s 54-hole record held by Vincent Torgah.

‘I believe every player showing up at Lakowe Lakes Golf Club puts in an extra effort to match the pedigree of the course and the tough field that is always on parade during at each Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic event.’

The 2025 event paraded some of the best professional players across West Africa, including Emos Korblah and Barry Yaw from Ghana, Oche Odoh, Kamalu Bako, Gift Willy, Godwin Okoko, Michael Ubi, and Francis Epe. This year’s event is supported by Oando Nigeria, GAC Motors, Providus Bank, ARM Holding Company, Mixtafrica, Newmark, International Breweries, were among others.

Olapade rounds were 69, 65, and 72 for the three days to beat Korblah with a five-stroke margin and pocket the 5 million naira purse and an additional ARM champion bonus of 2.5 million totalling 7.5 million for his victory.

‘This is a very satisfying win, given the effort I have put into my game in the past few months. I have just come back from a training round in Kenya. It’s been a very challenging routine, which is why this is satisfying. I want to thank everyone who has supported me this while, and believe in me.’

Youngster Godwin Okoko, also made the winner’s list with a third-place finish in the professional round while also leading his amateur team members to be crowned the Team Event winners. The members included Ikechukwu Boniface, David Maji, and Frances Omaruaye.

In the Team Event, Kingsley Oparaku led Roland Alexander, Terry Paul and Abe Ayodeji to the runner-up position.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Chairman of Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate Deji Alli said that the game of golf has impacted on his person, and outlook of business for Lakowe Lakes project, despite the challenges of running a world-class facility like Lakowe Lakes Golf Club.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) on Tuesday morning blamed the dip in electricity generation on the disruption of gas supply.

Its management in a statement said the disruption was due to the industrial actions of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) within the gas supply chain.

‘Public Notice on Generation Curtailment Due to Gas Supply Disruptions

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) wishes to notify the public of recent major generation shortfalls on the National Grid, caused by industrial actions of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) within the gas supply chain,’ the statement reads.

NISO further noted that the disruptions triggered widespread gas shortages, reducing available generation from over 4,300 MW in the early hours of Sunday, 28th September 2025 to about 3,200 MW at the lowest point.

In response, NISO said it has promptly deployed contingency measures to preserve the stability, security, and reliability of the National Grid.

According to the statement, key interventions include:

Hydropower Optimization: Strategic ramp-ups from major hydro stations, contributing over 400 MW of additional output to cushion the shortfall from gas-fired plants.

The statement added that ‘Generation Dispatch and Load Balancing: Real-time load adjustments to match available generation with system demand, while preventing a system frequency collapse.

Voltage and Frequency Support: Continuous deployment of reactive power compensation and reserve monitoring to safeguard system integrity.

‘Demand-Side Management: Selective load shedding, applied as a last resort, to avert a system-wide collapse and ensure fair power distribution.

‘These timely actions enabled the NISO NCC to minimize the impact of the labour-induced gas shortages, sustain operational security, and maintain supply to critical loads, thereby averting a nationwide blackout.

‘The System Operator reaffirms its commitment to proactive grid management, operational excellence, and the application of best-in-class practices to guarantee a secure and reliable electricity supply for the nation.’

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has praised Speaker Tajudeen Abbas as a nation builder and leader par excellence in a heartfelt message marking his 60th birthday.

Kalu described Abbas as a true democrat with a record of selfless service, whose pragmatic leadership has driven remarkable accomplishments while promoting empathy, humanitarian causes, and good governance.

He extended warm wishes for the Speaker’s continued health and fruitful years, dedicating the message on behalf of his family and constituents in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State.

‘I wish to commend your exemplary, selfless, and all-inclusive leadership and commitment towards uniting the nation. Since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June 2023, you’ve shown commitment to developing, sustaining Nigeria’s democracy and promoting good governance through effective representation.

‘The House, under your able leadership, has witnessed a peaceful atmosphere and tremendous progress. I am grateful for the confidence you reposed in me to serve and the overwhelming support we enjoy from our colleagues. I wish you many happy returns and more prosperous years ahead. Congratulations, Sir.’

Jose Mourinho’s latest return to Stamford Bridge ended in frustration as Chelsea secured a narrow Champions League victory over his new club Benfica thanks to Richard Rios’ first-half own goal.

Such is the affection Chelsea fans have for Mourinho they serenaded him before and during the encounter.

Mourinho, who replaced former Wolves boss Bruno Lage 12 days ago, responded by waving to both ends of the ground.

But he would doubtless have preferred Benfica not to provide a present to their hosts as Colombian midfielder Rios could not get out of the way when Alejandro Garnacho sent Pedro Neto’s-far post cross fizzing back into the six-yard area, giving goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin no chance of keeping the ball out.

Their was frustration for the Blues though as well, with substitute Joao Pedro sent off in the sixth minute of stoppage time for a second yellow card, Chelsea’s third red card in four games.

Although they dominated possession and had more shots than their opponents, Chelsea hardly threatened the Benfica goal, with Garnacho wasting a couple of opportunities on his second start for his new club.

Teenage substitute Estevao Willian did eventually force Trubin into a decent save near the end as he stretched for a header.

It was Chelsea’s first victory in the Champions League since March 2023.

More importantly, it ended a poor sequence of results in a month where their only victory came in the EFL Cup at League One Lincoln and provides Enzo Maresca some breathing space before Saturday’s Premier League encounter with Liverpool.

The Akwa Ibom State Government has procured 50 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and commenced the construction of ultra-modern terminals and bus stations across the state.

Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, disclosed this on Tuesday during a joint press briefing with the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem John, and the Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udoh.

Umanah also revealed that about 771km of roads are currently at various stages of construction, while 31 completed bridges are set for commissioning.

He noted that the achievements reflect the progress made under Governor Umo Eno’s administration in just two years, across sectors guided by the ARISE Agenda, as Akwa Ibom marks its 38th anniversary.

In the aviation sector, the commissioner said, ‘The aviation sector continues to soar with the acquisition of four new aircraft for Ibom Air, construction of the Aviation Village, and completion of the new Terminal Building and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Victor Attah International Airport.

On security, he said, ‘In security, the establishment of the Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways, recruitment of 4,500 community watch personnel, provision of gunboats and patrol vehicles, and creation of a Security and Command Centre have strengthened the State’s safety architecture’.

Speaking on tourism, the commissioner said, ‘ecological remediation of 70 hectares of gullies and construction of the ARISE Resort are underway, alongside works at the 5,000-capacity Ibom International Convention Centre and Hotel and the ARISE Shopping City.

‘In training and empowerment, more than 10,000 youths and SMEs have benefited, and the administration is constructing a 2,000-capacity Amphi-Theatre to host the Annual Christmas Unplugged Event.

‘In addition, the newly established ?100 million Creative Industry Fund is being deployed to strengthen talent development, drive capacity building, and expand opportunities for the entertainment and film sector, thereby positioning Akwa Ibom as a creative hub in Nigeria.

‘In roads and bridges, over 771 kilometres of roads are at various stages of construction, and 31 bridges have been completed.

Umanah disclosed that, ‘In agriculture, the State has established the Ibom Model Farm, rolled out the Arise Home Farms Scheme and the Back-to-Farm Initiative, while distributing inputs to farmers.

‘In healthcare, there are now functional health centres across all LGAs, a State Health Insurance Scheme, a 350-bed International Hospital under development, an Emergency Ambulance Service, a Medical Oxygen Production Plant, and an expanded workforce of medical personnel’.