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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday officially flagged off its campaigns for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections in Ogun Central Senatorial District, drawing thousands of party supporters and residents across the district.

The campaign train moved through the three federal constituencies in Ogun Central, with supporters lining the streets and gathering at various locations to welcome the party’s candidates and leaders.

The flag-off began in Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency, where residents waved from streets and adjoining buildings to welcome the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Hon. Ladi Adebutu; his running mate, Hajiya Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo; senatorial candidate, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo; and other party leaders at Agbado Station.

In Abeokuta North Federal Constituency, where Arch. Dele Olaleye is the party’s House of Representatives candidate, a large crowd gathered at NTA Junction, Totoro, to receive the campaign team.

Residents and party supporters, who had reportedly waited from as early as 10am, chanted solidarity songs as the senatorial and governorship candidates assured them of purposeful representation at the senatorial and federal constituency levels.

The campaign train also drew a large crowd in Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, where Hon. Toyin Amuzu is the PDP House of Representatives candidate.

Thousands of supporters received the campaign team and followed the convoy to Ake Pavilion, where the Ogun Central campaign flag-off rally was held.

Addressing supporters, Adebutu urged them to support Senator Obasanjo, describing her as a tested and trusted candidate whose record in office had not been matched.

He urged Ogun Central to reject what he described as non-performance and vote for ‘liberation.’

Adebutu also called on residents and party supporters to come out en masse to vote for the PDP on January 16, 2027, urging them to protect their votes and resist intimidation.

On her part, Senator Obasanjo said she was pleased that residents continued to point to the projects and interventions she undertook while representing the district.

She said many residents had acknowledged the impact of her representation, particularly efforts that helped lift people out of poverty.

Obasanjo promised to do more if elected, saying she would work to ensure that more residents benefited from the dividends of democracy.

Residents and supporters who spoke during the campaign pledged their support for the PDP candidates and assured them of their votes in January.

‘We will vote and stand by our votes for PDP,’ many of them said.

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Bauchi in the 2027 elections, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, SAN, on Wednesday met with the party’s House of Representatives aspirants as part of efforts to strengthen unity and cohesion ahead of the general elections.

The meeting, led by the Chairperson of the group, Usman Gital, brought together aspirants who contested the APC primaries for various House of Representatives seats in the state.

It provided an opportunity for dialogue, consultation and the exchange of views on the future of the party and strategies for approaching the 2027 elections.

The meeting was part of broader efforts by APC leaders and stakeholders in Bauchi State to bring together members with different perspectives and encourage them to work towards a common political objective.

During the discussions, emphasis was placed on putting the interests and progress of the party ahead of individual ambitions, while harnessing the experience, networks and political structures of the various aspirants to strengthen the APC.

Speaking at the meeting, Mohammed Abdullahi, SAN, commended the participants for their commitment and support, and reaffirmed his determination to work with all stakeholders, irrespective of the outcome of the recently concluded primaries.

He said every aspirant remained an important member of the APC family and that their contributions would be critical to building an effective campaign structure capable of securing victory for the party across Bauchi State.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for the party to address concerns about alleged divisions within the APC in the state.

Although the primaries generated competition among party members, participants agreed on the need to move beyond the contest and work together towards the party’s common objective.

The meeting between the House of Representatives aspirants and Mohammed Abdullahi, SAN, was part of a broader stakeholder consultation programme led by the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, in his capacity as Chairman of the APC Reconciliation Committee in Bauchi State.

Similar meetings are expected to be held with those who contested the primaries for the Bauchi State House of Assembly and Senate, as well as other stakeholders who contested the governorship primary.

The initiative is aimed at ensuring that all groups are given an opportunity to participate, their views are heard, and available political structures are brought together to strengthen the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

Mohammed Abdullahi, SAN, reiterated his commitment to working with APC members, leaders, aspirants and supporters to secure victory for the party in Bauchi State.

He stressed that the task ahead requires unity of purpose, discipline, cooperation and dedication to the advancement of the party.

The ongoing consultations are expected to support grassroots mobilisation and the development of a coordinated campaign structure ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Association of Mass Communication Graduates (AMACOG) ’92 Set of Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta, has mourned the death of the Publisher of Eagle Online, Mr. Dotun Oladipo, describing him as a highly valued member and friend of the association.

