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Rivers State Police Command has arrested five suspected kidnappers over the abduction of a 24-year-old woman along the Igwirita-Etche Road in Rivers.

The victim, identified as Chinyere, was reportedly abducted on October 3, 2026, while travelling from Delta State to Port Harcourt to visit a friend.

The police said they received a complaint about the abduction at about 9 a.m. on October 4, prompting operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Diobu, to launch an investigation that led to the arrest of the suspects.

The suspects were identified as Gift Okeregwu, 23; Okeregwu Onyekachi, 27; Bright Augustine, 27; Chijoke Nwalozie, 35; and Obinachi Rita, 26.

According to the police, Gift Okeregwu, a native of Okehi community in Etche Local Government Area, was arrested at his hideout along Omuoda Pipeline, Aluu, Port Harcourt. The other suspects were also identified as indigenes of communities in Etche and Rivers State.

The command said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly confessed to their involvement in the kidnapping and provided information about other abduction incidents in Igwirita and Etche.

It added that the suspects allegedly lured victims from within and outside Port Harcourt through online dating platforms before abducting them.

The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that those involved in kidnapping and other violent crimes were brought to justice.

The police also urged members of the public to exercise caution when interacting with strangers met through online dating platforms, verify their identities before arranging physical meetings, and report suspicious activities to the authorities.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Imo State University, has declared that the industrial action embarked upon by the union is still in force.

At a press conference at the institution, the Chairperson of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Imo State University Branch, Owerri, Comrade Stephen Oguji, insisted that the union will not suspend the action until concrete and verifiable steps have been taken towards the full implementation of the 2025 Agreement in the university.

He said that the scheduling of examinations cannot erase the reality, nor can any administrative declaration substitute for a genuine resolution of the issues in dispute.

He said: ‘We are here today, and shall remain vigilant, to insist that examinations scheduled in disregard of the ongoing strike should not proceed as though normal academic activities have been restored’.

According to him, the Union will continue to exercise its legitimate rights and pursue its objectives through lawful and peaceful means, adding that they are prepared to stand by their position and face the consequences of their principled stand.

He said: ‘A false claim does not become the truth merely because it is repeated or supported by administrative action’.

He recalled that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Imo State University (ASUU-IMSU), has been on strike since 10 August 2026 to press for the full implementation of the 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria-ASUU Agreement in the university.

The agreement, which according to him is aimed at improving the welfare of university lecturers and enhancing their conditions of service, was signed in December 2025 and became effective on 1 January 2026.

He said that its provisions are applicable to both federal and state universities, subject to the relevant implementation arrangements.

Comrade Oguji said that the agreement has been implemented in federal universities and in at least 26 states of the federation.

The Chairperson said that before embarking on the strike, ASUU-IMSU, acting in accordance with directives from the Union’s National Executive Council (NEC), duly notified the university administration of the need to implement the agreement in IMSU.

He said: ‘We wrote seven letters to the university administration and held two engagements with it. We also wrote three letters to the Governing Council and held two engagements with relevant stakeholders. Regrettably, these efforts yielded no meaningful result’.

He recalled that when IMSU embarked on this strike, approximately 12 other universities, including Abia State University (ABSU), Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), and Niger Delta University (NDU), took similar action over related issues.

He said that today, those institutions have received the necessary attention, and their disputes have been resolved, but unfortunately, 77 days into the strike, Imo State University remains without a concrete resolution.

According to him, rather than pursuing constructive dialogue and a negotiated settlement, the university administration has continued to act as though the strike does not exist, and its members have been subjected to threats and arm-twisting tactics, including arrest, detention, and eventual granting of bail.

ASUU said that the university administration has reportedly resorted to the use of non-academic and casual staff to conduct examinations.

More disturbing, according to him, is credible information available that, rather than working with the Governing Council to press for the Visitor’s intervention and facilitate a resolution, the Vice-Chancellor reportedly wrote to the Visitor claiming that ASUU-IMSU was not on strike.

He pointed out that any consideration of suspending the strike must, therefore, be preceded by tangible commitments and verifiable steps towards resolving the outstanding issues.

According to him, the Union cannot responsibly ask its members to return to work on the basis of assurances alone, particularly after the prolonged delay and the experience of previous engagements.

As conditions to consider suspending the ongoing strike, the union reiterated the following, which include the actual payment of September and October 2026 salaries at the new salary rate, demonstrable payment, and a time-bound Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on salary arrears.

Others include the constitution of a committee for the election of Heads of Department, as well as the cancellation of examinations and postgraduate defences conducted during the ongoing strike, amongst others.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Sanusi Dankaka at the Kuje Correctional Centre over allegations that he threatened to publish nude videos and photographs purportedly involving Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, on Facebook.

