High travel costs threaten Uganda-Kenya tourism growth

High airfares and other travel barriers are hampering efforts to deepen tourism between Uganda and Kenya, tourism officials and private sector leaders have warned.

They said expensive flights, lengthy travel procedures and other non-tariff barriers are limiting movement between the two countries and undermining efforts to grow tourism, investment and jobs.

Speaking ahead of the 5th Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism collaboration, Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) chief executive officer Stephen Asiimwe said the cost of travelling between the two countries remains one of the biggest obstacles to increasing tourist numbers.

He said a flight from Entebbe to Nairobi, a journey of about 50 minutes, can cost about USD800 (about Shs2.8 million).

‘My ticket by this morning, because I’m flying tomorrow morning at 8:00, I won’t tell you which airline, but give or take, they’re the same, is USD800,’ Asiimwe said.

He said high fares make regional travel disproportionately expensive compared with similar journeys in other parts of the world.

Asiimwe said a flight from Entebbe to Mombasa can cost about USD700, while travelling by bus costs about Shs100,000 but takes between eight and 10 hours.

‘The option which is to travel by bus, which is an 8- to 10-hour trip, is Shs100,000 but you arrive exhausted, and you don’t enjoy and yet in tourism, we sell an experience,’ he said.

He said reducing the cost of travel would encourage more movement between the two countries, increasing hotel stays and tourist spending.

State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Susan Nakawuki Nsambu said Uganda and Kenya must also address non-tariff barriers if they are to make regional tourism more competitive.

She cited Kenya’s Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), saying delays in processing the requirement can discourage visitors.

‘Sometimes we have these non-tariff barriers, but we can work upon them and remove them. If ETA should be there, let it be done within 24 hours. Why do you need 72 hours to do that? It is a non-tariff barrier, it is blocking our tourists,’ she said.

Nsambu also raised concern over the cost of regional air travel, saying she recently paid USD600 for a flight for her six-year-old child travelling to Mombasa.

‘Recently, my children went to Mombasa, and I had to pay USD600 for a flight for a six-year-old. Really! Just next door,’ she said.

She urged the East African Community Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) and governments in the region to engage airlines over regional ticket prices.

David Kabata, Minister Counsellor at the Kenyan High Commission in Kampala, acknowledged that high travel costs remain a challenge.

He said increased competition could eventually bring down fares, citing the entry of Skyward Express and the planned resumption of JamboJet flights between Entebbe and Nairobi.

‘Probably out of that entry of many players, probably the cost will come down. We are not certain about that because there are factors present that inform the cost of pricing,’ Kabata said.

He said taxation was among the factors that could be contributing to high airfares and called for governments to examine its impact.

‘The aspect of taxation really is driving up the cost of flight tickets. So, it’s an area that we need to look into as governments,’ he said.

The concerns come as Uganda and Kenya seek to increase tourism cooperation and promote multi-destination travel, allowing visitors to combine attractions in both countries.

Jon Leonard Mugerwa, head of the International Legal and Social Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said tourism is central to Uganda’s ambition of growing its economy from USD68 billion to USD500 billion by 2040.

He said 460,000 Kenyans visited Uganda last year, while about 235,000 Ugandans travelled to Kenya.

‘If we can have over maybe 2 million tourists between our two countries, that would be a big step forward,’ Mugerwa said.

The concerns were raised ahead of the Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism and Innovation Summit scheduled for October 26-27 in Mombasa under the theme, ‘Unlocking Tourism Opportunities: Resolving Policy Bottlenecks Through Technology, Youth, and Seamless Mobility Across East Africa.’

Uganda’s Consul General in Mombasa, Herbert Kiguli, said the tourism cooperation would also seek to strengthen business links among tour operators, hotels, travel agents, transport companies, technology firms and investors.

Demand records of achievements from Tinubu’s opponents, critics, Speaker Abbas tells Nigerians

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, yesterday asked Nigerians to challenge candidates presenting themselves as alternatives in the 2027 general election to show their records as public office holders.

He advised Nigerians not to listen to their rhetoric, but demand proof of the actions that should earn them another opportunity to serve.

The Speaker, at the maiden graduation of 4,050 youths at the Kaduna State Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development, in Kaduna, said: ‘Let me speak briefly about politics. I am a politician, and this season demands honesty.

” In 2027, the people of Kaduna State will face a clear choice: to keep moving forward or to return to the past.

‘Before then, the political noise will grow louder. Parties will adopt new logos, politicians will wear new colours, and familiar faces will return with fresh promises. But a change of costume does not create a change of character.

‘So, when they come to you with new stories and promises, listen to what they say, but look closely at what they have done. Anyone asking for your trust must first answer for their record.

‘How did they manage public funds? What did they achieve in office? Did they remain true to their principles, or did their principles change whenever power changed hands?

”As our elders say, no matter how long a lie travels, the truth will eventually catch up with it.

‘Some of those presenting themselves as the alternative have been in power before. So, judge them by their record, not their rhetoric. What did they inherit? What did they spend? What did they build? What did they leave behind? Public office is not a magic show.

”The people have a right to know where their money went.

‘Apply the same standard at the national level. Those who criticise current reforms should explain what they did when they had the authority to act.

‘When any politician comes to your ward, do not be distracted by slogans and symbols. Ask for evidence. Ask what they built, whom they trained and which lives they improved. Promises sound good, but only action builds classrooms, clinics, and workshops.

