Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has warned leaders and members of the Accord Party against engaging in anti-party activities ahead of the 2027 National and State Assembly elections.

He cautioned party members against sponsoring, supporting or working for legislative candidates of opposition political parties, including All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Party (APP) and All Progressives Movement (APM).

A statement yesterday by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said Adeleke issued the warning at a closed door meeting, noting that the party leadership was determined to maintain unity and discipline ahead of the forthcoming elections.

He said the warning followed reports that some Accord members were allegedly backing candidates of other parties in their constituencies ahead of the legislative elections.

‘Governor Adeleke warned that members found engaging in such activities would face severe disciplinary actions.’

Rasheed said the stakeholders also resolved that disagreements arising from the selection of legislative candidates should be settled, urging members to unite behind candidates fielded by the party.

The meeting stressed that no member of the party should, under any circumstance, sponsor or work for candidates of other parties.

It directed a committee to identify constituencies where anti-party activities were allegedly taking place and take appropriate measures to stop the trend and sanction culpable members.

‘I urge us to support our party candidates in the forthcoming legislative elections. We must avoid anti-party activities. Severe sanction awaits any party member who works against the candidates of the party.

‘I have also tasked our candidates to reach out to all segments of the party. We must run an inclusive campaign. All shades of opinion must be mobilised for resounding success in future elections.’

The leadership of the party in the state was equally directed to activate monitoring mechanisms to identify members involved in acts considered inimical to the party’s interest and call them to order.

Adeleke expressed appreciation to party leaders and members for their support during the recent governorship electioneering process.

‘I am deeply grateful to our party members for their depth of loyalty and courageous disposition throughout the democratic struggle. Osun people trusted us and they fought for us under the divine direction of God Almighty.

‘We praise God Almighty, the courageous people of Osun State, the electoral commission and you, our loyal party members and leaders. I will remain steadfast in my commitment to the people, the party and God Almighty.’

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law following its passage by the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The Assembly passed the bill on Thursday after adjusting the fiscal documents.

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, presented the bill to the Fubara at Government House for his assent.

More than 400 exhibitors from 63 countries, manufacturers of 60,000 products, 7,000 beauty professionals and 380 hosted buyers are expected to converge in Lagos for Beauty West Africa 2026.

The continental trade show, scheduled to hold from November 24 to 26 at the Landmark Centre, Lagos, is expected to provide a platform for importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers and senior industry decision-makers to discover new products, suppliers and business partnerships.

According to a statement by the organisers, the event will enable players in the beauty industry to meet potential partners, establish business relationships and explore opportunities across multiple African markets.

The exhibition and Beauty West Africa Conference will also bring together industry leaders and experts to discuss trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the future of Africa’s beauty industry.

The organisers said the growing international interest in Africa’s beauty market had positioned Beauty West Africa as a major meeting point for global brands and manufacturers seeking access to importers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers across the continent.

The exhibition is being supported by industry associations and organisations in Nigeria and other African countries, including the Professional Association of Spa and Cosmetologists in Nigeria (PASCON), Spa and Wellness Association of Africa (SWAA), Retail Council of Nigeria, Balogun Business Association (BBA), Association des Vendeurs de Produits Cosmétiques du Bénin (AVPC Benin) and Cosmetics Association of Ghana (CAG).

The organisers said the partnerships would help connect exhibitors with beauty professionals, retailers, wholesalers, distributors and established industry networks across Africa.

‘For African buyers, the international pavilions will provide an opportunity to discover products and suppliers from multiple global markets in one visit, while international exhibitors gain direct access to importers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers from Nigeria and across Africa,’ the statement said.

It added that previous editions had demonstrated the commercial potential of the event, with exhibitors reporting meetings with distributors from Nigeria and other West African countries, as well as new partnership opportunities.

The 2026 edition will occupy Halls 1 to 6 at the Landmark Centre, making it the largest edition of Beauty West Africa to date.

The organisers said the expansion reflected the continued growth of the exhibition and increasing demand from companies seeking to establish or expand their presence in the African market.

Visitors will have access to thousands of products across skincare, cosmetics, fragrance, haircare, personal care, professional beauty and manufacturing during the three-day event.

