Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Special Marshals Zone RS2 comprises Lagos and Ogun, has been ranked the Best Performing Zone in Nigeria, securing the 1st position with an outstanding score of 96% in the recently concluded national evaluation of Special Marshals activities across the country.

The evaluation placed RS7 (FCT and Niger) in 2nd Position with 94%, while RS6 (Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa) emerged in 3rd Position with 90%. Other positions were occupied by RS5 (4th Position), RS12 (5th Position), RS11 (6th Position), RS4 (7th Position), and RS3 (8th Position).

This remarkable achievement is a testament to the exemplary leadership of the RS2 Zonal Coordinator, SM (Pastor) Olusegun Akintan, whose dedication, vision, and commitment have transformed Zone RS2 into one of the most vibrant and outstanding zones in the country. His leadership continues to inspire excellence, foster unity, and strengthen operational effectiveness across the zone.

Special commendation also goes to the State Coordinator of RS2.1 Lagos Special Marshals, SM (Dr.) Olabisi O. Dennis, whose outstanding leadership has consistently positioned Lagos State at the forefront of Special Marshal activities nationwide. Through his commitment to service, accountability, innovation, and teamwork, RS2.1 Lagos has continued to set the pace in operational activities, public enlightenment programmes, training, stakeholder engagement, and infrastructure development.

The evaluation report described RS2.1 Lagos as having one of the most extensive and diversified portfolios of activities among all submissions nationwide. The report highlighted numerous infrastructure projects, patrol vehicle rehabilitation initiatives, equipment donations, public enlightenment campaigns, Road Safety Club initiatives, church and school advocacy programmes, training activities, and community-based road safety interventions.

The report further recognised the exceptional level of participation by Lagos Special Marshals, strong unit mobilisation, significant infrastructure investments, intensive advocacy programmes, and comprehensive documentation of activities.

This achievement reinforces the position of Zone RS2 as a centre of excellence within the Special Marshals arm of the Federal Road Safety Corps. It also reflects the collective efforts of the zonal leadership, state executives, unit coordinators, and dedicated Special Marshals who continue to volunteer their time, expertise, and resources in support of safer roads across Nigeria.

The Chief Executive Officer of World Energy Council Nigeria, Bala Wunti, has urged the Federal Government to ensure that the country’s 44 critical minerals are developed into factories, jobs and sustainable economic opportunities for Nigerians.

Wunti warned that Nigeria must not repeat the crude oil model of exporting raw materials and importing finished products at significantly higher prices.

He spoke at the 2026 Concordia Annual Summit, held at the Sheraton New York Times Square alongside the United Nations General Assembly.

Wunti participated in a panel titled, ‘Rare Currency: Critical Minerals in a Shifting Global Economy,’ which examined America’s growing dependence on imported minerals and China’s dominance of global mineral processing.

The former Chief Upstream Investment Officer at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited said Nigeria must move beyond exporting mineral tonnage and develop domestic processing and manufacturing capacity.

‘For half a century, Nigeria exported crude oil and imported refined petroleum products. That created poverty, not prosperity. We will not repeat that mistake with lithium and rare earth elements,’ he said.

Explaining why Nigeria had not fully developed its mineral resources despite its vast potential, Wunti identified the absence of reliable geological data and commercially structured projects as major obstacles.

‘The central issue is the difference between mineral potential and an investable project,’ he said.

‘We had geological indications, but not proven reserves supported by JORC compliant data. We also had good policies, but not clearly defined projects. Investors invest in projects, not potential.’

According to him, attracting private capital into the mining sector requires reliable geological data, clearly defined projects, enabling infrastructure, predictable regulation, credible developers and viable routes to market.

Wunti described the Nigerian Solid Minerals Company as the country’s flagship investment platform, established to transform mineral resources into bankable projects.

‘The company is moving Nigeria from saying, ‘We have minerals,’ to presenting investors with defined projects and clear commercial propositions,’ he said.

‘Rare earth elements are not necessarily rare in the ground. They are rare in the market. Bringing them to the market requires capital and technology.’

Wunti said Nigeria must present commercially viable transactions to investors rather than rely on policy documents and promotional presentations.

‘We must move from potential to bankability. Investors need actual transactions, not presentations. Give me a credible price, and I will give you private capital,’ he added.

He said private capital would be required to finance most critical mineral projects, while the government must create an environment that reduces investment risks.

‘Government must address geological uncertainty, unpredictable regulation, inadequate infrastructure and inefficient permitting,’ he said.

