FUTA, Ondo tertiary institutions seek research-driven development framework

Tertiary institutions in Ondo State have called for a coordinated research and innovation framework that will link academic knowledge with government policies, industry needs and community development.

The institutions, under the Consortium of Tertiary Institutions in Ondo State (COTION), said stronger collaboration, improved funding for education and greater investment in technical skills were essential to addressing development challenges and promoting sustainable growth.

The call was made during the first international conference of COTION 2026, hosted by the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), with the theme ‘Smart Innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Management (STEAM): A Panacea for Sustainable Development.’

Speaking at the opening ceremony, FUTA Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adenike Oladiji, advocated a shift from isolated institutional research to a collaborative model that would enable tertiary institutions to pool expertise, share infrastructure and develop practical solutions to societal challenges.

She said issues such as food insecurity, climate change, energy access, environmental degradation, infrastructure deficits and public health required coordinated, interdisciplinary responses rather than the efforts of individual institutions.

Oladiji described the establishment of the consortium as a step towards institutionalising collaboration, innovation and shared responsibility among tertiary institutions in the state.

She said: ‘This inaugural gathering therefore represents more than the commencement of an annual event; it is the first step towards a stronger culture of collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility among tertiary institutions in Ondo State.’

She urged universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to strengthen joint research, staff and student exchanges, and partnerships with government agencies, the private sector and host communities to ensure that research outcomes informed policies and delivered measurable development benefits.

According to her, the STEAM approach offers a framework for combining scientific and technological advances with creativity, human-centred thinking and effective management to address real-world problems.

The keynote speaker and former Vice-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Prof Olufemi Mimiko, identified inadequate government funding as a major constraint on the education sector and called for increased public investment.

He also advocated stronger emphasis on technical education and closer engagement between educational institutions and industry professionals to bridge the gap between classroom learning and workplace demands.

‘Nigeria’s education is not doing well because the government is not funding it properly. The government should invest more in education. Also, technical aspects of education should be taken seriously,’ he said.

Mimiko said exposing students to professionals with practical experience would improve their skills and better prepare them for employment and productive engagement.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Prof Sesan Ayodeji, said COTION was conceived in 2024 through the vision of the FUTA Vice-Chancellor, with 13 heads of institutions embracing the initiative in 2025, leading to the consortium’s first colloquium.

He said the platform was designed to promote research cooperation, facilitate the sharing of facilities and expertise, strengthen links between academia and industry, and provide opportunities for young researchers.

Ayodeji disclosed that more than 100 participants joined the conference physically and virtually from institutions within and outside Nigeria.

He urged participants to convert discussions into actionable commitments, including joint research programmes, institutional partnerships and practical interventions.

‘Let us not leave this conference with only a communiqué; instead, let us leave with concrete collaborations, joint research plans and practical solutions that will make a real difference in Ondo State, in Nigeria and beyond,’ he said.

The three-day conference features keynote lectures, technical sessions, panel discussions and research presentations on agriculture, food security, energy, water resources, environmental sustainability, infrastructure, healthcare, industrial development and digital transformation.

NASU seeks end to casualisation, exploitation of contract workers

THE Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has demanded an end to casualisation of labour and exploitation of contract workers, insisting that employment must guarantee workers job security, fair remuneration and dignity.

The union also asked for the regularisation of eligible casual and contract workers, equal pay for work of equal value and the immediate payment of outstanding salaries and other legitimate entitlements, warning that employment arrangements designed to deny workers their rights undermine the principles of decent work and social justice.

NASU president, Comrade (Dr.) Makolo Hassan, made the demands in his address at the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, in Abuja, where he identified workers’ rights, fair wages and secure employment as fundamental issues requiring urgent attention from government and employers.

Hassan maintained that decent work should go beyond the availability of jobs to include fair treatment, adequate remuneration, workplace security and respect for workers’ fundamental rights.

‘Decent work is a fundamental workers’ right, not a privilege to be granted at the discretion of employers,’ he declared.

He argued that the principles of decent work could not be upheld, while workers were denied their salaries, promotions, wage awards, pensions, gratuities and other legitimate entitlements.