Dkhoni has been confirmed as the Gold Sponsor, while Perfect Trust will serve as Silver Sponsor. Both companies will also exhibit at the event.

The organisers said the exhibition would showcase major trends influencing the global beauty industry, including K-Beauty, advanced skincare, Arabian fragrance, textured haircare, natural beauty and emerging African brands.

A dedicated KOTRA pavilion from South Korea will enable African buyers to discover Korean beauty products, meet suppliers and explore business relationships.

Arabian fragrance is also expected to have a strong presence, with brands including Dkhoni, Lattafa, Armaf, Afnan, Swiss Arabian and Ahmed Al Maghribi listed among exhibitors.

International participation will include country and trade pavilions from China, Turkey, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), KOTRA from Korea and Taiwan.

The pavilions will feature international brands, manufacturers and suppliers across cosmetics, skincare, haircare, fragrance, packaging, biotechnology and beauty manufacturing.

The organisers said the scale of international participation reflected Africa’s growing importance to global beauty businesses seeking new distribution partnerships and opportunities to expand across the continent.

They added that finding reliable importers and distributors remained a major challenge for international brands seeking to enter the African market, making the trade show an important platform for establishing such connections.

Nigeria’s efforts to improve the health of women and children are increasingly confronting a challenge that cannot be solved by more medicines, equipment or funding alone: weak leadership and management systems capable of turning health investments into results. That challenge is now the focus of a major intervention by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Development Governance International (DGI) Consult, which is targeting leadership, governance and management gaps in Adamawa, Kwara and Sokoto States to help protect gains recorded in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition (RMNCAH+N).

The intervention is significant because baseline assessments across key health institutions in the three states identified gaps in planning and implementation, coordination, supportive supervision, data use, workforce management and other aspects of health-sector governance. The concern is straightforward: health systems can have policies, programmes and technical expertise on paper, yet fail to deliver their full impact when leadership is weak, resources are poorly managed and accountability is fragmented. It is this gap between having health interventions and delivering results that the Enhancing Leadership, Governance and Management Capacities (ELGMC) Project is seeking to close.

Implemented by DGI Consult as part of the European Union-funded Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (SARAH) Project, the initiative is jointly implemented by UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the three states. Following the baseline assessments, UNICEF and DGI Consult recently completed state-level capacity-strengthening workshops that brought together senior government officials, health-institution heads, programme managers, local government representatives, development partners and other stakeholders. Rather than treating leadership as an administrative skill separate from healthcare delivery, the programme places it at the heart of improving health outcomes.

UNICEF Health Systems Specialist, Dr. Emmanuel Emedo, captured the rationale succinctly. ‘It is important that health professionals understand how to lead because when we lead better, we deliver better results. Technical expertise alone is not enough for effective and efficient healthcare delivery,’ he said. For Emedo, the challenge becomes particularly important as health professionals assume leadership responsibilities and governments take greater ownership of programmes amid changes in the global development financing environment.

The implication is that Nigeria’s health sector must increasingly learn to do more with the resources available to it-and that requires competent managers who can plan strategically, coordinate programmes, manage finances, deploy human resources efficiently and use data to make decisions. The workshops therefore focused on strategic planning, coordination, results-based management, financial management, human resources for health, resource optimisation and data-driven decision-making.

Participants also developed shared RMNCAH+N visions and explored results frameworks designed to translate priorities into measurable targets and strengthen accountability. In Kwara, where stakeholders acknowledged significant progress in maternal and child health, the emphasis was particularly on protecting those gains while confronting persistent weaknesses in governance, resource management and service delivery. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, acknowledged the support of UNICEF and development partners but stressed the need to sustain progress while addressing existing gaps.

The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, similarly identified the management capacity of health workers, especially officers-in-charge of facilities, as critical to translating the state’s health ambitions into results. That focus on local governments and facilities is important because this is where health policies ultimately become-or fail to become-services. For a pregnant woman, the quality of leadership may be reflected in whether a primary healthcare centre has the personnel, supplies and referral arrangements needed when complications arise.

For a newborn, it may determine whether essential care is available on time. For a child or adolescent, it may influence whether services are adequately planned, staffed and monitored. In that sense, governance is not an abstract bureaucratic concept. It can determine whether people receive care when they need it.