The veteran journalist, who died on Tuesday, August 25, was the Welfare Executive of the AMACOG ’92 Set.

In a statement on Wednesday signed by the President of the association, Adekunle Adeshina, the group said it was deeply grieved by the death of the journalist and publisher.

The association said Oladipo made significant contributions to journalism through his online news platform, Eagle Online, while also bringing ‘a unique warmth, kindness, and energy’ to the association.

It described him as ‘a mobiliser per excellence, a motivator, a goal getter, and highly passionate,’ noting that he deployed these qualities to promote the development of the association.

According to the statement, Oladipo’s commitment and dedication to the group would be greatly missed by members who had the opportunity to know and work with him.

The association extended its condolences to his family, particularly his widow, Mrs. Taiwo Oladipo, popularly known as Ayaba, saying it shared in the grief of his mother, wife, children and the entire Oladipo family.

‘During this difficult time of sorrow, our thoughts and prayers are with the family of our dear friend, especially his lovely widow, Mrs. Taiwo Oladipo, popularly known as Ayaba,’ the statement said.

The association prayed that the family would find divine comfort and strength in the memories shared with the deceased, expressing confidence that Oladipo had gone to be with the saints, while praying for the repose of his soul.

The Federal Government has commenced emergency palliative work on the damaged Oye-Ekiti/Ilupeju/Kabba road in Ekiti State, with the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, assuring motorists that efforts are underway to clear the traffic gridlock on the route within 48 hours.

The Nigerian Tribune had, in a report on Monday, detailed the plight of hundreds of articulated vehicles and trucks reportedly stranded for days along the Ifaki-Oye-Ilupeju axis as a result of the collapse of critical portions of the road, with motorists and other road users forced to endure prolonged delays and difficult travelling conditions.

Speaking on Tuesday, while inspecting the failed section of the road, alongside officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and other stakeholders, Goronyo expressed concern over the hardship faced by motorists and travellers who had been trapped on the highway for days.

The minister also inspected the Efon-Iwaraja road, where he ordered immediate remedial intervention on a failed section, saying the government would not allow critical federal highways to remain impassable for an extended period.

At the Ifaki-Oye-Ekiti-Ilupeju-Kabba axis, Goronyo described the road as an important economic link between the South-West and the North, stressing that its condition required urgent government action.

He disclosed that the rehabilitation contract was awarded to Gamji in 2025 and that the contractor had been mobilised, but was unable to continue work due to funding challenges.

The minister said the ministry would review the funding arrangement and ensure adequate mobilisation for the contractor to return to site.

Goronyo said the government had, in the meantime, activated emergency intervention through the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, with equipment and construction materials already deployed to the troubled section.

He added that plans are underway to expand the road to four kilometres in order to improve traffic flow and ease the movement of motorists along the corridor.

Appealing for patience from motorists and residents, the minister said the government is determined to restore the road to use as quickly as possible.

He further announced restrictions on the movement of articulated vehicles through the affected section from the Ifaki-Ekiti end while the palliative work lasted to prevent further deterioration and facilitate the intervention.

‘We are deploying materials to this place and they should create a conducive atmosphere for the contractor to be able to do this work within 48 hours,’ Goronyo said.

On the Efon-Iwaraja road, the minister said the immediate intervention was part of the Federal Government’s broader response to critical road failures across the country, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to improve road infrastructure and ensure smoother movement of people and goods.

Goronyo said the administration inherited about 26,000 road projects nationwide, many of which required varying degrees of intervention. He cited the Illela-Sokoto-Badagry highway, Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road, among the major projects receiving attention.

According to him, investment in road infrastructure remained critical to economic growth, security, agriculture, healthcare and employment generation, describing functional roads as a major driver of national prosperity.

According to him, ‘Once you have roads, you have security, you have employment generation, you have agriculture, you have healthcare. You have everything. Roads lead to prosperity.’

The minister said the Federal Government would continue to prioritise the completion of ongoing road projects and deploy resources to critical locations where road failures were causing severe hardship.

He added that he, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and other officials had spent the past week inspecting roads across the country to identify areas requiring urgent intervention.

‘For the last one week, we have been crisscrossing the roads across the nation. We have met a difficult situation and we are fixing it,’ Goronyo said, urging Nigerians to support Tinubu’s administration as it implements its road infrastructure agenda.