The NASU president said the union would remain resolute in challenging employment practices that expose workers to insecurity and exploitation, particularly arrangements that deprive casual and contract employees of the benefits and protections enjoyed by their counterparts in regular employment.

‘We unequivocally reject the increasing casualisation of labour and the exploitation of contract employment arrangements designed to deprive workers of job security, fair remuneration, dignity and their rightful benefits,’ Hassan said.

He described such practices as unjust and unacceptable, stressing that workers should not be denied fair treatment simply because of the nature of their employment contracts.

The union, he added, would continue to demand equal pay for work of equal value, the regularisation of eligible casual and contract workers, the protection of workers’ rights and the immediate payment of all outstanding entitlements.

The demand comes amid wider concerns over the quality and security of employment in Nigeria, where workers face rising living costs and mounting pressure on their earnings.

For NASU, Hassan said, the protection of workers must include ensuring that employment provides a sustainable livelihood rather than leaving people vulnerable to arbitrary decisions, inadequate remuneration and the denial of benefits.

He also called on employers to respect collective bargaining, freedom of association and the right of workers to organise, describing these as fundamental trade union rights that must be protected in every workplace.

According to him, employers must negotiate with workers and their unions in good faith rather than impose conditions unilaterally, intimidate employees or victimise union members.

He warned that attempts to weaken workers’ collective voice could undermine industrial harmony, insisting that sustainable industrial peace depended on justice, dialogue and mutual respect.

‘Employers must negotiate with workers and their unions in good faith; they must not impose conditions unilaterally, intimidate workers, victimise union members or engage in activities that are aimed at trying to stop or weaken workers’ efforts to organise collectively,’ he said.

Hassan further urged government, labour and employers to strengthen tripartite consultations before introducing major economic decisions affecting workers, while making dispute-resolution mechanisms more effective and responsive.

Beyond employment security, the NASU president argued that decent work must also be reflected in wages that can sustain workers and their families.

He said the N70,000 national minimum wage had become grossly inadequate amid increases in the prices of food, transportation, housing, electricity, healthcare and other essential commodities.

He therefore called on the Federal Government to initiate an urgent review of the minimum wage in line with prevailing economic realities, alongside periodic wage reviews and cost-of-living adjustments to protect workers’ purchasing power.

Hassan said workers deserved not merely a minimum wage but a living wage capable of guaranteeing decent living conditions.

He also called for a national employment strategy focused on apprenticeship, technical and vocational education, industrial skills development and the creation of formal, decent jobs, particularly for young Nigerians entering the labour market.

According to him, the country must move beyond temporary empowerment programmes that offer neither career progression nor economic security, towards sustainable employment opportunities that enable young people to build stable careers.

The NASU president also called for stronger social protection for workers and vulnerable Nigerians, including prompt payment of pensions and gratuities, settlement of outstanding retirement benefits and improved protection for those working outside the formal economy.

He said traders, artisans, transport workers, domestic workers, technicians and self-employed Nigerians contributed significantly to national productivity but often lacked adequate social insurance, pension coverage and labour protection.

Hassan maintained that protecting workers’ rights and improving their conditions of service were essential to national development, adding that economic progress must be measured by decent employment, fair wages, reduced poverty and improved living standards.

He urged workers to remain united in defending their rights, while calling on government and employers to place workers’ welfare at the centre of employment policies and industrial relations.

Sell empowerment items, lose your job, Gov Yusuf warns appointees

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir, Yusuf has warned political appointees and All Progressives Congress (APC) officials against selling empowerment items distributed to constituents, threatening to sack anyone found diverting the items from their intended beneficiaries.

The programme featured the distribution of 16 vehicles, 400 motorcycles and 200 sewing machines to beneficiaries to promote economic empowerment and improve livelihoods across the district.

The governor, represented by the APC State Chairman, Umar Haruna Doguwa, issued the warning on Monday night during the 12th empowerment programme organised by Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South Senatorial District.

‘Whoever sold this intervention will go with his position; I will personally sack him. It is meant for your welfare, not selling, especially party leaders,’ Yusuf warned.

He urged beneficiaries to make proper use of the items for the purposes for which they were provided, stressing that the initiative was designed to improve their welfare, strengthen small businesses and create economic opportunities.

