Category: The Nation – Nigeria

A petrol tanker laden with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) overturned and went up in flames along the Abeokuta-Sagamu expressway, destroying three vehicles, including a truck and a towing van parked by the roadside.

The incident, which occurred around 1 a.m. on Friday at the PMB expressway corridor of the Abeokuta-Kobape-Siun-Sagamu interchange, also damaged a solar power light panel and an electricity cable supplying Mowe town and its environs.

Fire service operatives from Nestlé, Ogun State Fire Service, FRSC, police, NSCDC, TRACE, and Amotekun were deployed to battle the blaze, carry out rescue operations, and redirect traffic.

TRACE spokesperson Babatunde Akinbiyi, who confirmed the accident, said casualty details were not yet available as operations were ongoing. He attributed the crash to excessive speeding.

He said, ‘The case of an inferno caused by a 33,000 fuel-laden tanker which fell on its side, dispensing its content in the wee hours of today, around 0100hrs (1 am), Abeokuta-Kobape-Siun-Sagam/Interchange stretch of the PMB Expressway due to excessive speed and loss of control has been reported.

‘The effect of the unfortunate incident also extended to the burning of a truck and a tow vehicle along the roadside, as well as the destruction of a solar power light panel and a PHCN cable supplying electricity to Mowe and environs.

‘Though the casualty figures cannot be ascertained presently, rescue/emergency services made up of TRACE, Ogun State and Nestle PLC Fire Service, FRSC, and the Police are still on the ground to restore normalcy and orderliness after quenching the fire and decantation process.’

The European Union Electoral Observer Mission on Friday called for a timely electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The EU team, which is in Nigeria on a follow-up mission, said this was necessary to ensure voter confidence in the country’s electoral process.

The head of the follow-up EU Electoral Observer Mission, Barry Andrews, said the country needed to speed up the reforms, noting that only one out of the 23 recommendations to the Independent National Electoral Commission has been fully implemented.

The EFM found that while two recommendations have been partially implemented, eight are ongoing, three are too early to determine, and nine have not been implemented.

Andrews, who commended the legislature for the amendment so far in the Electoral Act 2025 and the ongoing constitutional review process, pointed out that time is running out.

He also stressed that the country’s resilience depends on reforms that citizens can believe in.

Andrews said, ‘So, the electoral observation mission final report in 2023 made 23 recommendations. 11 require legal changes and 12 are administrative in nature.

‘The mission has identified so far that one recommendation has been fully implemented. Two recommendations have been partially implemented.

Eight are ongoing. Nine are not yet implemented. And in the case of three recommendations, it is too early to determine.’

Andrew also called for political will to implement all the recommendations for the country to avoid falling behind.

‘So, our evaluation indicates that progress in implementing the recommendations has been modest, thus far, and is in serious danger of falling to critically low levels. Avoiding this outcome will require both political will from legislators and urgent coordinated administrative actions by relevant institutions. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the majority of these recommendations are still classified as ongoing.

‘What we find especially important is the strong alignment we see between the recommendations of INEC, civil society through the citizens’ memorandum, and those of the EU election observers at the EU election observation mission. Each of these three processes was conducted independently, and yet they point in the same direction. Of course, there are some differences, but the convergence is striking.

‘All three call for greater transparency for stronger accountability for electoral offences, for inclusive representation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities, and for reform that would give INEC the clarity and independence that it needs. This is a powerful signal, we believe, because it shows that Nigerians themselves in institutions and in civil society are calling for the same changes that international observers have highlighted. It shows that there is a broad and shared understanding of what needs to be done to strengthen future elections.’

He stressed, ‘What is now needed is the political will to act on this consensus so that these reforms can be adopted in good time and fully implemented. Since the 2023 elections, important work has been undertaken. The Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025 and the constitutional review are ongoing, as you know, and both incorporate many of our recommendations.

‘However, it is clear that the clock is ticking. A particularly positive development has been the constructive cooperation between civil society and the legislature. Civil society organisations have contributed expertise and advocacy, and Parliament has created space for that consultation and engagement.