THE outcome of the Osun State governorship election may have been decided several kilometres away from Ondo State, but its political reverberations are already generating fresh calculations within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Sunshine State.

The outcome of the Osun State governorship election may have been decided several kilometres away from Ondo State, but its political reverberations are already triggering fresh calculations within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Sunshine State.

For Ondo APC, the defeat of its Osun counterpart is more than another governorship loss. It has become a warning signal coming at a time the party is grappling with disagreements over its National Assembly primaries, candidate substitutions, litigation, defections and allegations of anti-party activities.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord defeated the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, with 511,067 votes against 444,815, a margin of 66,252 votes. The result has consequently provided political actors in Ondo with another reason to examine whether APC can prevent its internal disagreements from becoming an electoral liability ahead of 2027.

The significance of the Osun result goes beyond the figures. The APC went into the election with the advantage of federal power and an established political structure, yet it failed to dislodge an incumbent who contested on the platform of the Accord.

For Ondo APC, the lesson is clear: party structure and incumbency may provide an advantage, but neither is a guarantee of electoral victory when internal interests are not properly managed.

This is particularly relevant in Ondo, where the ruling party is already dealing with disagreements that emerged from its National Assembly primaries.

What was expected to be a process for producing candidates capable of consolidating APC’s position instead became another test of the party’s internal cohesion. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s camp had backed several aspirants, while subsequent decisions by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) produced a list that did not fully reflect the governor’s preferences.

The development triggered protests, accusations and legal challenges by some aggrieved aspirants, and the party has since moved to establish a reconciliation process, with the aim of bringing the aggrieved members together ahead of the 2027 elections.

But the controversy has already exposed the competing interests within the party. While one camp believes the state leadership should have greater influence over the choice of candidates, another insists that the national leadership has the constitutional authority to make final decisions on party nominations.

The danger is that if the disagreements persist, they could affect the mobilisation of party members at the grassroots. It is against this background that allegations of anti-party activities have gained prominence.

Following the Osun election, reports and political discussions suggested that some supporters of Aiyedatiwa were unhappy with the APC candidate’s emergence and, in some quarters, allegedly celebrated the party’s defeat.

Such claims have raised questions about whether dissatisfied actors within Ondo APC could eventually work against the party’s candidates in 2027. But these remain allegations and should not be presented as facts.

The governor’s camp has denied anti-party moves, insisting that Aiyedatiwa remains committed to APC and its candidates and is interested in securing victory for the party in 2027. The denial is significant because the anti-party allegation has increasingly become part of the wider struggle for influence and control within Ondo APC.

The depth of the concern within the party was further exposed by the intervention of former Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Razaq Obe, an aggrieved aspirant in the APC’s National Assembly primaries.

Speaking on national television, Obe warned that the unresolved grievances arising from the party’s primaries could cost APC and President Bola Tinubu victory in Ondo in 2027.

His argument was that the political situation should not be dismissed as a routine post-primary disagreement, particularly because Tinubu secured about 67 percent of the state’s votes in the 2023 presidential election.

Obe’s position immediately generated a backlash from the party, as former governorship candidate and APC chieftain, Chief Olusola Oke, took a completely different position.

Reacting to Obe, Oke dismissed the prediction that Tinubu could lose Ondo, describing it as contrary to the popularity of both the president and APC in the state. Oke acknowledged that disagreements after primaries were normal but argued that such disputes did not represent the strength of the party or its preparedness for the general election. He, however, predicted a landslide victory for Tinubu in Ondo in 2027.

The disagreement between Obe and Oke is significant because it captures the two competing narratives within APC; one sees the unresolved grievances as a serious threat to the party’s electoral fortunes, while the other believes the party’s structure and Tinubu’s popularity remain strong enough to overcome the crisis.

Interestingly, the APC state leadership has also distanced itself from Obe’s prediction, saying he spoke in his personal capacity and not for the party. The party has subsequently constituted a reconciliation committee to address the grievances arising from the primaries.

Another variable in the equation is the influence of Interior Minister, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, popularly known as BTO. Although Tunji-Ojo operates at the federal level, his political base and growing influence make him an important factor in Ondo’s 2027 calculations.

His relationship with the governor and the extent of his influence within APC have increasingly attracted political attention, particularly against the background of the party’s candidate-selection crisis.