‘However, government can only make a project bankable. It cannot permanently make an uneconomic project profitable.’

Wunti identified four conditions necessary for attracting sustainable investment into the sector. These are JORC compliant geological data, commercially viable prices, a stable and competitive fiscal system, and credible buyers.

‘The lesson is price, not pitch,’ he said. ‘A price floor of $110 per kilogram gives investors commercial certainty. That is how Nigeria can attract processing facilities, create jobs and retain greater value from its mineral resources.’

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, citing his belief in the President’s vision and reforms, while dismissing speculation of a political ‘rainbow coalition’ involving former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike in Ebonyi State.

Umahi spoke while inspecting Phase Two of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway at Ado, Benue State, where he reviewed progress on the project and directed contractors to accelerate construction.

On his support for Tinubu, Umahi said continuity matters for major infrastructure projects that take years to complete, warning that a change of administration could stall ongoing work.

‘What gave rise to this is because I believe in President Bola Tinubu. I believe that he’s the one called by God. I believe in his vision. I believe in his reforms. I believe he’s the best person that I have worked with and for, and I’m very proud of working for him and working with him.

‘If, God forbid, another person says he’s President, all these projects will be stalled. And I don’t think Ebonyi wants their projects to be stalled,’ he said.

Responding to questions about his relationship with Wike and claims that they were forming a ‘rainbow coalition’ in Ebonyi, Umahi said any candidates backed by the former governor would not be part of his political structure.

‘If Wike has candidates here, he has not told me. And his candidate cannot break our relationship, but his candidate is not part of our relationship,’ he said.

Umahi reaffirmed his alignment with the All Progressives Congress (APC), while criticising the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he left after what he described as its failure to adequately serve the interests of the Southeast.

‘We supported PDP. We voted for presidents in PDP. And when it was our time for them to honour us, they did not honour us. They maltreated us,’ he said.

He, however, said political opponents were free to campaign in Ebonyi provided they avoided hate speech.

‘Anybody that wants to campaign, come and campaign. But don’t dish out hate speech and you want to take those speeches, and you want that we should lay a red carpet for you. We will not do that,’ he said.

The Minister also rejected claims that he had concentrated Federal Government projects in the Southeast, saying the infrastructure programme was a national initiative under Tinubu.

‘I saw on social media where they say I cornered all projects to the Southeast. That is very wonderful. But we have the publication of all projects ongoing by President Bola Tinubu, so they dare counsel without knowledge.

‘I’m not on my own. The President is my boss. So where will he be when I corner all projects to the Southeast?’ he asked.

According to Umahi, the Southeast was receiving infrastructure attention as part of the national distribution of projects, although it might not rank first, second or third under the administration.

‘But definitely they will not be the last,’ he said.

He said the administration’s performance should be assessed through projects already under execution rather than promises.

‘We tell our story. It’s not a question of saying, ‘I will do this, I’ll do this.’ What about the one that the person is doing? Let us compare the past with the present,’ he said.

On the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway, Umahi directed contractors handling the 173-kilometre Phase Two, valued at ?683 billion, not to demolish or touch any building along the current alignment pending the Federal Government’s review and any necessary realignment.

‘My directive is that no building should be touched. Even if it’s within the alignment, I have to come and realign it. So you just have to continue your work and go around those buildings until we come to look at it,’ he said.

He also directed contractors to strengthen sharp curves where necessary and open at least three sections of the first element of Phase Two at the same time to speed up construction.

Umahi said the contractor had opened the first element of the first eight kilometres, while engineers were working to resolve the challenge around the Ado Bridge.

‘I do not believe in engineering that anything is impossible,’ he said, directing the contractor to open another section from the Ado River while engineers worked on the bridge solution.

The Minister also highlighted additional works under Section One, including dualisation at Onueke and Chainage 0 around Ndibe Beach, which he said were outside the initial scope.

He said the project was being executed under an EPC Plus Finance arrangement without provision for variations, requiring careful management of quantities and resources.

Umahi said four legacy infrastructure projects under the Tinubu administration were being financed through 30 per cent naira funding by the Federal Government and 70 per cent foreign financing.

He also rejected suggestions that the administration had abandoned existing roads for new projects, saying several legacy projects involved expanding and reconstructing existing road corridors.

Popular land developer, Chief Taoridi Faronbi, otherwise known as Baba Alado is dead.

Baba Alado died on Saturday, September 26.

He has been laid to rest according to Muslim rites.