‘We are encouraged by this constructive cooperation between civil society and members of the legislature, particularly in shaping proposals for a stronger legal framework. However, while we welcome this legislative momentum, time is rapidly running out. Unless these reforms are fast-tracked and concluded soon, there is a real risk of repeating the serious shortcomings of 2023.

‘Political will, more than technical drafting, will determine whether these reforms succeed. We can’t emphasise enough that the country’s democratic strength depends on reforms that citizens can believe in, and we encourage all political actors to seize the current momentum, to deliver reforms that can safeguard transparency, inclusiveness, and credibility in the 2027 elections.’

He listed the six priority recommendations to include ‘The first priority concerns INEC. Public confidence in the Commission has remained low.

‘A new chairperson will be appointed later this year, and the way this appointment is handled with shape public perception of the institution at a critical time. A transparent, non-partisan, and merit-based appointment process will strengthen INEC as an institution and give citizens greater confidence that the Commission will improve its professionalism, neutrality, and independence. This moment offers a real opportunity for a powerful signal of commitment to a credible electoral process.

‘So I’d like to stress that this recommendation does not require a legal amendment; therefore, the process of appointing the new INEC chairperson could be made more inclusive and transparent by, for example, publishing the names of prospective candidates and inviting civil society organisations, professional bodies, and opposition to provide input. In this way, all electoral stakeholders could be involved. The second priority is transparency in the results process.

‘We all saw in 2023 how quickly confidence can be eroded when polling unit results are missing, uploaded with poor quality, or collation appears disorganised. These deficiencies created doubts that overshadowed the entire process. The 2025 Electoral Act Bill now introduces mandatory electronic transmission of results, alongside manual transmission.

This is a welcome legal clarity and an important step forward. But legislation alone is not enough. Citizens need to see the results themselves. That means the real-time publication of polling unit and collation centre results. Citizens must be able to compare both paper protocols and electronic records to follow and verify the process step by step. Such openness can rebuild confidence.

‘It can also send a very powerful signal of commitment to credible elections in the future. ‘The third priority is ensuring that women are better represented in elected institutions. At present, unfortunately, Nigeria is one of the lowest levels of women’s representation in the world, just over 4% in the National Assembly, which is not reflective of the strength, ability, and leadership that Nigerian women offer in public life.

‘We therefore welcome the reserved seats bill and the current public debate. If passed, it would represent a significant step forward toward a more inclusive political process, ensuring that decision-making bodies better reflect the country’s diversity. International experience shows that when women are present in greater numbers, democratic institutions benefit from broader perspectives, stronger accountability, and more responsive policy-making.

We hope this debate will move forward constructively and that progress will be made on this important issue. ‘Fourth priority, thank you for your patience, is accountability for electoral offences. Stakeholders across the spectrum told us that impunity for offences remains widespread.

Violence, intimidation, vote buying, and misuse of state resources are problems that have persisted for too long. Some steps have been taken; INEC has entered into cooperation agreements with the Nigeria Bar Association and anti-corruption agencies. These are welcome, but they are not enough.

‘Prosecutions remain very low, and justice delayed is just as denied. Establishing an independent electoral offences commission as envisaged in some of the constitutional proposals would be a major step forward and a clear signal that those who break the law cannot act with impunity, and that elections are not a contest without rules but a contest governed by law. Even if such a commission is not established, closer cooperation between INEC, EFCC, the police, and the judiciary would go a long way to addressing impunity.

‘The fifth priority is to remove ambiguities and inconsistencies in the legal framework. The constitutional review and the electoral bill will address many of these issues and do address these issues, and once again, we have seen constructive cooperation between Parliament and civil society, but timing is everything. INEC cannot operate on shifting ground; it needs a clear and stable legal framework well in advance of the elections, not only to draft its own regulations, but also to plan voter education to secure the necessary budget, which must be requested a year in advance.

‘If reforms are adopted too late, they risk causing uncertainty or even becoming impossible to implement. Complementing this work, sorry, completing this work soon would give INEC the clarity it needs and give all stakeholders the confidence to prepare properly for 2027. ‘Finally, our sixth priority is safeguarding freedom of expression and protecting the media.