For some party actors, the question is whether the interests of the Aiyedatiwa and Tunji-Ojo camps can be sufficiently harmonised as the election approaches. Any escalation of rivalry could create another fault line within the ruling party.

Conversely, a working relationship between the two political blocs could strengthen APC’s grassroots mobilisation and reduce the possibility of internal divisions being exploited by opposition parties.

Another twist is the speculation surrounding Aiyedatiwa’s relationship with politicians associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Not long ago, photographs showing the governor with Senator Ayo Akinyelure, an ADC figure, after a church service at the Government House Chapel fuelled speculation of a possible political understanding.

The development generated interest because it came amid the unresolved tensions within APC and the growing prominence of ADC as an opposition platform, but the governor has rejected the interpretation.

Aiyedatiwa’s camp described the claim that he was fraternising with ADC ahead of 2027 as false, misleading and politically motivated, insisting that the governor remains committed to APC. However, in a period of intense political realignment, such encounters are unlikely to escape scrutiny.

The issue is not necessarily whether the governor is planning to leave APC, but whether continued speculation about his relationship with opposition figures could deepen suspicion among party members already divided over the primaries.

One factor that cannot be ruled out in the unfolding scenario within Ondo APC is the possibility of aggrieved aspirants moving to opposition parties, a development that has remained a major concern among loyal members of the party in the state.

For the PDP, ADC and other emerging platforms, recruiting dissatisfied APC politicians could provide an easier route into constituencies where they have traditionally struggled, particularly if such politicians move with their supporters and grassroots structures.

A former APC aspirant does not necessarily have to win an election to hurt the party; taking away a few thousand votes in a closely contested constituency could be enough to change the outcome. The opposition, therefore, will be watching the party’s internal developments closely.

Beyond the legislative contests is the larger Tinubu 2027 equation. APC will seek to retain Ondo for President Bola Tinubu while also securing its National Assembly and State Assembly seats.

But internal divisions could produce split-ticket voting, with some politicians supporting Tinubu while opposing particular APC candidates or backing Aiyedatiwa while rejecting candidates they regard as imposed by the national leadership.

The danger is a situation where Tinubu enjoys strong support while some APC candidates struggle, reinforcing the Osun lesson that party affiliation does not always guarantee electoral loyalty. Aiyedatiwa’s target of one million votes for Tinubu in Ondo underscores the scale of the mobilisation expected.

Yet, despite these challenges, APC remains the dominant political force in the state. It controls the government, retains a substantial grassroots structure across the 18 local government areas and benefits from Tinubu’s support base. These remain significant advantages, but they are not guarantees of victory.

For Ondo APC, therefore, the 2027 contest could be as much a battle within as it is against PDP, ADC and other opposition parties. Rival camps, aggrieved aspirants and competing state and national interests could provide the opposition with opportunities to penetrate APC’s traditional strongholds.

The reconciliation committee offers the party an opportunity to mend its divisions, but its success will depend on whether genuine grievances are addressed and defeated aspirants persuaded to remain within the fold.

However, unless Ondo APC resolves its disputes over candidates, influence and political succession, its internal grievances could become electoral weapons in the hands of the opposition. The greatest threat to Ondo APC in 2027 may, therefore, not come from the parties standing against it, but from the cracks within its own ranks. The Osun election may have been fought in Osun State, but its loudest political warning could be heard in Ondo.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has said he will only participate in presidential debates ahead of the 2027 general election if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are also present.

In a statement, which he shared on his X handle at @realken okonkwo, on Tuesday, his Official Spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, described the current practice of organising debates among opposition parties only as ‘untenable’ and a strategy by the APC to avoid scrutiny.

Okonkwo said as a leader of the Coalition of Opposition Parties and Leaders, Atiku would make his appearance at any presidential debate conditional on the participation of President Tinubu and the APC.

‘HE Atiku Abubakar, as the leader of the Coalition of Opposition Parties and Leaders, is left with no other choice than to make his appearance in any presidential debates conditional on the participation of President Bola Tinubu and the APC. There is no hiding place for APC in 2027,’ he stated.

He added that Atiku remains willing to engage Nigerians directly through other platforms.

‘HE Atiku Abubakar is willing to engage the Nigerian people through interviews, townhall meetings, press conferences, and any other forum of interaction with the people, but will not participate in any arrangement that will pit the opposition against itself and give undue advantage to APC,’ the statement said.