The governor also expressed confidence in the APC’s prospects in the 2027 general elections, urging party members to intensify their mobilisation and work towards securing victory.

‘We are hopeful that victory is ours come 2027 general elections, God willing. Let’s continue to work assiduously,’ he said.

At the event, 16 vehicles were presented to APC local government chairmen, while 400 motorcycles were distributed to party executives across Kano South Senatorial District.

In the tailoring sector, 200 beneficiaries received empowerment packages comprising two standard sewing machines and one industrial sewing machine each, aimed at expanding their businesses, creating employment opportunities and enabling them to train others.

Speaking at the occasion, Senator Sumaila said the programme reflected his commitment to translating the confidence reposed in him by his constituents into tangible development, economic independence and sustainable livelihoods.

He acknowledged the economic and developmental challenges confronting the people over the past three years but maintained that his commitment to delivering democratic dividends to the people of Kano South remained unwavering.

The senator highlighted interventions in security, road infrastructure, agriculture, education, healthcare and water supply as some of the achievements recorded during his tenure.

On security, Sumaila reaffirmed his commitment to supporting efforts to protect lives and property across the district. He also commended local vigilante members, popularly known as Yan Sa-kai, for their efforts in securing Falgore Forest in Doguwa Local Government Area.

On infrastructure, he said several roads had been constructed, bridges built, drainage systems installed and damaged roads rehabilitated to improve transportation and facilitate commercial activities.

In agriculture, the lawmaker said farmers had benefited from the distribution of machinery, farming implements, improved seeds and thousands of bags of fertiliser to support both wet-season and dry-season farming.

He added that motorised, solar-powered and hand-pump boreholes had been provided in various communities to improve access to clean water.

On education, Sumaila said schools had been constructed and rehabilitated and learning materials supplied, while more than 1,000 students in secondary and tertiary institutions had received educational support.

He further disclosed that healthcare facilities across the district had been renovated and equipped with modern medical tools to improve access to quality medical services.

The senator thanked Almighty Allah for the opportunity to serve, noting that the achievements recorded during his first term demonstrated what dedicated leadership could accomplish despite prevailing challenges.

He appealed to his constituents to remain understanding and supportive, acknowledging that it was impossible for one individual to meet every personal request.

Sumaila assured the people that he would continue working to ensure that the benefits of his mandate reached all parts of Kano South, with particular emphasis on human capital development, economic empowerment and improved living standards.

FG targets 12bscf daily gas production by 2030 to power industries

The Federal Government says it is targeting 12 billion standard cubic feet of natural gas production daily, by 2030, as the part of efforts to address Nigeria’s energy supply challenges, strengthen manufacturing and accelerate industrialisation.

Under the Gas Master Plan 2026, President Bola Tinubu, said his administration planned to raise output to 10 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2027 before reaching 12 billion standard cubic feet by 2030, placing increased emphasis on domestic gas utilisation, electricity generation and industrial development.

The president unveiled the plan, on Monday at the 20th anniversary of OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week, held in Lagos.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Patience Ojekunle, the president said Nigeria’s proven gas reserves of more than 250 trillion cubic feet offered significant opportunities to transform the economy, provided the country could attract investment in production, processing, transportation and distribution infrastructure.

Tinubu said the government’s ambition is to move beyond exporting raw energy resources to building a domestic industrial economy that uses natural gas to power factories, generate electricity, produce petrochemicals and support transportation.

‘Gas will power industries, support electricity generation, expand CNG and LPG utilisation, strengthen LNG exports, and provide feedstock for petrochemicals and other gas-based industries,’ she said.

The president described natural gas as both an engine of industrialisation and a bridge towards a cleaner, more secure energy future, adding that reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act were designed to improve transparency, commercial viability and investor confidence.

However, hestressed that meeting the production targets would require more than increased output, as inadequate infrastructure, financing requirements and the need to connect gas resources with consumers remain critical considerations.

Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, similarly emphasised the importance of strengthening domestic hydrocarbon supply to support refining, gas utilisation and industrial growth.

She said Nigeria recorded average production of 1.717 million barrels of crude oil and condensate per day in September 2026, a 2.34 per cent increase over August.

‘Crude oil production alone averaged 1.53 million barrels per day, marking the fifth consecutive month Nigeria met or exceeded its OPEC production quota,’ Eyesan who was represented at the forum said.