It was gathered that Justice Salim Ibrahim issued the remand order on Monday after the Department of State Services (DSS) arraigned Dankaka on two counts of alleged cybercrime.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to both charges.

In the first count, the prosecution alleged that Dankaka, alongside other individuals who are still at large, used his Facebook account, identified as Sanusi Dankaka Yahaya, to threaten to release nude videos and photographs purportedly involving Governor Yusuf.

The DSS further alleged that the threatened publication was false and intended to cause annoyance, inconvenience, insult and injury to the governor.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offences contravene Section 27(1)(6) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended, and are punishable under Section 24(1) of the same legislation.

At the court session on Monday, DSS counsel, Yusuf Afegbua, informed the judge that the case was scheduled for hearing.

Counsel to the defendant, Kauna Penzin, also told the court that the defence was ready to proceed with the matter.

After the charges were read to him, Dankaka denied the allegations.

Afegbua subsequently requested a date for trial and urged the court to remand the defendant at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.

The defence counsel did not oppose the application.

Justice Ibrahim granted the prosecution’s request and ordered that Dankaka be remanded at the correctional facility.

The judge adjourned the case until December 7, 2026, for trial.

Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has launched a digital platform to enable businesses, investors and other stakeholders to track proposed legislation at the National Assembly and assess its potential impact on Nigeria’s business environment.

The platform, known as the Business Bill Intelligence Portal, was unveiled by the Ernest Shonekan Centre for Legislative Reforms and Economic Development (ESC), an initiative of the NESG, at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#32) held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The summit was held under the theme, ‘Growth that Works: Delivering Jobs, Productivity and Shared Prosperity.’

The portal is designed to provide a centralised digital resource through which users can access information on bills, monitor their progress through the legislative process and understand their implications for business operations, investment decisions, market access and regulatory compliance.

Speaking at the launch, Chairman of the Ernest Shonekan Centre, Kyari Bukar, said the initiative was aimed at strengthening informed participation in legislative reforms and aligning lawmaking with Nigeria’s economic development priorities.

‘Laws and proposed legislation can have significant implications for businesses, investment and economic growth. We want to strengthen informed participation in legislative reform and connect lawmaking with Nigeria’s economic development priorities,’ Bukar said.

He added that the centre’s goal was to support clearer and more practical laws that would improve the business environment, encourage investment, create opportunities and protect the public interest.

According to the NESG, stakeholders often face difficulties tracking proposed laws and identifying bills relevant to their sectors, despite the significant influence legislation has on the cost of doing business and the broader investment climate.

The portal seeks to address the challenge by allowing users to browse bills, search for specific legislation, and apply filters to identify proposals relevant to their interests.

It also features an analytics dashboard showing the distribution of bills across different legislative stages, while individual bill pages provide details of each bill’s status, latest recorded action and legislative history.

Executive Director of the Ernest Shonekan Centre, Dr Uchenna Ogbonna, said the platform was designed to serve a broad range of users, including businesses, citizens, civil society organisations, journalists, policy analysts, academics, researchers, government agencies, legislators and National Assembly staff.

‘These groups need legislative information for different purposes. Businesses want to understand proposals affecting their industries, citizens want to know how proposed laws could affect them, and legislators and researchers need information to support their work,’ Ogbonna said.

He said the centre’s focus was to strengthen informed participation in legislation affecting Nigeria’s business environment and economy.

The launch builds on the NESG’s longstanding engagement with legislative institutions to promote reforms aimed at improving the business climate.

In 2016, the group established the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER) as a platform for dialogue between lawmakers and the private sector on legislative reforms.

The NESG subsequently supported the establishment of the State Assemblies Business Environment Roundtable (SABER), extending the reform engagement to state legislatures.

Established in 2023, the Ernest Shonekan Centre focuses on research, advocacy and stakeholder engagement on legislative reforms and economic development.

The centre said the new portal would strengthen these efforts by improving access to legislative information and promoting constructive engagement among the legislature, private sector, civil society, media and other stakeholders.

The initiative is expected to contribute to Nigeria’s economic reform agenda by helping businesses and citizens better understand proposed laws and participate more effectively in discussions around policies that shape economic activity.

The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, has urged engineers, supervisors and technical personnel to uphold professionalism, accountability and safety in the execution and monitoring of public infrastructure projects.

Ododo gave the charge on Tuesday at the Government House in Lokoja while unveiling project inspection kits produced by the state Ministry of Works for engineers and other personnel involved in project supervision.

He described the Ministry of Works as a key driver of the state’s development, noting that its performance directly affects the implementation of government policies and infrastructure projects.