Atiku, through his spokesperson, also challenged Tinubu to a national presidential debate to allow both the ruling party and opposition to present their policies to Nigerians ahead of 2027.

‘HE, Atiku Abubakar, therefore, challenges President Bola Tinubu to a national presidential debate which will provide an opportunity for both the ruling party and the opposition parties to address Nigerians on their policies and ways to achieve those policies so that Nigerians can make an informed choice for the 2027 elections,’ he said.

On Tuesday, 18 August 2026, a day before the official commencement of campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was conspicuously absent in Abuja at the formal signing of the First National Peace Accord on Issue-Based Campaigns, organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre.

The Waziri Adamawa was also represented, on Monday, by his running mate, and former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt.

ADC challenges Presidency for debate on petrol subsidy removal

Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged the Presidency to a public debate on the removal of petrol subsidy, saying Nigerians deserve facts, not insults and ‘gaslighting’.

The party was reacting to a post by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and National Orientation, Sunday Dare, who criticised former Vice President Atiku’s proposal for a targeted subsidy as part of his economic recovery plan.

In the post on X, Dare accused Atiku, the ADC presidential candidate, of hypocrisy, saying true leadership demands defending difficult reforms instead of chasing ‘populist illusions’ for electoral gain.

He said Atiku’s position insults the intelligence of Nigerians who are coping with global economic headwinds.

‘True leadership requires the courage to defend difficult, foundational reforms even when the political weather is rough, rather than pandering to populist illusions for ballot-box validation,’ Dare wrote.

He described Atiku’s intervention as a ‘desperate gambit’ and urged Nigerians to reject it.

Responding on X, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the government had failed to convince Nigerians of the benefits of subsidy removal three years after the policy was implemented.

‘My brother, Sunny, take am easy o. It’s not enough to throw insults around and gaslight Nigerians. You guys had three years to demonstrate to Nigerians how the removal of fuel subsidy makes sense. You did not,’ Abdullahi said.

He accused the government of mocking the hardship Nigerians are facing by describing it as ‘resilience,’ and said the opposition was now being attacked for proposing alternatives.

‘Now, Atiku is proposing an alternative, and you all are running around,’ he stated.

Abdullahi also accused the Presidency of hypocrisy, referencing past comments by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

‘And talking about hypocrisy? Watch the video of BAT attacking Jonathan for attempting to remove this same subsidy in 2012,’ he said.

The ADC spokesman called for issue-based engagement instead of rhetoric.

‘Let us know when you guys are ready for a real debate, not this anyhow talk,’ he added.

The Kano State Government has declared Tuesday, September 1, 2026, a work-free day to enable residents to celebrate Takutaha, an annual traditional and religious occasion observed across the state.

The declaration was contained in Circular No. 7/2026, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Establishment, Abba A. Danguguwa, on behalf of the Head of Service.

According to the circular, the work-free day coincides with the 19th of Rabi’ul Awwal, 1448AH, and was approved by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

The government described Takutaha as an important traditional and religious occasion with deep spiritual and cultural significance to the people of Kano, as well as an integral part of the state’s Islamic heritage.

It urged civil servants across the state to use the occasion for prayers, supplications and spiritual reflection, particularly to seek divine blessings for continued peace, unity, stability and prosperity in Kano State and Nigeria.

The circular directed heads of ministries, departments and agencies to ensure strict compliance with the declaration.

However, the government clarified that essential services would continue to operate in accordance with established procedures.

The circular was addressed to senior government officials, including the Chief of Staff, Secretary to the State Government, commissioners, permanent secretaries, heads of boards and commissions, local government audit authorities, and chief executives of state-owned agencies and companies.

The government wished residents a peaceful and spiritually rewarding Takutaha celebration.

Bauchi State Command of the Department of State Services (DSS) has assured that it will thoroughly investigate the alleged assault on a journalist attached to the Government House Press Crew.

The assurance was given at the end of a meeting between the DSS and a state government team led by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Usman Shehu Usman, following allegations that a member of the Government House Press Crew was assaulted by a personnel during an engagement on Tuesday at the Yankari Game Reserve and Safari.

The DSS also assured that, at the end of the investigation, appropriate disciplinary action would be taken if the personnel was found culpable, in line with the relevant laws of the service.