She attributed the improvement to better asset integrity, enhanced security of evacuation infrastructure, closer collaboration with operators and efforts to restore production from shut-in assets.

She also disclosed that more than 127 million barrels of crude oil and condensate were delivered to Nigerian refineries between the first and third quarters of 2026.

However, she said that the commercial disagreements under the willing-buyer, willing-seller arrangement had initially affected deliveries to local refiners.

To address the challenges, she said the commission was engaging producers and refiners over pricing benchmarks, transportation costs and payment terms, while consultations continued on a proposed domestic crude swap framework.

The arrangement, she said could allow refiners to obtain crude from the nearest suitable production or export point, potentially reducing transportation costs by $3 to $4 per barrel.

The commission’s chief said it was also working with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to align crude supply planning with refining demand.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the OTL Advisory Board, Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji, said Africa’s downstream petroleum industry had undergone significant transformation over the past two decades, shifting gradually from import dependence and managed pricing towards local refining and regional trade.

He cited the development of large-scale private refining capacity in Nigeria, alongside infrastructure expansion in other African countries, as evidence of the sector’s changing structure.

Oyebanji, however, warned that uneven infrastructure, foreign exchange constraints and continued import dependence in some markets remained obstacles to a more resilient regional energy system.

He also said geopolitical tensions, shipping risks and global supply chain disruptions had increased freight rates and cargo costs, complicating the operations of downstream businesses.

He urged industry stakeholders to develop practical solutions that balance environmental objectives with Africa’s industrial requirements and consumers’ purchasing power.

Speaking, Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu A. Verhijen,

said reforms had begun reshaping the downstream market by encouraging domestic refining, private investment and competition.

She disclosed that government efforts had helped mobilise more than $2 billion in private investment in downstream gas over the past three years.

She, however, identified affordable gas, regulatory certainty and regional integration as priorities for the next phase of the reforms.

According to her, expanding access to gas would require completing infrastructure that connects production centres with power plants, industries, households and transport operators.

She added that predictable regulations and consistent enforcement were necessary to attract long-term investment, while regional integration could enable Nigerian refined products, gas and technical expertise to reach wider African markets.

The presidential representative said the African Continental Free Trade Area offered opportunities to strengthen Nigeria’s position in regional energy trade.

She stressed that the success of the reforms should be measured by their impact on employment, skills development, household welfare and business productivity.

‘A secure energy system that leaves citizens behind is neither stable nor sustainable,’ she said, calling for targeted interventions to protect vulnerable households and support small businesses.

Military clears air on troops’ clash with police personnel in Plateau

THE Special Task Force Operation Enduring Peace (JTF-OPEP) has cleared the air on the recent encounter between its troops and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State.

Media Officer of the operation, Captain Polycarp Oteh, in a statement, on Monday in Jos, said the encounter between the two agencies was misconstrued to be a clash.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that videos and photographs of an alleged clash between the military and police personnel went viral on the social media few days ago.

It was alleged that troops had prevented the police personnel from going after some criminals in the area.

But Oteh said the troops only responded to a distress call following a sporadic shooting at Mai Farin Moto, Maraban Dere and adjoining communities of the area.

He said: ‘On October 20, troops of our Sector 3, responded to a distress call reporting sporadic gunfire in Mai Farin Moto, Maraban Dere and adjoining communities. This is alongside reports of the suspected killing of a resident, Mr Adamu Suleiman.

‘The troops were deployed in the affected area to assess the security situation, establish the circumstances of the incident, prevent escalation and protect lives and property.

‘On arrival, the troops sought to engage the police personnel operating in the area to clarify the situation and facilitate a coordinated security response.

‘Regrettably, the interaction was characterised by a lack of cooperation from some personnel, in spite of efforts to de-escalate tensions and maintain operational discipline,’ he said.

Oteh emphasised that troops’ intervention was prompted by an operational distress call, adding that it was undertaken in the interest of public safety.

‘JTF-OPEP remains committed to impartiality, professionalism and the protection of lives and property,’he said.

‘As a joint security arrangement, our operational effectiveness depends on inter-agency coordination, mutual respect, adherence to established procedures and unity of effort.