The funeral rites had in attendance Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, popularly called GOS; Chairman, Mushin Local Government, Tunbosun Aruwe; Chairman of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Dr. Oluseyi Jakande, others.

Until his death, Baba Alado, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, is also the head (Olori Ebi) of Alagbeji Royal family in Papa Ajao, Mushin, Lagos.

He was a major force in Lagos politics, social circles and the transport sector. He was widely respected as a leader within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)

He was the Akinrogun of Isolo Kingdom and the Babaloja of Aswani Market.

Baba Alado is not just popular but influential. Many musicians including K1 de Ultimate, Osupa, Pasuma and many others sing his praise.

Known by his supporters as a grassroots mobilizer and power broker, Chief Faronbi’s influence stretched across Mushin and beyond for decades.

A statement by the Executive Chairman, Mushin Local Government, Hon. Tunbosun Haruna Aruwe, eulogised Baba Alado’s contributions to the political and community life of Mushin people.

He said: ‘It is with a deeply saddened heart and a profound sense of loss that I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Late Chief Alhaji Taoridi Faronbi (Alado), my father figure, my mentor, my leader and our respected political stalwart, who passed away today, 26th September, 2026.

‘His death is not only a great loss to his immediate family, but also a painful loss to me personally. Late Chief Alhaji Taoridi Faronbi was more than a political associate; he was a father figure, a trusted elder and a man whose guidance, wisdom, fatherly counsel and presence meant so much to me.

‘His passing has left a great void that words cannot adequately express. I will forever cherish the memories of his fatherly love, advice, encouragement and the invaluable moments we shared. His contributions to the political and community life of our people will also remain part of the legacy he leaves behind.

‘At this difficult moment, my thoughts and prayers are with the entire Faronbi family. I pray that Almighty Allah grants the family the strength, courage and Sabr to bear this irreparable loss.

‘May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds, grant him Al-Jannatul Firdaus, illuminate and expand his grave, and make it a place of peace and comfort.

‘May Allah comfort his children, grandchildren, relatives, friends, associates and all of us who mourn his passing. May He grant us the strength to preserve and honour the good legacy he has left behind.

‘Alhaji Taoridi Faronbi (Alado), you will be deeply missed, but your memories, fatherly counsel and legacy will forever remain in our hearts. May Almighty Allah grant him eternal rest and grant the entire Faronbi family strength and comfort at this difficult time.’

Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Royal Kingdom of Thailand, His Excellency Ambassador Bello Dogon-daji Haliru, has officially presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, at the King’s Palace in Bangkok.

According to a statement issued by the Nigerian diplomatic mission in Bangkok, the ceremony took place on Monday evening. Her Majesty, Queen Suthida Bajrasudha Bimalalakshana, was also in attendance.

With the presentation of his credentials, Ambassador Haliru is now fully accredited as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Royal Kingdom of Thailand.

During the audience, the statement said ‘Ambassador Haliru conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to His Majesty. He also commended the King’s exemplary airmanship, referencing His Majesty’s recent flights to Bhutan and Vietnam-a compliment received with a gracious smile.His Majesty warmly welcomed the envoy and expressed optimism for the continued strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and Thailand.’

Ambassador Haliru was among the 65 career and non-career ambassadors whose postings were approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earlier this year following confirmation by the Senate.

Akpabio made the call in Uyo, the state capital, during activities marking the 39th anniversary of Akwa Ibom State’s creation.

The Senate President, a former governor of the state, also commended Eno for what he described as his commitment to development, peace, and economic advancement in the state.

Akpabio said Akwa Ibom’s progress should remain above partisan considerations, stressing the need for continuity in the state’s development.

He said, ‘I therefore commend Governor Umo Eno for sustaining the journey of development through the ARISE Agenda and for his commitment to peace, rural development, economic advancement and the welfare of our people.

‘The progress of Akwa Ibom must always rise above partisan considerations. Every generation of leaders has a duty to add another storey to the edifice handed down to it.’

Speaking on the 2027 elections, Akpabio called for the re-election of Tinubu and Eno, while expressing confidence in support for the President across the South-South region.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a friend of the South-South zone, and he will get maximum victory from the region and other parts of the country,’ the Senate President said.

Akpabio also urged the people of Akwa Ibom to continue supporting the state’s development, saying the 39th anniversary should be an opportunity to reflect on its progress and future.

He said the state had grown significantly since its creation in 1987, attributing its development to the resilience and contributions of its people.