Reacting to the development, the Press Crew commended the Director of the Department of State Services, Bauchi State Command, for his prompt and decisive intervention following the reported assault on one of its members, Bashir Adamu of the Bauchi State Radio Corporation (BRC), at the Yankari Game Reserve.

The Press Crew particularly appreciated the immediate intervention of the State Director of the DSS, who promptly convened a meeting involving the Bauchi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Usman Shehu Usman; the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Comrade Mukhtar Gidado; the Chairman of the Government House Press Crew, Mr John Habila Murai; and the affected journalist, Bashir Adamu.

The Press Crew considered the meeting a significant step towards resolving the matter amicably, particularly as both parties agreed to establish a standing liaison mechanism to promptly address future misunderstandings and ensure professionalism in the discharge of official duties.

It also welcomed the assurance by the DSS Director that the matter would be thoroughly investigated and that, if the officer involved was found culpable, disciplinary action would be taken.

The Press Crew acknowledged the solidarity and concern demonstrated by its mother union, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, as well as other professional colleagues, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Usman Shehu Usman, and the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Comrade Mukhtar Gidado.

The incident underscored the need for stronger understanding, communication and cooperation between security agencies and the media. While security agencies have the responsibility to protect lives and property, journalists must equally be allowed to perform their constitutional and professional duties without intimidation, harassment or physical assault.

The Government House Press Crew assured that it remained committed to constructive engagement with security agencies and other stakeholders in promoting mutual respect, professionalism and peaceful cooperation as partners in progress.

Reacting to the development in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, Umar Sa’idu, and Secretary, Isah Garba Gadau, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, strongly condemned the alleged assault, intimidation and threat against journalists covering an official engagement at the Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State on Tuesday.

The incident, which reportedly occurred during the commissioning of a 500KVA solar power station at the game reserve, involved a Department of State Services (DSS) officer attached to a visiting delegation of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

The council was particularly disturbed by reports that the officer allegedly slapped Bashir Adamu of Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC) three times while he was performing his legitimate journalistic duties, despite being properly identified as a member of the Bauchi State Government House Press Crew.

The NUJ Bauchi State Council considered the actions of the DSS officer unacceptable, particularly as the journalists reportedly neither retaliated nor engaged the officer in any physical confrontation, but instead referred the matter to their leadership for appropriate action.

While the council recognised the responsibilities of security agencies in maintaining order and protecting public officials, such responsibilities must be exercised within the law and with full respect for the rights and dignity of accredited journalists carrying out legitimate professional duties.

The NUJ Bauchi State Council therefore demanded an immediate and thorough investigation by the appropriate authorities into the incident and the identification of the DSS officer involved.

It also demanded appropriate disciplinary and legal action against the officer if found culpable, in accordance with the law and relevant regulations, as well as an assurance from the DSS and other security agencies that journalists covering official engagements in Bauchi State would be protected from intimidation, harassment, assault and other forms of unlawful interference.

The NUJ also urged authorities organising official events to ensure that security personnel deployed to such events were properly briefed on the roles and rights of accredited journalists.

The council described the safety of journalists as non-negotiable and said it would not remain silent whenever its members were subjected to assault or intimidation in the course of their legitimate professional duties.

The NUJ Bauchi State Council called on all security agencies to uphold professionalism and respect for press freedom, which remains fundamental to democracy and accountable governance.

The council also urged its members to remain professional, law-abiding and committed to responsible journalism while carrying out their duties.

In the same vein, the management of the Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC) condemned in the strongest terms the alleged brutal assault on one of its staff members attached to the Bauchi State Government House by a security personnel reportedly from the State Security Service during an official state function at the Yankari Game Reserve.

The management described the incident involving its staff member, Bashir Adamu, as ‘barbaric, unacceptable and a serious affront to press freedom, the dignity of the media profession and the fundamental human rights of a journalist carrying out his legitimate official duties’.

While acknowledging the legitimate responsibilities of security agencies to protect public officials and maintain order at official functions, the management said such responsibilities must be exercised within the bounds of the law, professionalism and respect for fundamental human rights.

It added that security duties could not be used as a justification for brutality against members of the press who were performing legitimate professional assignments.

The BRC management therefore joined the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, in calling for an immediate, transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The management further called for the identification of the officer involved and the implementation of appropriate disciplinary sanctions if found culpable, in accordance with the rules and regulations governing the service.