‘Journalists are essential to any democracy; they inform voters, hold institutions accountable, and keep public debate alive. Yet we continue to hear troubling reports of harassment, threats, and even violence against media practitioners and journalists. Despite a federal court ruling recognising the state’s duty to act, no comprehensive framework to protect media professionals has yet been created.

‘What is needed is a credible system to investigate and prosecute attacks swiftly and effectively. That would show that freedom of expression is not only guaranteed on paper but also upheld in practice. Without a free and safe media, citizens cannot make informed choices, and democracy itself is weakened.

‘Protecting journalists is therefore not just about individual rights but safeguarding the health of Nigeria’s democracy.’

The Chief of Mission underlined two key issues for restoring confidence in the electoral process:

‘Public confidence in INEC remains low, despite efforts made and progress achieved. In this context, a merit-based and non-partisan appointment process of its new Chairperson would send a powerful signal of commitment to credible elections. Another important step in this direction would be a robust system for real-time publication of polling unit and collation results, allowing citizens to verify both paper and electronic records.’

The Aare Egbe-Omo Balogun of Ibadanland, Olooye Adegboyega Adegoke has called for urgent reforms in political, institutional and consequences management ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Adegoke, while speaking at the Yemi Farounbi Colloquium’s Nigeria 65th Independence Anniversary Lecture in Ibadan, said there is urgent need for reforms within Nigeria’s political parties, saying the nation’s democratic process cannot thrive without fixing the foundation of political recruitment.

He lamented that it is difficult for professionals and technocrats to participate in politics due to flawed recruitment mechanisms within political parties.

Adegoke, who was the Chairman at the lecture, emphasised that integrity, teamwork and proper candidates selection are critical to achieving credible elections.

According to him, the challenges facing elections are not solely the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as he said the commission is only part of a larger system.

He insisted that cases of electoral fraud must be met with prosecution and effective consequence management, where offenders are penalized without exceptions.

While acknowledging importance of reviewing Nigeria’s legal framework, Adegoke stressed that implementation is even more crucial.

He added that institutional reforms must extend beyond INEC to include citizens, political parties, and security agencies such as the police.

‘The people also need reforms,’ he said, categorising it as part of the broader institutional reforms needed for Nigeria’s democracy to progress.

The guest lecturer, Senator Yunus Akintunde, while speaking on the topic ‘Recalibrating Nigeria’s Electoral Architecture: Legal, Technological and Institutional Reforms for 2027′, said to recalibrate Nigeria’s electoral architecture will requires the pursuance of comprehensive reforms and not piecemeal adjustments.

Akintunde, who was represented by his media aide, Kunle Olatunji, called for establishment of an Electoral Reform Implementation Committee by mid-2026 to coordinate legal, technological, and institutional changes.

Akintunde further said that there is the need to build consensus across INEC, political parties, civil society, judiciary, and security agencies; prioritize sustained civic education to rebuild citizens’ trust and reduce apathy.

He said Nigeria should learn from international best practices but adapt reforms to Nigeria’s realities.

Speaking on necessary institutional reforms, Akintunde said institutions, not individuals, must anchor the Electoral system.

He said reforms should include: ensuring that appointments to INEC leadership are based on competence, independence, and integrity, not political patronage; decentralizing INEC’s operations to empower state offices: Establishing a specialized Election Security Unit insulated from partisan control; Strengthening judicial independence and expediting electoral case resolution; Enforcing internal democracy within political parties, with strict penalties for infractions and Expanding the roles of civil society and media in civic education, monitoring, and accountability.

Akintunde said the 2027 elections present another opportunity to restore faith in democracy.

‘With them right legal reforms, technological upgrades, and institutional recalibration, Nigeria can build an electoral system that is transparent, resilient, and truly reflective of the people’s will.

‘The future of Nigeria depends on it and our collective resolve to ensure positioning our nation on the right trajectory in this regard will activate our desire for sustainable development agenda towards true Nation building.’

Also, former Nigerian Ambassador to Philippines and the Kingdom of Cambodia, Amb. Yemi Farounbi said good Leadership comprises three key elements, which are vision, competence and character, saying if the character is lacking, the other two elements will be meaningless.