‘Issues arising from the incident are being addressed through appropriate command and inter-agency channels to establish the facts, sustain operational cohesion and prevent recurrence,’ he explained.

The media officer advised members of the public and reporters to verify information before going to the press, adding that such move would ensure credibility and professionalism.

He assured residents of Plateau of its resolve to maintain law and order, protect innocent residents and consolidate peace and security across its joint operations area.

Ebola: Nigeria not yet free despite index patient’s evacuation, experts warn

The Academy of Medical Sciences of Nigeria (AMSN) has strongly cautioned the Federal Government against prematurely declaring the country free of Ebola, following the medical evacuation of Nigeria’s index case of the disease to Switzerland.

In a joint statement issued on Monday, the academy warned that, while the source patient had left the country, Nigeria’s outbreak response was far from over.

The statement was jointly signed yesterday by the AMSN President, Emeritus Prof. Osato Giwa-Osagie; the Foundation President, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru; and the Chairman of the Rapid Response Committee, Prof. Boaz Adegboro.

The intervention follows confirmation by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, that Nigeria’s index Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) case was medically evacuated from Abuja to Switzerland on Monday morning, alongside her asymptomatic spouse.

The academy noted that the medical evacuation of the clinically stable patient was fully permitted under the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) and WHO protocols. It cited the 2014 precedent, when the US, UK, Germany, Spain and Switzerland similarly evacuated Ebola patients to high-level isolation units.

However, the medical experts stressed that the departure of the source case did not eliminate local risks.

‘The source case leaving the country does not reduce the risk among the 53 contacts, who include health workers and domestic staff,’ the statement read. ‘Each person must complete 21 days of follow-up, and WHO requires 42 days without a new case before an outbreak can be declared over.’

To ensure public transparency, the academy called on the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to publish a brief account of the evacuation protocol, the WHO-Swiss coordination framework and the decontamination measures implemented.

While praising the Nigerian clinicians, nurses, laboratory scientists and public health officers who stabilised the patient, the academy raised red flags over systemic vulnerabilities exposed by the case.

The experts expressed concern over a 13-day delay between the onset of symptoms and final testing, during which the patient sought care at multiple private facilities.

This delay exposed several healthcare workers and revealed a low index of suspicion for viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHF) among febrile travellers, despite a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) having been declared in May.

Furthermore, the academy pointed out a stark disparity in health equity. ‘Even though a foreign national could be flown to a high-level isolation unit abroad, a Nigerian patient could not,’ the body noted, urging Nigeria to urgently build domestic capacity to guarantee the same standard of care for citizens and visitors alike.

To secure the containment of the virus, the academy detailed a comprehensive roadmap for federal health authorities.

At the forefront of these demands is a strict contact-tracking protocol. The academy insisted that authorities must complete the 21-day daily monitoring of all 53 identified contacts, execute rapid testing for any who exhibit symptoms, and provide fully funded welfare packages to ensure total compliance with quarantine rules.

Alongside patient tracking, the academy emphasised health worker support, calling on the government to deliver immediate occupational health follow-ups and psychosocial support to every medical professional exposed during the initial chain of care.

To fortify national vigilance, the body recommended that a national alert be issued to mandate all public and private health facilities to check the travel history of every febrile patient, with immediate isolation and testing for anyone linked to affected regions.

On an infrastructure level, the experts urged the government to establish at least one high-level isolation and treatment unit in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, ensuring that these facilities are equipped with trained staff and granted access to investigational therapeutics through WHO-coordinated trials.

The roadmap also targets critical gaps in research and data. The academy stated that Nigeria must secure its fair share of medical specimens, sequence data and clinical records to allow local scientists to lead the investigation into the source of the infection, particularly regarding reported genetic links to cases in Kenya and Uganda.

Finally, prioritising public communication, the academy underscored that the government must actively engage the media through timely, official briefings to effectively curb rumours, panic and social stigma.

The academy also appealed to the public to remain calm and vigilant, reject the stigmatisation of contacts and healthcare workers, rely only on official updates from the NCDC, and seek early medical attention for any travel-related fevers.