It stressed that ‘It is important to remind the security establishment that acts of intimidation, harassment and physical assault against journalists are practices that should have long disappeared with the advent and consolidation of democracy in Nigeria. A democratic environment requires mutual respect between security agencies, government institutions and the media.’

The management of BRC expressed its solidarity with the affected staff member and assured him and all members of staff that the corporation would continue to defend their right to carry out their professional responsibilities without intimidation, harassment or unlawful interference.

BRC also appealed to the relevant authorities to strengthen proper briefings and clearly define inter-agency relationships during public functions, particularly regarding media access.

The management assured that it remained committed to the principles of press freedom, professional journalism, human dignity and democratic accountability, and expected all institutions of government to uphold these values, according to a statement signed by Umar Muhammad Shira, Managing Director.

The Federal Government has inaugurated 100 Renewed Hope Mass Transit electric buses to provide safer, more affordable, and reliable transportation for federal civil servants nationwide.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, disclosed this at the inauguration of the buses in Abuja on Wednesday.

Walson-Jack said the initiative represented a practical demonstration of the federal government’s commitment to the welfare and well-being of civil servants.

She said 37 of the 100 electric buses had been delivered as the first instalment of the project.

‘For me, it is a dream come true. This inauguration is providentially my parting gift to my dearly beloved federal civil servants,’ she said.

The HCSF, whose tenure ends on Thursday, said she could not have asked for a more fitting way to end her service than to receive and hand over the keys to an initiative that would continue to benefit civil servants after her exit.

She expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his support for the initiative and the transformation of the Federal Civil Service.

She said transportation went beyond moving people from one location to another, noting that daily commuting affected the finances, safety, punctuality and productivity of civil servants.

‘An intervention that makes transportation safer, more reliable and more affordable is therefore not a peripheral welfare gesture; it is an investment in a more productive civil service,’ she said.

Walson-Jack said the buses would ease the financial burden on workers and reduce the risks associated with daily commuting.

According to her, the initiative demonstrates that the Renewed Hope Agenda is being translated into practical interventions that workers can directly experience.

‘The acquisition of the buses is made possible through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.’

She described the intervention as evidence of the administration’s commitment to translating the Renewed Hope Agenda into tangible benefits for Nigerians.

She commended the Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, for his support and for undertaking the symbolic handover of the buses.

The head of service of the federation also commended the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Joseph Osanipin, and his team for their collaboration in ensuring that the buses were developed in line with the objectives of the national automotive policy.

She said staff welfare remained fundamental to public service reform, adding that a supported and motivated workforce would be better positioned to serve the nation with commitment, professionalism and excellence.

Walson-Jack urged civil servants to take good care of the buses provided by the government, describing the initiative as valuable assets provided for their benefit.

‘My dearly beloved civil servants, treat these buses as your own personal assets. They are assets that have been provided for you all,’ she said.

Earlier, Enoh described the inauguration as a significant milestone in the federal government’s efforts to improve civil servants’ welfare.

He said the deployment of the electric buses would help ease transportation challenges faced by workers while supporting the government’s broader sustainability and development objectives.

He also said that the buses were part of the administration’s efforts to translate its policies into practical interventions that directly impacted the lives of Nigerians.

He commended Walson-Jack for her contributions to the federal civil service and wished her well as she concluded her tenure as the HCSF.

The minister said the first 37 buses would serve as the initial phase of the 100-bus project, with the remaining buses expected to be deployed as planned.

The Federal Government has set a target to increase electricity generation and wheeling capacity from about 5,000 megawatts to 6,500 megawatts by December, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has said.

Tegbe disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the official launch of the Renewable Asset Management Company (RAMCO), an initiative aimed at promoting clean energy, improving the management of renewable-energy assets and expanding electricity access across Nigeria.

Speaking at the event themed ‘Powering Sustainability – Launching Nigeria’s Renewable Asset Management Company,’ held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hotel, Abuja, the minister said the government would subsequently target 8,000 megawatts by the end of 2027.

He said RAMCO represented a shift in the management of public assets, with emphasis on professional stewardship, sustainability, governance and measurable performance.

According to him, the company will provide an institutional platform for the professional management, optimisation and long-term sustainability of renewable-energy assets while helping to preserve their value and operational life.