DGI Consult’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Gafar Alawode, said the ELGMC Project was deliberately designed to go beyond conventional training. ‘A lot of people have trained as professionals in the health sector, but many have not had formal training in leadership. This programme is problem-solving and competency-based,’ he said. According to him, the objective is to equip health leaders with the competencies and systems required to identify problems, strengthen institutions and optimise available resources. ‘It is not just about conducting a training. It is about developing competent leaders and managers who can solve critical problems in the health sector, strengthen systems, optimise available resources, and ultimately improve access to quality healthcare,’ Alawode said.

That distinction could determine whether the intervention produces lasting results. Nigeria has no shortage of health policies, strategies, programmes or development interventions. The more difficult task is ensuring that these initiatives survive beyond workshops and are consistently implemented at state, local government and facility levels.

The ELGMC Project is taking leadership development beyond the training room by strengthening coordination, accountability and planning across Adamawa, Kwara and Sokoto states. Mentoring, technical support, action trackers and results frameworks are helping RMNCAH+N teams improve implementation and prepare stronger 2027 plans. The next phase will extend these efforts to local governments and health facilities through cascade training, expenditure reviews, financial modelling and performance dashboards. A Leadership Fellowship and Community of Practice will deepen peer learning and mentorship. Ultimately, the measure of success will be whether stronger leadership translates into better planning, efficient resource use, accountability and improved health services for women, children and adolescents.

The Delta State Police Command has arrested six suspects and recovered quantities of suspected illicit drugs, including Tramadol and Rohypnol, during a raid on a suspected drug outlet in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area.

Operatives from the Department of Operations carried out the operation following credible intelligence on suspected drug dealers’ activities in the area.

In a statement on Thursday, the Command’s spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, said operatives were on routine patrol along Alegwe Street, off Owa Road, Agbor, when they raided a store allegedly used for selling and distributing illicit drugs.

Those arrested were identified as Anabel Haruna, 18; Terhemen Faith, 19; Kaityo Abigail, 23; Iorkee Eunice, 26; and Osomuri Emmanuel, 31.

A 15-year-old female juvenile was also arrested, but her identity was withheld.

According to Edafe, a search of a vehicle linked to the suspects led to the recovery of quantities of Tramadol, Rohypnol and other suspected illicit substances.

He said the suspects and recovered exhibits are currently in police custody as the investigation continues.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Samuel Erale warned drug dealers and distributors operating in the state to stop the illicit trade.

He said the Command would intensify efforts to dismantle drug distribution networks.

Erale said the proliferation of illicit drugs could fuel violent crime and other forms of criminality, directing police operatives across the state to strengthen intelligence gathering and enforcement against drug dealers and their networks.

He assured residents that the Command would not allow Delta State to become a safe haven for illicit drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

The first edition of the Michael Opeyemi Bamidele National Taekwondo championship is billed to start on September 17 in Lagos.

A former Commissioner for Sports and ex- Commissioner for Information and strategy in Lagos State, Opeyemi Bamidele, is the sponsor of the tournaments expected to provide so much thrills for the lovers of the game in the country.

Bamidele, now senate leader, sees sports as one of the ways of unifying people as a sports stakeholder. He has encouraged different sporting events in the past.

The President of the Taekwondo Federation of Nigeria, Tayo Popoola, expressed delight over the competition, saying it is good for stakeholders to complement the efforts of government in sports development.

‘We are so happy about this and we believe it is coming at a time we are also working towards the next African Games and the Olympic Games.

‘This is the maiden edition of the competition and we have high expectations that the athletes will enjoy themselves in Lagos. It is an opportunity to continue to look at the progress of our athletes and know those we expect to represent us in future continental and global events,’ Popoola said.

The MOB National Taekwondo Championship, already tagged tourney of ‘Unity’ is open to states, clubs and schools all over the country.

‘Participation can only be in team format and I am happy that so far we are having good responses from various parts of the country. The federation will continue to work so hard to make the event hitch-free,’ Popoola added.