FG should implement Urban Planning Law to avert environmental crisis – NITP president

Dr. Chime Ogbonna, the president of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), in this interview with DAYO AYEYEMI, speaks on the importance of planning to human settlements, blaming reoccurring floods, illegal developments and environmental challenges in Nigerian cities and rural areas to non-implementation of the Urban and Regional Planning Law 1992.

What is urban and regional planning all about?

The profession of urban and regional planning is the only profession that prepares the environment for development, we prepare all settlements. We want it to be called livable settlements, sustainable settlements. When it is not done by the appropriate person, by the appropriate professional, that is where the society gets into trouble.

How do we get this done?

The first point is that there has to be a long ground that will guide the preparation of these plans, that will prepare the minds of people towards accepting the plan, because these days, town planners prepare their plans with the people and not for the people. The essence of doing it this way is to ensure that at the end of the preparation, by the time of implementation, you see that everybody joins the town planners in implementation because they were partners from the outset.

But when the law is not there, it becomes difficult to even prepare the plans, because the law lays down the procedure for preparation of the plans.

What plans are you talking about?

We are talking about the plans that will make our environment livable, the plans that will make our settlements livable and sustainable. In Nigeria as a country, by 1946, we had a law that was applicable to all regions of the federation. Remember as at that time, we had the eastern region, we had the northern region, we have the western region. The law was prepared at the center for every region to grow and domesticate in accordance with the clarities of those regions. And it’s essentially the same thing that is supposed to be happening now.

But, the difference between what was prepared in 1946 and what we’re talking about today is that those who prepared the 1946 Town and Country Planning Law were not Nigerians. They were our colonial masters. So, expectantly, because every plan has a purpose, every law has a purpose, the law they prepared was something that would suit their purpose. And what was the purpose then? Let me not be hard, I won’t say exploitation, but they ensured that the law guaranteed easy evacuation of raw materials from Nigeria to the other side, and of course it served their purpose.

That law also talked about segregation, and that was where the area of GRAs and the unplanned areas originated from. Our masters prepared the GRAs for themselves. Every GRA in Nigeria then had all facilities that made life livable as at that point. But outside the GRA, what happened to other settlements within the same city?

That was why by 1992, the Nigerian government in its own wisdom said enough of this foreign and exploitative laws. The government came up with what we call today the 1992 Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law. That law became the first indigenous town planning law in Nigeria. And unlike the previous one, or let me even inform you that by the time that law came into effect in 1992, it repealed all previous laws in Nigeria that had to do with urban and regional planning, including the then famous or infamous 1946 Town and Country Planning Law. The new law took into consideration our peculiarities as a people. It took into consideration our culture as a people.

What has changed since 1992 the new law was promulgated?

As we speak, that law is not being implemented, especially at the federal level. Indeed, it was the Federal Government that promulgated the law, but it’s not being implemented.

The repercussion is not strange to anybody to hear that a whole village or a whole neighborhood was washed away by flood, even there at Abuja. That is one of the implications of not getting this law implemented.

If you look at even the wider implication, like I told you, by 1992, that law repealed every other Urban and Regional Planning Law in Nigeria that ever existed.

So if we are not implementing the law today, what it boils down to is that Nigeria has been operating under a legal vacuum as far as urban and regional planning is concerned. Because the previous laws were repealed, a new one came, the new one is not being implemented, then the question is from where do we get the powers in all the urban and regional activities at the federal level and many states of the federation that has not domesticated the law?

From where are we drawing our power when that particular law is not been implemented?

This is where the fear comes. If it were the time of Gani Fawehinmi of late, he would have taken the federal government to court. He would have taken the various state governments that have not started implementing the law to court. But today, everybody is watching and the country is drifting environment-wise. It is at this point that I must bring an exceptional state as far as that law is concerned. That exceptional state is Lagos State. From the time the law was promulgated by the federal government, Lagos was the first to domesticate and started implementation almost immediately.

What has the implementation of the law done in Lagos State?

Lagos has the smallest land area of all the states of the federation, yet it has the largest population concentrated in this small area and there has not been cases of epidemics in Lagos.

Do you know why? It was because Lagos builds on the benefits of this law. States that are yet to implement the law do not know what they are losing. This is a law that takes care of everybody. It doesn’t matter who you are, it has provisions for everybody. It provides for preparation of master plans, regional development plans, and if we understand what these plans stand for, Lagos has been benefiting from it. The law is yielding money to the state, and the state uses the money to do some other things that increase the welfare of the people.