Tegbe said the government would also explore the use of stranded power and hydropower assets to supply areas with electricity deficits, including Lagos, Kano and the Port Harcourt axis.

He said the East and West super grids would be revisited as part of efforts to improve the resilience of the national grid.

The minister said RAMCO’s performance would not be judged by the number of megawatts delivered alone but by the reliability and sustainability of electricity supply.

He said, ‘It’s not about unveiling another institution; it represents an important change in how we think about public assets from a culture that is focused on acquisition; we want to treat them as national investments whose value must be sustained throughout their useful life. We are very good at building public assets but very poor at sustaining them. Success of public infrastructure programmes in the past has been measured by commissioning. Sometimes we don’t even commission them these days; we just build them, then abandon them.

‘For me, RAMCO offers a different model, a new paradigm. And like I said, I’m committed to not only limiting this to renewable energy, we’ll also shift it to the entire grid going forward. And this new model will focus on professional stewardship, governance discipline, sustainability and measurable performance. RAMCO is not to be measured by how many megawatts you deliver but the reliability of the delivery and the sustainability of that delivery. Nigeria has lived too long with an embarrassment paradise. We’re very rich in power assets, energy resources and installed infrastructure yet we are poor in visibility depending on electricity. What we’ve tried to do in the last three months is nothing but it’s being celebrated. We’ll get to the point by God’s grace, very soon, where Nigeria will have 24/7 power.’

Tegbe said renewable energy remained central to Nigeria’s future power architecture, noting that the country was targeting a renewable-energy share of 40 per cent in its power mix by 2060.

He added that the government’s long-term objective was to develop a diversified electricity system combining grid supply, embedded generation, interconnected mini-grids, distributed renewable energy, storage and other technologies suited to specific communities and economic clusters.

He said, ‘We would revisit the East and West super grid so that we could build resilience into our grid. We have struggled to wheel 5,000 megawatts today. My target is that by the end of this year, we’ll conveniently be wheeling 6,500 and by the end of next year, we will be wheeling conveniently 8,000 megawatts.’

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Dr Abba Abubakar Aliyu, said RAMCO would create a competitive market for professional Nigerian energy-service companies, with clear performance standards for energy delivery, revenue collection and asset availability.

Aliyu said RAMCO was not another government agency but a company incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, with the Federal Government’s interests held through the Ministry of Finance Incorporated and governed by a professional board.

He said, ‘From Nigeria’s pioneering mini-grids to the Nigeria Electrification Project, to the Energising Education Programme, DARES and now RAMCO, we are building an institution that learns, improves and continues-regardless of who occupies the leadership position.

‘RAMCO mandate is straightforward: manage publicly financed renewable-energy assets professionally; contract competent operators; meter, bill and collect; maintain sustainability reserves for major equipment replacement and report transparently on asset performance.’

Aliyu said the REA, through the Energising Education Programme since 2017, had deployed 82 megawatts of solar-hybrid generation across 22 federal universities and three teaching hospitals.

He said the projects represented approximately N263 billion in investment by the Federal Government, the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

According to him, more than 150 megawatts of additional capacity is either under construction or in the pipeline through TETFund, DARES, the National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative, subsequent phases of the Energising Education Programme, Desert to Power and other publicly financed programmes.

The Chairman of the REA board and former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, called for a change in attitude among Nigerians, saying individual responsibility was essential to achieving national development.

Fayose said, ‘I want to touch one one item, which is attitude. All being said, if every Nigerian or an average Nigerian changes attitude by 10 percent, the country gets better by 10 percent. As a leader, you make no change except your character and attitude to life. And of you ask me to change, I have to look at my dad, I have to look at my President, I have to look at my leader, what are they doing and why mine should be different.

‘When you take a one-way, you blame it on the leadership of the country. And next time your driver takes one-way… I was a very tough man as a governor and was able to confront people properly. But I was able to do one thing which you can find out very well, my second tenure as governor, I did not at any point use a siren and I did not jump light, street lights. And it makes it very easy for me to warn my drivers and my policemen, you won’t even try it. If we all have the right attitude, it will get better.’

Fayose also called for the inclusion of the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and universities in the RAMCO model to further promote stable electricity supply across the country.

In their separate remarks, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, the Minister of Education, and the Ministers of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa and Dr Iziaq Salako, among others, commended the initiative and its potential significance to the economy.