HBM Nigeria Plc has opened a high-capacity Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station at its Mfamosing Plant, marking a significant step in the company’s drive to build a cleaner, faster and more efficient logistics network.

The new facility significantly expands HBM Nigeria’s ability to fuel CNG-powered trucks at scale. In its first phase, the station has the capacity to serve up to 150 trucks every day, with an installed capacity of 144,000 standard cubic metres of CNG per day.

Designed for round-the-clock operations, the station is supported by two pumps and four dispensing points. This is expected to substantially reduce refueling and truck waiting times, improve fleet availability and enable faster turnaround of trucks serving the company’s logistics network.

By October 2026, Phase Two is expected to come on stream, increasing the station’s capability to serve approximately 250 trucks every day.

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpeyong EneCobhams, congratulated HBM Nigeria Plc on the landmark achievement.

He noted that the state government remains committed to creating an investment-friendly environment that will ensure investors get value for their investments.

‘This is an era of not just mobility but also of efficiency in the choice of power sources used to deliver goods and services. We are proud of HBM Nigeria Plc, especially for its commitment to corporate social responsibility,’ he added.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, HBM Nigeria Plc, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, described the inauguration of the CNG facility as an important milestone that demonstrates the company’s commitment to efficiency, operational excellence, and sustainability.

‘Energy and logistics remain significant cost drivers for the company and its value chain. By increasing the use of CNG, we are creating more efficient and more cost-effective operations. This investment is significant because it aligns with the Federal Government’s drive to adopt CNG as an alternative to a cleaner energy environment. With this facility, we will utilize cleaner, environmentally friendly, more efficient and effective energy sources,’ Alade-Akinyemi said.

‘We are happy that this would create more opportunities for our communities, customers, contractors, transporters, people in Cross River and the wider community in Nigeria,’ he stated.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Logistics Director of HBM Nigeria, Osaze Aghatise, said the significance of the investment goes beyond the physical infrastructure.

‘We have been using CNG in our logistics operations in the last nine years, but what changes today is the scale of deployment. With Phase One, we can serve up to 150 trucks every day, and by October, with Phase Two, we expect to increase that to approximately 250 trucks daily. This marks a significant step in moving CNG-powered logistics from an initiative to a fully scaled operation.’

He added: ‘For us, the real value is what this does for our customers and our operations – shorter refueling queues, reduced truck waiting time, better truck availability and faster turnaround. Every hour we take out of waiting is an opportunity to put our trucks back on the road and deliver faster to our customers.’

The facility represents another major step in HBM Nigeria’s broader logistics transformation agenda, which is focused on operational excellence, improved asset utilisation, speed to market and the deployment of more sustainable transportation solutions.

The Logistics Director also acknowledged the leadership of HBM Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, in enabling the investment.

‘Transformations like this require leadership that is prepared to make bold decisions and invest ahead of the future. I want to recognise our CEO, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, for his consistent support for logistics transformation and for giving us the confidence to pursue initiatives that will shape the future of our operations.’

Also speaking, the Procurement Director, HBM Nigeria Limited, Gabriel Ibiyemi, explained that the model CNG station at Mfamosing is a strong example of what disciplined sourcing and effective collaboration can achieve.

One of the transporters, Managing Director of JozaGlobal Logistics Limited, Emmanuel Usiakpor, who spoke on the milestone project, stated that the newly inaugurated CNG mother station plant has huge benefits for transporters.

Some of the dignitaries in attendance include the Cross River State Commissioner for Mineral Resources (Solid Minerals), Ntufam Effiom-Ekaha Otu; Village Head, Mfamosing, Ntufam Paul Ntui; Member, Cross River State House of Assembly, Honourable Linus Bassey; Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainable Development (CPASD), Director, HBM Nigeria Plc, Viola Graham-Douglas; Health, Safety and Environment Director, Rachael Ezembakwe, Adewunmi Alode, Legal Director, and Head of HBM-Eco, HBM Nigeria Plc, Temitope Dosumu amongst others.

Beyond improving operational efficiency, the expansion of CNG infrastructure supports HBM Nigeria’s ambition to progressively reduce its reliance on conventional fuels and strengthen the resilience of its logistics network.