If Lagos had not started implementing this law, I tell you, we wouldn’t be here by now, because there would have been casts everywhere.

Lagos has discovered its peculiar situation, that if this law is not implemented, Lagos would have been wiped off. Like I said, there would have been epidemics here and there. So the same Lagos State government has continued to do what others are not doing, and that is to review the activities of the Ministry in charge of Urban and Regional Planning in Lagos State biennially. If anybody wants to succeed, if any country wants to succeed, if any state wants to succeed, if any local government wants to succeed, that federal government, that state government must have urban and regional planning as the root of its plan to grow. From 1992 till now, I want to tell you that the only state that has done that is Lagos State.

Are you saying that other states look away?

Some other states of the federation actually domesticated the law, but it’s a different ball game to domesticate a law from implementing the law. Let me mention my neighboring state, Ogun State. Just a year ago, Ogun State domesticated the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law of 1992, so that it became effective in Ogun State. But from the time of the domestication till today, nothing has been done to ensure that this law is put into effective use.

The Urban and Regional Planning Board that is supposed to be established at the state level is not there, it hasn’t been established. The town planning authorities as provided in the law have not been established. We’ve not even trained enough manpower to man all these positions.

Abuja was the first to domesticate the law, but as we speak, Abuja is yet to begin effective implementation of that law.

So what are you canvassing?

We are asking our federal and states to begin the domestication and implementation of the law simultaneously, so that the jungle we find ourselves in today will cease to exist.

We’ve always told the world that every small settlement today is a potential urban area in time to come. So for us to ensure that such small settlements develop into planned and livable settlements, a master plan must be prepared instantly.

Most communities are increasingly exposed to flooding and other environmental hazards because established planning frameworks are not adequately implemented. States must strengthen their planning institutions and ensure that development activities complied with relevant regulations.

FG rules out return of subsidy, vows to sustain economic reforms

The Federal Government will sustain its economic reforms and will not return to subsidy, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said on Monday in Abuja.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Bagudu spoke at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit, themed ‘Growth That Works: Delivering Jobs, Productivity and Shared Prosperity.’

He said the reforms were aimed at stabilising the economy, improving productivity, creating jobs and expanding prosperity for Nigerians.

‘There will be no return to subsidy. We recognise the need to calibrate and do better,’ Bagudu said.

He said the administration remained committed to reforms while strengthening domestic production, expanding infrastructure and addressing poverty.

According to him, Nigeria’s economy has recorded positive growth for two consecutive quarters, while inflation and interest rates were declining.

Bagudu said revenue allocations to federal, state and local governments had increased, with some states and local governments recording more than fivefold increases in monthly revenue.

He attributed the increase to the distribution of revenue among the three tiers of government to support their constitutional responsibilities.

The minister said the government was targeting a one-trillion-dollar economy, adding that achieving the goal required sustained growth and broader participation in economic activities.

He said President Bola Tinubu had challenged the administration to pursue an economy that included everyone and generated greater prosperity.

Bagudu said cooperation among federal, state and local governments was critical to coordinating fiscal and monetary policies and improving spending on security and infrastructure.

He said the government was also prioritising grassroots development, skills acquisition, early childhood development and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The minister disclosed that more than six billion dollars had been mobilised from the World Bank and other development partners to strengthen household resilience and economic opportunities.

He said improved agricultural productivity and support for domestic production would be essential to creating jobs, raising incomes and improving livelihoods.

Bagudu stressed the importance of an effective private sector, saying investors needed confidence in the economy to expand businesses, increase productivity and generate employment.

He said the government would continue implementing reforms while adjusting policies to address poverty and improve economic outcomes.

‘We are staying the course,’ Bagudu said, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to its reform agenda.

He urged Nigerians to recognise the achievements recorded so far and support efforts to sustain the reforms.

Ex-Oyebanji aides donates food items to motherless home in Iyin-Ekiti

Former Technical Advisers to Ekiti State governor, Biodun Oyebanji, have donated foodstuffs and other essential items to the Erelu Adebayo Children’s Home, in Iyin-Ekiti, as part of efforts to support the welfare and wellbeing of vulnerable children.