The governor said the quality of public infrastructure depended largely on the competence, commitment and effectiveness of the professionals responsible for its delivery and supervision.

He commended engineers, accountants, technicians, supervisors and other civil servants for their contributions to the state’s development, expressing confidence in their ability to address infrastructure challenges.

According to him, many civil servants have the knowledge and professional skills required to deliver results but need an enabling environment, encouragement and institutional support to perform effectively.

‘When you work for the people, you are indirectly working for yourself. When you project your commitment, you are also projecting yourself,’ he said.

Ododo urged public servants to recognise that their contributions to the state’s development would remain part of its history, stressing the need for dedication to duty and service to the people.

He also called for closer collaboration between political officeholders and professional civil servants, urging engineers to offer technical advice and recommend better approaches to improve project delivery.

The governor said constructive engagement, mutual respect and adherence to due process were essential to preventing errors that could compromise the quality, durability and value of public infrastructure.

He described the inspection kits as an intervention to strengthen project monitoring and improve public service delivery, expressing optimism that effective supervision and collaboration would accelerate development across the state.

Ododo, in his capacity as the state’s Chief Security Officer, formally unveiled reflective jackets designed to improve the safety and visibility of engineers and other technical personnel during construction site inspections.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Works, Hon. Barr. Salami Momodu Ozigi Deedat, described the ministry as the backbone of infrastructure development in Kogi State, noting that the delivery of roads and other public projects depended significantly on its performance.

He said the ministry remained committed to completing inherited projects while pursuing ongoing infrastructure initiatives, particularly road construction and other projects aimed at improving connectivity and public services across the state.

Ozigi Deedat explained that the inspection kits were introduced to give government engineers and inspection teams a distinct professional identity during official site visits.

He noted that government inspection personnel had often relied on arrangements provided by contractors during project monitoring, making it difficult to distinguish officials from contractors at construction sites.

According to him, the new kits would make government engineers and inspection teams easily identifiable while performing their official duties.

The commissioner urged engineers and other relevant personnel to use the kits appropriately and maintain regular communication with the ministry’s leadership to improve project monitoring, supervision and accountability.

He also acknowledged Ododo’s continued interest in the ministry’s activities, saying the governor’s attention to project implementation placed greater responsibility on officials to remain committed to their duties and uphold professional standards.

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has attributed the party’s growing political alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections to President Bola Tinubu’s coalition-building strategy, while accusing opposition parties of struggling with internal divisions and leadership disagreements.

The party’s spokesman in Lagos State, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, said the APC was attracting experienced politicians, former officeholders, serving public officials and influential political figures from different political platforms.

Oladejo described the ruling party as a gathering of political heavyweights whose experience, grassroots networks and organisational structures could shape the contest for the presidency in 2027.

He likened the APC to the star-studded Galácticos football model, arguing that the party’s attraction reflected Tinubu’s ability to bring individuals with different political backgrounds and ambitions into a common political project.

According to him, Tinubu’s political approach recognises the importance of accommodating competing interests, building alliances and maintaining relationships across party lines.

Oladejo said the President’s experience in political organisation and alliance-building had helped position the APC as a major platform for national political engagement.

He added that the ruling party’s network extended beyond its traditional membership, citing the participation of prominent politicians from other parties in Tinubu’s re-election campaign structure.

The APC spokesman also cited the party’s gubernatorial strength, claiming that 31 governors elected on its platform provided an extensive network of state-level structures, grassroots organisations and campaign operatives ahead of the elections.

He listed Vice President Kashim Shettima, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, serving and former governors, ministers, legislators and party leaders among the political figures contributing to the ruling party’s national reach.

Oladejo also referenced the reported campaign responsibilities assigned to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, elected on the Accord platform; Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, a prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) figure.

He said their reported involvement in Tinubu’s campaign demonstrated the President’s ability to establish working relationships across party lines, stressing that such cooperation did not necessarily mean their respective parties had merged with the APC.

On the opposition, Oladejo accused political leaders seeking to challenge Tinubu in 2027 of prioritising personal ambitions, leadership contests and disputes over party platforms instead of building a coherent coalition.

He argued that opposition politicians had struggled to reconcile their individual ambitions with the need for a common electoral strategy, despite their shared criticism of the President’s administration.

‘They agree on Tinubu; they disagree on almost everything else,’ he said.

Oladejo maintained that criticism of an incumbent government was not, on its own, a substitute for a credible governing programme, a unified leadership structure or an effective electoral organisation.

He further cautioned opposition parties against assuming that public dissatisfaction with economic conditions and government policies would automatically translate into electoral victory.