‘Our greatest resource has always been our people,’ he said.

Akpabio also recalled his tenure as governor of the state, saying the infrastructure, institutions and human-capital investments made during his administration provided foundations for subsequent governments to build upon.

‘The years of Uncommon Transformation demonstrated what is possible when vision is matched by courage, when public resources are deployed for the public good, and when leadership refuses to accept yesterday’s limitations as the boundaries of tomorrow’s possibilities,’ he said.

He urged the people to look beyond the anniversary celebrations and work towards building a state with greater opportunities for young people, enterprise and innovation.

‘The task before us is not merely to celebrate how far we have travelled, but to imagine how much farther we can go,’ Akpabio said.

‘Akwa Ibom is rising. And together, we shall continue to build a future worthy of the dreams of our founding fathers.’

Akwa Ibom was created on September 23, 1987, by the military administration of former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida.

As political parties prepare for the 2027 general elections, children of several prominent Nigerian politicians are featuring among those seeking seats in the National Assembly.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027.

An infographic published by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting in September 2026, based on data from INEC, identified several children of former presidents, a former vice-president, former governors and a former Senate President among those contesting or linked to National Assembly races across the country.

Some of those identified are already serving in the National Assembly, while others are seeking to enter the legislature in 2027:

1. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan – Kogi

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, daughter of the late Jimoh Abdul Akpoti, a former member of the House of Representatives, is the incumbent senator representing Kogi Central.

She is seeking the Kogi Central senatorial seat in the 2027 election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

2. Iyabo Obasanjo – Ogun

Iyabo Obasanjo is the daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

She is seeking the Ogun Central senatorial seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

3. Yusuf M. Buhari – Katsina

Yusuf Buhari, son of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, is linked to the Daura/Sandamu/Mai’adua Federal Constituency race in Katsina State.

4. Bello M. El-Rufai – Kaduna

Bello El-Rufai is the son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

He represents the Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and is among those identified in the 2027 National Assembly contests.

5. Chinedum E. Orji – Abia

Chinedum Orji, son of former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, is seeking the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

6. Adamu A. Atiku – Adamawa

Adamu Atiku is the son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

He is among those linked to the 2027 National Assembly race in Adamawa State.

7. Blessing O. Onuh – Benue

Blessing Onuh, daughter of former Senate President David Mark, represents the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

She is seeking another term in the 2027 election.

8. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu – Delta

Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu is the daughter of former Delta State Governor James Ibori.

She represents the Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and is involved in the 2027 race.

9. Gabriella (Omosede) Igbinedion – Edo

Gabriella Omosede Igbinedion, daughter of businessman and politician Gabriel Igbinedion, is associated with the Ovia North-East/Ovia South-West Federal Constituency in Edo State.

She has emerged as a candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives race.

10. Olumide Osoba – Ogun

Olumide Osoba, son of former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, represents the Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi-Owode Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

He is among the children of prominent political figures featuring in the 2027 National Assembly contests.

11. Adegboyega Adefarati – Ondo

Adegboyega Adefarati, son of the late former Ondo State Governor Adebayo Adefarati, represents the Akoko South-East/Akoko South-West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

He is seeking another term in the 2027 election.

12. Olamiju Alao-Akala – Oyo

Olamiju Alao-Akala, son of the late former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, is linked to the Orire/Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South Federal Constituency race in Oyo State.

His participation adds another child of a former governor to the list of politicians featuring in the 2027 National Assembly contests.

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will finally meet in the ring on December 11, with the long-awaited heavyweight clash set to take place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

The bout brings together two of Britain’s biggest heavyweight stars after years of failed attempts to make the fight.

Joshua and Fury were initially scheduled to meet in 2021, when both held major heavyweight titles, but the proposed two-fight series collapsed after Fury was required to fulfil his contractual obligation to face Deontay Wilder in a trilogy bout.

The British rivals subsequently went their separate ways, and both went on to face Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated Fury twice and Joshua twice.

Six years after their original agreement, Joshua and Fury will now meet in Cardiff, expected to be one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.

According to The Sun, the contest is expected to generate a £150m ($198m) prize pot, with neither fighter having an A-side advantage in the purse split.

Joshua and Fury are therefore expected to receive £75m ($99m) each.

The reported payday would represent a career-best purse for both fighters. SunSport reported that Joshua and Fury have previously earned about £65m ($85m) each for a single fight.

The December clash could have generated an even bigger payday had it been staged in the United States, with Madison Square Garden in New York reportedly considered as a possible venue.