The initiative was also aimed at complementing the state government’s commitment to social care and protection.

Items donated to the home included bags of rice, toiletries, detergents, bathing soaps, noodles and other essential supplies.

The former technical advisers, led by Chief Akin Fasae said the initiative was aimed at complementing Governor Oyebanji’s people-oriented programmes, particularly those designed to improve the living conditions of children in need of care, protection and support.

Chief Fasae added that the gesture formed part of activities to celebrate the successful completion of Oyebanji’s first term in office and recognise the administration’s efforts towards inclusive governance, social welfare and the promotion of an egalitarian society.

The former aides said the welfare of vulnerable children remained a collective responsibility requiring contributions from individuals, organisations and other members of society.

In their remarks, Akogun Tai Oguntayo, Mr Stephen Adetunji and Mrs Abimbola Oni noted that Governor Oyebanji had made significant contributions to the welfare of orphans, vulnerable children and the underprivileged members of society over the past four years.

They said the development informed their decision to round off the first phase of his administration’s tenure with the donation.

The former aides stressed the importance of extending a helping hand to children in care facilities, noting that access to essential supplies and a supportive environment would contribute to their comfort, development and overall wellbeing.

They encouraged the children not to lose hope in their future and urged them to remain focused, disciplined and committed to their education and personal development.

They commended the management and caregivers of the children’s home for their dedication to the children’s welfare, urging them to sustain their efforts to provide a safe, nurturing and supportive environment where the children could thrive and realise their potential.

Obaship tussle: Olufon urges Ifon Omima residents to shun division, embrace dialogue

The Olufon of Ifon-Osun, Oba Peter Oluwole Ipadeola Akinyooye III, has pledged continued engagement with stakeholders in Ondo State to resolve the lingering obaship crisis in Ifon Omima, appealing to the people to shun division and embrace peaceful dialogue. The monarch gave the assurance during a two-day solidarity visit to Ifon Omima, where he met with traditional and community leaders as part of efforts to understand the issues delaying the installation of a successor to the late Olufon of Ifon Omima, Oba Israel Adewusi, who died in 2020.

The six-year vacancy in the traditional institution has remained a source of concern among descendants of Ifon, prompting renewed calls for reconciliation and a peaceful resolution of the succession question.

According to a statement by the monarch’s Chief Press Secretary, Akeeb Adekunle Yusuff, the visit was designed to establish a clearer understanding of the challenges surrounding the vacant stool while encouraging cooperation among the various interests involved.

The statement said Oba Akinyooye consulted the Regent, Adéùlé, kingmakers, ruling houses and representatives of the Ifon Development Union (IDU), Ifon Improvement Forum (IIF) and Ifon Youth Association (IYA), among other stakeholders.

Addressing the concerns surrounding the crisis, the monarch acknowledged the frustration arising from the prolonged absence of a substantive traditional ruler but urged the people not to allow the situation to undermine the community’s unity.

‘I understand the pain and anxiety caused by the absence of a king for six years, but I assure you that efforts are ongoing to find a lasting solution,’ he said, appealing to residents to remain calm while the necessary consultations continued.

He warned that violence and bitterness could further complicate the situation, insisting that all outstanding grievances should be addressed through dialogue and lawful processes.

Beyond the immediate succession challenge, the visit also sought to reinforce the ancestral relationship between Ifon Omima and Ifon Ile, now Ifon-Osun, in Osun State. Historical accounts cited in the statement trace the founding lineage of Ifon Omima to Ifon Ile, from where its ancestors reportedly migrated following a contest over kingship.

Oba Akinyooye said the historical connection imposed a shared responsibility on both communities to promote peace and preserve their common heritage, regardless of geographical separation or generational differences.

He further assured the people that he would continue to engage relevant authorities and stakeholders in Ondo State to facilitate a transparent and inclusive process for selecting a new Olufon of Ifon Omima.

The monarch maintained that the community, which serves as the headquarters of Ose Local Government Area, needed a stable traditional institution to support its growth and development.

‘We are one family. Geographical distance and passage of generations should not sever our ancestral bond. I will not abandon you in this trying period. Let us keep praying and working together for peace,’ he said.