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, rescued six kidnapped victims during a gun battle with suspected terrorists in the Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The victims were rescued on Wednesday, September 2, following credible intelligence of terrorist activity at Mehinua Village along the Wasagu-Ayu Road.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Joint Task Force Media Information Officer, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, troops from Sector 2 swiftly mobilised to the area after receiving the intelligence.

He said the troops made contact with the terrorists and engaged them in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

According to Danja, the military intervention forced the terrorists to flee, abandoning the kidnapped victims at the scene.

‘Following the engagement, troops successfully rescued the six kidnapped victims unharmed,’ the statement said.

The rescued victims and the vehicle involved were subsequently handed over to the relevant community authorities for further necessary action.

The military said the operation underscored Operation FANSAN YAMMA’s determination to protect the lives and property of law-abiding citizens across its Joint Operations Area.

The military also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest security outpost to facilitate timely intervention.

The Premier League has ?smashed its summer spending record for a second successive season, with outlay by England’s top-flight reaching around £3.46 billion ($4.67 billion).

The spending spree continued right up to the final hours of the transfer window on Tuesday, with several more big-money deals completed before the 11 p.m. deadline.

Manchester City capped their spending by signing Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea ?for a reported British record-equalling £125 million on Tuesday. They also signed Senegal winger Iliman Ndiaye from Everton for a ?reported £65 million.

Last summer, the combined spending of the league’s 20 clubs breached the £3 billion barrier ?for the first time. Five years ago, the total stood at £1.13 billion.

In addition to Fernandez, three other transfers ?breached the £100 million mark during the window.

City signed midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million, Morgan Rogers ?switched from Aston Villa to Chelsea for £117 million and Liverpool agreed to pay an initial £107 million to Paris St Germain for France forward Bradley Barcola with that deal likely to rise to £123 million.

Tottenham Hotspur also broke their club transfer record to sign ?Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United in a deal that could reach £100 million.

Of the 11 most expensive signings in ?Premier League history, four – Fernandez, Anderson, Rogers and Barcola – have arrived this summer.

Aston Villa also announced their 11th signing of the window with £47 ?million purchase of Senegal winger Ibrahim Mbaye from PSG, while Newcastle paid £51.4 million to bring in forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille.

The trend for clubs to buy from English top-flight rivals continues to rise with around 38% of deals made between Premier League clubs – up from 30% last summer.

City led the way with £458 million in spending as ?new manager Enzo Maresca assembled ?his first squad, while ?Chelsea also spent heavily, shelling out £349 million to back new boss Xabi Alonso.

Tottenham splashed out £303 million as they rebuild after two successive seasons close to being relegated.

According?to website Transfermarkt, promoted trio Ipswich, Coventry City and Hull City spent more than ?a combined £400 ?million to prepare themselves for life in the top flight.

Sunderland landed highly rated Belgian winger Malick Fofana, 21, from Olympique Lyonnais in a reported £30 million deal after beating Crystal Palace to his signature.

Some deals failed to go through on ?deadline ?day.

British media reported that Everton’s move for Folarin Balogun collapsed after the U.S.?striker decided against proceeding with the transfer, while Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara remained at Monaco after his reported £47.1 million move to Chelsea fell ?through.

Enviable Group has trained more than 400 staff members as part of efforts to strengthen mentorship, leadership, and talent development within the organisation.

The mentorship training, held last month, was designed to equip employees with practical knowledge and skills to improve their performance and contribute to the organisation’s growth.

The programme focused on leadership, communication, professionalism, teamwork, productivity, and career development.

It also gave participants the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals, exchange ideas, ask questions, and gain practical insights to support their personal and professional development.

The initiative is part of the Group’s broader human capital development strategy, emphasising the development of a skilled and adaptable workforce.

During the training, employees were encouraged to take greater responsibility for their career development and to understand how their individual roles contribute to the organisation’s wider objectives.

The Group said that investing in its workforce remains an important part of its long-term strategy, noting that employees play a key role in driving organisational growth and sustainability.

With more than 400 employees participating, the training represents a significant staff development initiative.

The mentorship programme also aims to give younger and emerging employees opportunities to learn from more experienced colleagues, build confidence, identify their strengths, and prepare for increased responsibilities.