‘The takeaway from this lecture is that we will have good Nigeria when we have good leadership and we would have good leadership if we have good followership who elect good leadership.

‘A mango tree will never produce an orange fruit. If Nigeria is bad, it will not produce a good president or a good governor.

‘Nigeria is currently constitutes of about 230 Millions people and without the people, there can’t be Nigeria. If the people are not right, then Nigeria cannot be right.’

The Administrative Secretary of INEC in Oyo State, Mrs Rosemary Adeniyi, said the Commission has consistently advocated for and appreciates the growing consensus on the need for financial and administrative autonomy for the Electoral Umpire.

‘This is not about aggrandisement; it is about efficiency and predictability. When INEC receives its funds directly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, it uses the same to eliminates bureaucratic bottlenecks that can delay critical electoral activities like the timely printing of sensitive materials, the recruitment and training of ad-hoc staff and the maintenance of our technological asset.

‘In Oyo State however, we are committed to maximizing every resource allocated to us. We are deepening the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), not just for accreditation but for verification of voters on election day.

‘The use of INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) has also ensured the seamless transmission of results, which has become a cornerstone of public trust in the electoral process. Our goal is an INEC in Oyo State that is not only independent in name but is seen by all as a truly effective, impartial and professional umpire.’

The Church of England has named Dame Sarah Elisabeth Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, making her the first woman to occupy the office in the more than 1,400 year history of the Anglican Communion.

Mullally, who has been serving as Bishop of London since 2018, emerged the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury following the approval of the Crown Nominations Commission and confirmation by the monarch.

Born in Woking, Surrey, in 1962, Mullally trained first as a nurse and rose to become Chief Nursing Officer for England before turning to the priesthood.

She was ordained in 2001, consecrated bishop in 2015, and appointed Bishop of London in December 2017. She has also served as Dean of the Chapel Royal since 2019.

Her appointment comes at a time the Church is still reeling from the leadership crises and abuse scandals that trailed the tenure of Archbishop Justin Welby, who has stepped aside amid mounting criticism of his handling of safeguarding failures.

Mullally has been outspoken on the need for reforms, pledging to strengthen safeguarding standards and restore trust in the Church.

She has also been noted for her careful handling of sensitive issues such as the place of women in ministry and the debate on sexuality, which continue to divide the global Anglican family.

Reactions to her emergence have been mixed. Advocates of gender equality in the Church see it as a historic breakthrough, while conservatives in parts of Africa and Asia are expected to view the development with caution.

Mullally will now face the dual challenge of healing internal divisions and navigating relations across the worldwide Anglican Communion, where theological and cultural differences remain pronounced.

Clerical observers say her background as both a public servant and a church leader gives her a unique mix of administrative competence and pastoral sensitivity that will be critical in her new role.

With her election, the Church of England has taken a bold step that many say could redefine its identity in the years to come.

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has visited the Diffa Region of Niger Republic to strengthen collaboration in the fight against insurgency along the Nigeria-Niger border.

The visit, which included a high-level security and economic delegation, focused on joint patrols, intelligence sharing, and sustaining the gains recorded in clearing insurgents from parts of the Lake Chad basin.

Diffa, located about 17 kilometres from Damasak town in Borno, currently hosts thousands of Nigerians displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Zulum was received by the Governor of Diffa, Brig.-Gen. Mahamaduo Bagadoma, and other senior officials.

Both leaders held closed-door talks on improving cross-border security and stabilising communities affected by insurgency.

Speaking after the meeting, Zulum said the improved security situation in the region would be leveraged to facilitate the return of displaced farmers to their agricultural lands around Dutchi town within the Lake Chad basin.

The Borno State governor expressed optimism that enhanced cooperation between Nigerian and Nigerien forces would help to end cross-border insecurity and promote socio-economic recovery in affected communities.

Bagadoma haied Zulum for the visit and assured him of Niger’s continued commitment towards supporting activities that would restore peace.

The board of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has appointed Mr. Chukwuma Nwokocha as the substantive Group Chief Executive of the group. The appointment took effect yesterday, after the receipt of all required regulatory approvals.