According to him, successful electoral campaigns require credible candidates, grassroots mobilisation, persuasive policy proposals, national reach and effective coalition management.

The Lagos APC spokesman, however, acknowledged that the ruling party’s growing network of political allies would not automatically guarantee electoral success.

He said endorsements and political prominence must be translated into effective mobilisation, while the party must demonstrate that its policies could improve citizens’ welfare.

Oladejo added that Tinubu’s administration would ultimately be judged by its handling of economic pressures, the implementation of reforms and its ability to strengthen public confidence.

He urged the APC to manage competing ambitions among its members, integrate new entrants and communicate its achievements while addressing areas requiring improvement.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to urgently investigate a viral video allegedly showing a young man leading a group of boys in chants threatening attacks on Christians in Enugu and Jos during Sunday worship.

The association condemned the video, calling the threats alarming and unacceptable, and urged authorities to identify those involved and establish the circumstances surrounding the recording.

CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, made the call in a statement issued on Tuesday, warning that threats of religious violence must not be dismissed as harmless chants or youthful exuberance.

The association said the apparent involvement of children and young people in chants calling for the use of AK-47 rifles against Christian worshippers raised serious concerns about the promotion of religious hatred among the younger generation.

‘No Nigerian should have to fear for their life because of their faith or face the prospect of violence simply for gathering to worship God,’ the statement said.

CAN urged security agencies to establish when and where the video was recorded, identify those featured in it and determine the individuals or groups that may have organised or facilitated the activity.

It also called on the authorities to assess credible security threats arising from the video and take appropriate measures to protect Christian communities and places of worship in Enugu, Jos and other parts of the country.

The association stressed that Nigerians must be able to attend religious services without fear of attacks or intimidation.

While acknowledging the leadership of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) ‘s reported disavowal of the video, CAN said an independent investigation remained necessary to establish the facts.

According to the association, the denial of responsibility by any organisation should not prevent investigators from determining the identities of those involved, the origin of the video and the circumstances surrounding the chants.

The House of Representatives, during Tuesday’s plenary, urged the Federal Government to establish a transparent, competitive, and non-discriminatory licensing and approval framework for the commercial importation of Electric Vehicles (EVs), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, and related clean mobility equipment.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Assets, Hon. Ademorin Kuye, who commended the present administration’s commitment to policies promoting the transition to cleaner transportation technologies as part of its energy transition and economic diversification agenda.

In his lead debate, Hon. Kuye acknowledged the Federal Government’s efforts to encourage the adoption of Electric Vehicles, CNG-powered vehicles, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vehicles, and other clean transportation technologies, noting that the policy direction could create opportunities for investment, technological advancement, and economic growth.

The lawmaker also recognized the fiscal incentives introduced by the Federal Government, including import duty concessions and tax reliefs aimed at encouraging investment in clean mobility technologies and improving access to the infrastructure required to support their adoption.

He, however, stressed the need to ensure that such incentives translate into tangible investments in charging infrastructure, CNG refueling stations, maintenance centres, spare parts supply chains, technical expertise, and after-sales support.

‘The House is convinced that Nigeria has the opportunity to encourage local investment, technology transfer, employment generation, and domestic value addition by linking import incentives to measurable investments in infrastructure and technical capacity,’ Kuye said.

Some lawmakers who spoke in support of the motion, including Hon. Stanley Adedeji, backed the need for a regulatory framework that would promote investment in clean transportation while ensuring that importers contribute to developing the country’s automotive industry and supporting infrastructure.

Consequently, the House urged the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), in collaboration with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and other relevant agencies, to develop objective qualification criteria for companies seeking approval to import EVs, CNG vehicles, and associated equipment.

The lawmakers further called on relevant regulatory agencies to ensure that import approvals are granted only to companies that satisfy clearly defined eligibility requirements. These include, where applicable, establishing certified service and maintenance centres in Nigeria, providing genuine spare parts and warranty support, and employing and training qualified Nigerian technical personnel.

Other requirements outlined by the House include investments in EV charging infrastructure and/or CNG refueling facilities, compliance with Nigerian safety, environmental, and technical standards, as well as the submission of consumer protection and after-sales service plans.

To strengthen accountability and public confidence, the House urged the NADDC to maintain a public register of approved importers and infrastructure providers, insisting that the approval process must remain open, competitive, transparent, and non-discriminatory.

The lawmakers maintained that no qualified company should be denied approval or subjected to undue preference once it has met the prescribed standards, adding that regulatory requirements should encourage healthy competition while protecting consumers and promoting sustainable investment in the sector.