Joshua, however, insisted that the fight had to take place in Britain.

‘British boxing gave me everything; it changed my life,’ Joshua told SunSport.

‘I was going down the wrong path until I found Sean Murphy and Johnny Oliver at Finchley ABC.

‘And then Team GB in Sheffield – and all the amazing coaches that worked every day for the love of the sport.

‘Not the money – because there was no money.

‘It was the UK or nothing.’

The fight could also mark the final appearance of either boxer, with both now in the latter stages of their professional careers.

The contest will be staged without a rematch clause, meaning there is no contractual provision for an immediate second fight between the two heavyweights.

Chairman of the Northern Christian Association (NCA), Rev. Joseph John Hayab, has urged Christians to participate in the ongoing Dangote Petroleum Refinery Initial Public Offering (IPO), saying religious considerations should not deter them from investing.

Speaking at a media parley in Kaduna, Hayab said Christians should view the public offer as a business and investment opportunity, rather than through a religious lens.

‘Business has no religion. What Dangote is selling is not Islam; Dangote is selling shares. Shares bring money,’ he said.

He was responding to concerns that some northern Christians were hesitant to participate in the offer because of the promoter’s religious identity and uncertainty about investment opportunities.

Hayab said responsible Christian leaders should encourage their members to invest, arguing that owning shares could help families and future generations build wealth.

‘If I have my way, just as they are advertising, every Christian should have 10 shares,’ he said.

He gave an example of how collective participation could increase ownership, saying that if one million Christians bought 10,000 shares each, they would collectively own one billion shares.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery public offer comprises 4.1 billion ordinary shares at ?525 per share, with a minimum subscription of 10 shares, valued at ?5,250. The offer opened on September 14 and is scheduled to close on October 13, 2026.

Hayab said investment should not be viewed only as a means of making immediate returns, but also as a way of securing the future of children and families.

‘Buy it for your son. Buy it for your grandchildren. Buy it for the future of their education,’ he said.

He also called on Christians to develop a stronger culture of investment, arguing that excessive dependence on salaries limits the ability of individuals and institutions to build sustainable wealth.

According to him, greater investment by church members could also strengthen churches’ financial capacity.

‘The reason why our offering is poor in many of our churches is that we are not investing,’ Hayab said, adding that many church members rely mainly on salaries.

He said Nigerians should seek to have a stake in businesses operating in the country, arguing that broader domestic ownership would contribute to economic development.

‘The economy of Nigeria will grow faster if all Nigerians have a stake in the investment that is in Nigeria,’ he said.

Hayab further said his position was not limited to Dangote, stressing that Christians should be open to other legitimate investment opportunities.

He disclosed that, as chairman of the Northern Christian Association, he had directed people to raise awareness about the Dangote offer in their churches.

‘We started that last Sunday, and we’ll do that this Sunday, and we’ll continue to do so until the 13th when it is over,’ he said.

He also appealed for consideration of an extension of the offer period, saying publicity about the IPO was only beginning to gain wider attention.

Hayab said the Dangote business should be viewed separately from politics, noting that political administrations could change while businesses could continue operating.

‘Today we have Tinubu as president, tomorrow we’ll have another person as president, but we will be having Dangote business all through,’ he said.

The NCA leader also appealed to northern Christians to participate in businesses owned by entrepreneurs from the region, noting that Dangote is from the North.

His comments come amid broader public discussions about participation in the Dangote Refinery IPO. The official IPO information states that investing in shares carries risk, that share values can rise or fall, and that dividends are not guaranteed.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Royal Kingdom of Thailand, His Excellency Ambassador Bello Dogon-daji Haliru, has officially presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, at the King’s Palace in Bangkok.

According to a statement issued by the Nigerian diplomatic mission in Bangkok, the ceremony took place on Monday evening. Her Majesty, Queen Suthida Bajrasudha Bimalalakshana, was also in attendance.

With the presentation of his credentials, Ambassador Haliru is now fully accredited as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Royal Kingdom of Thailand.

During the audience, the statement said ‘Ambassador Haliru conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to His Majesty. He also commended the King’s exemplary airmanship, referencing His Majesty’s recent flights to Bhutan and Vietnam-a compliment received with a gracious smile.His Majesty warmly welcomed the envoy and expressed optimism for the continued strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and Thailand.’

Ambassador Haliru was among the 65 career and non-career ambassadors whose postings were approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earlier this year following confirmation by the Senate.