Nwokocha’s appointment followed the completion of Dr Adekunle Adedeji’s tenure as Acting Chief Executive, during which time the board undertook a formal appointment process in accordance with regulatory requirements.

However, Adedeji will continue in his role as Executive Director and Chief Finance and Value Management Officer of the company.

Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs Sola David-Borha, said the board was delighted with Nwokocha’s appointment, highlighting his strong track record in board governance, financial oversight, strategic transformation as well as regulatory engagement.

She also extended the board’s deep appreciation to Adedeji for his exemplary leadership and dedication; and for steering the affairs of the company and group during the transition period.

She said: ‘It is worthy of mention that under Dr Adedeji’s leadership, the group recorded its best financial performance since inception. The group also successfully completed its rights issue programme which ensured that its banking subsidiary met the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recapitalisation requirements ahead of the 31 March 2026 deadline’.

Nwokocha is a seasoned banking executive and chartered accountant with over three decades of leadership experience across Africa.

He has held several Chief Executive and Board-level roles in leading financial institutions including Chief Executive, Standard Bank, SA; (the Mozambican subsidiary of the Standard Bank Group), driving strategic growth, governance, and operational excellence. His expertise spans retail and corporate banking, as well as mergers and acquisitions.

The Board is confident that Mr. Nwokocha’s leadership would be instrumental in driving the growth strategy of Stanbic IBTC Group into the future.

Aston Villa won 2-0 at Feyenoord in the Europa League on Thursday but Nottingham Forest lost at home to Danish side Midtjylland as Rangers and Celtic also suffered defeats.

Emi Buendia curled in from 20 yards and John McGinn swept in a second goal in Rotterdam as Villa made a winning return to the scene of their 1982 European Cup triumph.

Villa failed to win any of their first six games of the season but Unai Emery’s side have since reeled off three successive victories and are among seven teams on a maximum six points in the Europa League.

Marco Bizot produced some key saves in the Villa goal after being thrust into the line-up as a late replacement for Emiliano Martinez, who reportedly injured his calf.

‘It has been difficult in the beginning of the season but we never lost the faith and hope,’ Bizot told TNT Sports. ‘We still have the spirit, even when it was not that great at the beginning. Now, hopefully, we can keep this up.’

Forest paid the price for sloppy defending at set-pieces as Midtjylland won 3-2 at the City Ground to leave new manager Ange Postecoglou still searching for his first win.

Defenders Ousmane Diao and Mads Bech scored either side of Dan Ndoye’s goal as Midtjylland punished Forest for failing to deal with a free-kick and a corner.

Valdemar Andreasen netted the decisive goal two minutes from time as Chris Wood pulled one back for Forest from the spot in stoppage time.

‘Really disappointing. Just really, really poor goals we conceded in the first half,’ said Postecoglou.

‘Story of our last few games – key moments let us down.’

Forest are playing in Europe for the first time in 30 years and have just one point so far after a 2-2 draw away to Real Betis in their opening fixture.

Rangers’ miserable start to the season under beleaguered manager Russell Martin continued as they lost 2-1 away to Austrian side Sturm Graz.

Tomi Horvat gave the hosts an early lead and Otar Kiteishvili doubled it as Rangers completely switched off and conceded from a free-kick.

Djeidi Gassama halved the deficit but it was another dismal night for Rangers, who remain without a point in Europe.

‘You can’t start that poorly,’ said Martin. ‘The mentality is the problem.’

Their humiliating 9-1 aggregate thrashing in Champions League qualifying by Club Brugge was followed by a tame 1-0 home loss to Genk in their Europa League opener.

Rangers are also struggling badly in Scotland where they are eighth in the 12-team table.

‘It’s an interesting time (to be Rangers manager), it’s a frustrating time,’ added Martin.

Celtic slumped to a 2-0 loss at home to Braga and are just a point better off than their Glasgow rivals in the Europa League.

The Scottish champions fell behind at Parkhead to a dipping long-range strike from Ricardo Horta that beat goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel far too easily.

Kelechi Iheanacho had an equaliser controversially ruled out early in the second half after a VAR review for a supposed handball.