The House also urged the Federal Government to align tax incentives, import duty concessions, and other fiscal benefits with compliance under the proposed regulatory framework, stressing that such incentives should support sustained investment in local infrastructure, technical capacity, and domestic value addition.

To ensure implementation, the House mandated its joint Committees on Industry, Commerce, Gas Resources, Environment, and Legislative Compliance to monitor compliance with the resolution and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has questioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request for approval to borrow $20.52 billion and pound 1.045 billion.

Atiku said the request vindicated his October 12 warning about a proposed loan of up to $20 billion.

Reacting on Tuesday through the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the President’s failure to identify the specific projects the loans would fund raised concerns.

‘On October 12, I warned Nigerians that President Tinubu was reportedly preparing to borrow up to $20 billion in connection with the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. I asked him to confirm or deny the plan and publish the accounts. He did neither. Today, he has asked the Senate to approve $20.52 billion and pound 1.045 billion in external loans. My warning has been vindicated,’ Atiku said.

He said the President had listed broad sectors but had not provided a project-by-project account of what the borrowing would fund.

‘Nigerians have not been given clear project details, costs, locations or contractors to scrutinise. That silence is especially troubling given the highway’s inland rerouting,’ he said.

Atiku questioned whether the borrowed funds could be channelled through projects to political campaigners and favoured contractors.

‘Barely 12 weeks before an election, how can the President ask lawmakers to saddle Nigerians with more than $20 billion and pound 1 billion in debt without identifying projects and their costs? Is this a development plan for Nigerians or a campaign financing scheme dressed up as infrastructure?’ he asked.

He said that, if elected president, he would scrutinise every loan taken by the administration, especially those obtained in its final year.

‘I put local and international lenders on notice: any loan granted to this administration must meet all constitutional, statutory and due process requirements. Upon assumption of office, I will scrutinise every such loan. Any borrowing found to have been obtained without proper authorisation or process will be challenged,’ he said.

Atiku urged the National Assembly not to approve the loans until the President published details of every project, contract, cost, contractor, loan term and repayment obligation.

‘No public money should be borrowed in the dark, and no lawmaker should sign a blank cheque against Nigeria’s future,’ he said.

He said the burden was on the President to prove that the borrowing would serve the country’s interests and urged lawmakers to subject the proposal to rigorous scrutiny.

He added that families already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis should not be made to shoulder debts they had not approved.

The idea of rising above the endless traffic jams of Third Mainland Bridge or Mararaba in a futuristic flying car sounds like a dream for many residents of Lagos and Abuja. Globally, tech companies are heavily investing in electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs). However, bringing this technology down home involves much more than just buying the vehicles.

In this article, Tribune Online examines the major real-world hurdles that could keep flying cars grounded and out of Nigerian cities for years to come.

Unstable power infrastructure for charging

Most modern flying cars rely entirely on high-capacity electric batteries. These aerial vehicles require frequent, ultra-fast charging stations to stay operational and safe. Nigeria’s power sector continues to face frequent national grid breakdowns and unstable electricity distribution. Without a reliable and continuous power supply to charge these heavy-duty batteries, operating a fleet of electric aircraft will prove nearly impossible for commercial operators.

Strict airspace rules and security controls

Operating vehicles in the sky requires strict oversight to avoid mid-air collisions and security threats. According to official guidelines from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), flying any unmanned or specialised aerial device requires strict permits, clear flight plans, and airworthiness approvals. Adding thousands of low-flying aerial cars over major cities will create massive security risks, especially around sensitive government zones, military installations, and crowded public areas.

Lack of vertiports and ground stations

Flying cars do not use regular asphalt roads or standard airport runways. They require designated landing pads called vertiports equipped with specialised navigation gear and safety systems. Major Nigerian cities are already densely built up with limited open spaces.

Converting existing residential or commercial space into high-tech landing pads will be extremely difficult and expensive, leaving these vehicles with nowhere safe to land or take off.

High initial purchase and maintenance costs

Advanced aerial technology comes with a massive price tag. International market tracking reports from aviation research firms estimate that commercial flying cars cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per unit, far out of reach for the vast majority of citizens.

Furthermore, replacing specialised parts, importing lithium battery packs, and paying certified maintenance engineers will require enormous foreign exchange, making ordinary daily transport fares unaffordable.

Extreme weather patterns and maintenance readiness

Nigerian weather conditions present unique physical obstacles for light aircraft. Tropical rainstorms, heavy winds, and intense harmattan dust clouds severely affect low-altitude flight visibility and navigation systems.

Additionally, local service workshops lack the specialized diagnostic tools and trained aerospace technicians needed to repair complex flying cars safely. Without a solid local support system, even minor technical faults could ground these vehicles indefinitely.