But Celtic’s hopes of salvaging a result were dashed when substitute Gabri Martinez scored a scrappy late second goal for the Portuguese visitors.

Celtic have failed to score in five of their 12 games in all competitions this season, which included a pair of goalless draws against Kairat Almaty in the Champions League play-offs.

The Kazakh side won that tie on penalties to condemn Celtic to a place in the Europa League.

‘Whatever it is, I need to find the solution to it,’ said Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.

‘There’s been too many games now where we haven’t scored for a team that, last season, scored the most goals in the last 54 years in the club’s history.

‘It’s my responsibility to find the solutions to that.’

Porto, Lyon and Lille all won to maintain their perfect starts, while Basel, Real Betis and Fenerbahce bounced back from opening losses.

Thousands of women across Warri and neighboring communities in Delta State have received food packs from Glo Foundation under its ‘Giving Back Together’ initiative.

The outreach formed part of Globacom’s ongoing intervention programme aimed at easing economic hardship by supporting the most vulnerable segment of the society with essential food and other household items.

Saturday’s food distribution attracted women of all ages, including widows, from Warri North, Warri South, Aladja, Ughelli South, Udu, and Uvwie local government areas. They assembled shortly after the state’s monthly environmental sanitation in order to benefit from the scheme.

Globacom’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Mrs Jumobi Mofe-Damijo, noted that Delta was the latest stop for the initiative after similar exercises in other states. She explained that the food drive was designed to reach the female population, who often bear the heaviest burden in difficult times.

‘Our Food Drive is not just for anyone. It is targeted at the most vulnerable segment of the Nigerian society, that is women and children. When we help them, we are helping the society at large,’ she said.

Each package contained 5kg of rice, 5kg of gaari, semovita, spaghetti, vegetable oil, tomato paste, sardines, seasoning cubes, noodles, and other essentials.

The gesture sparked scenes of joy, with beneficiaries breaking into songs and dances. Princess Omo-Udoyo of Ughelli North said, ‘I have not seen this before. I thank God and Glo Foundation for this gift.’

For Mrs Esther Okoro from Otu Jeremi, Ughelli South, gratitude came in form of prayers. ‘God will lift the company and people who have done this. He will lift them higher and higher. They will never lack anything. For doing this for us today, I say may God protect them. You will always go higher.’

The initiative will extend to more cities across the country in the coming months, with thousands of women expected to benefit.

Media personality Ifedayo Olarinde, popularly known as Daddy Freeze, has disclosed that he would opt for termination if his 16-year-old daughter were to become pregnant.

The father of two made the revelation during a conversation on The Honest Bunch Podcast with his co-anchor, Zinnie Posh.

When Zinnie asked, ‘What would you do if your 16-year-old daughter got pregnant?’ Freeze responded that his first instinct would be to identify the person responsible for the pregnancy, before taking further steps.

He said, ‘the pregnancy would be terminated. At such a young age, it would be unfair for my daughter to take on the responsibility of raising a child’.

‘For me, a mistake at such a young age shouldn’t be compounded by raising a child while still a teenager’. He added

He argued that keeping the baby would simply mean another mistake, though he clarified that he would respect his daughter’s personal choice if she insisted.

When asked what would happen if his daughter insisted on keeping the pregnancy, he responded, ‘After what I do to her, she won’t even want to keep it.’

Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Faith, has been warmly embraced by his father following his disqualification from the reality show.

Faith was expelled on Thursday evening after a physical altercation with fellow housemate, Sultana, during a skincare task rehearsal.

He had forcefully dragged a basket containing group materials, causing Sultana to fall and sustain injuries to her ankle and hand.

Offering reassurance, Faith’s father told him, ‘Don’t worry, you’re great. You’ve done well, no doubt about that. You are fantastic. We love you. It shall continue to be well. Nobody can truncate your destiny.’

The disqualification has generated mixed reactions among fans, with some condemning his actions while others argue the punishment was justified. Many also commended Sultana for her composure.

The development came as a major twist, as Faith had already secured a spot among the top 10 finalists – Kola, Imisi, Isabella, Sultana, Jason Jae, Mensan, Koyin, Kaybobo, and Dede – ahead of Sunday’s grand finale.