‘People of Kaduna State must, therefore, judge every candidate by what they have done, not only by what they promise. Look at their character, examine their record, and ask whose lives they have improved. Good leadership does not need a long explanation. The results will speak for themselves.

‘From Zaria to Zangon Kataf, from Birnin Gwari to Jaba, and from Kafanchan to Kudan, let one message travel across our state: Kaduna is making progress under APC and under Governor Uba Sani. Nigeria is making progress under the APC and under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

‘It is our solemn duty and responsibility to sustain this progress. The darkest hour comes just before dawn. Do not abandon the journey when the destination is already in sight. A farmer who abandons the field at harvest time leaves the reward of his labour for others.’

Tajudeen emphasised that the ceremony ‘is the practical expression and realisation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,’ stating that reform earns public confidence when its benefits reach the daily lives of ordinary people.”

FG equips 150 technicians in automobile sectors

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), in collaboration with Bryte Auto Tech and Diagnostics Ltd, has trained 150 technicians and youths in Kogi, Edo and Oyo States.

The training commenced on August 10, 2026 and is being conducted concurrently across the three states, with 50 technicians and youths participating in each state.

The participants, trained by Max Fon Global Nig. Ltd are taught on heavy-duty vehicles, including agricultural tractors in an effort to strengthen their practical and technical capabilities in the operation, diagnosis, servicing, repair and maintenance of such vehicles.

The participants in Edo State were drawn from across the state and are receiving hands-on instruction and practical exposure under the programme.

The training provides participants with relevant technical knowledge and practical skills required to improve their capacity to diagnose faults, service, repair and maintain heavy-duty vehicles and agricultural tractors.

The initiative forms part of NADDC’s commitment to skills upgrading, capacity building and human capital development within Nigeria’s automotive sector.

‘It is particularly aimed at strengthening the technical capabilities of existing automotive technicians while equipping young people with relevant and employable skills in the heavy-duty vehicle subsector,’ the council said.

It added that the inclusion of agricultural tractors in the training also supports the development of technical capacity for machinery used in the agricultural sector, while promoting the availability of skilled personnel capable of maintaining and servicing heavy-duty equipment locally.

From the palace to the rally track: Remembering King Oyo’s passion for speed

Away from the grandeur of royal protocol, cultural functions, and the heavy responsibilities of the throne, the late Omukama of Tooro, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, found a unique sanctuary in the high-octane world of motorsport.

To many of his subjects, he was the revered traditional leader of Tooro Kingdom. But to motorsport enthusiasts, King Oyo was a passionate fan, an active participant, and a familiar face who loved the roar of engines and the thrill of speed.

His deep connection to the sport went far beyond casual interest. The young monarch closely followed national rallying events, regularly attended competitions, and frequently served as a guest of honor to officially flag off races. Among rally circles, he was often associated with his well-known blue Subaru, a vehicle that came to symbolize his personal love for driving whenever he stepped outside his royal duties.

One of his most memorable moments on the track came during the United Motor Club (UMC) Fort Portal Tourism City Rally on August 9, 2024. Organized as part of the buildup to the annual Ekyoto Ha Mpango celebrations, the three-day event brought together top drivers and spectators, seamlessly blending the kingdom’s cultural festivities with extreme sport.

During the event, King Oyo was initially taken on a demonstration drive in a Ford Fiesta Proto by three-time national rally champion Ronald Ssebuguzi. However, the thrill of the ride quickly awakened the king’s competitive spirit. Wanting to test his own skills behind the wheel, King Oyo requested the organizers to allow him to drive the vehicle himself.

With his request granted, Ssebuguzi’s co-driver, Anthony Mugambwa, stepped into the navigator’s seat to guide the monarch through the super special stage. Mugambwa later expressed his excitement at the rare honor of co-driving for the king, as crowd members cheered watching their traditional leader navigate the course with precision. For a brief moment, the formalities of the kingdom fell away, leaving behind a young man fully immersed in the joy of the sport.

The monarch’s sudden passing was officially announced on August 27, 2026, by the Prime Minister (Omuhikirwa) of Tooro Kingdom, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki.

‘It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I announce the passing of His Majesty the Omukama of Tooro, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, at approximately 10:00 p.m. this evening. This is an immeasurable loss to the Royal Family, the people of Tooro and the nation of Uganda,’ Akiiki stated in a message published on X.

Akiiki called upon the people of Tooro to remain calm, united, and prayerful, reassuring the kingdom that the continuity of the throne remains intact.

‘The continuity of the Crown is assured. His Majesty leaves behind a Prince as his heir, whose identity will be formally revealed at the appropriate time, in accordance with the traditions and customs of Tooro Kingdom,’ Akiiki added, noting that official details regarding funeral and mourning arrangements would follow.

As Tooro Kingdom and the country mourn the loss of King Oyo, he will be remembered not only as a dedicated traditional leader, but also as a monarch who bridged the gap with his people through his shared passion for motorsport.

23 Years of Operation: Globacom as the architecture of value and the audacity to never settle for less

There are companies that merely survive the passage of time, and there are companies that use time as an instrument of transformation. At 23, Globacom belongs to the latter tradition: an indigenous enterprise whose history has been written not simply in years, but in interventions that altered the vocabulary of Nigerian telecommunications. When Globacom entered the Nigerian market in August 2003, it arrived with something more consequential than a licence to operate. It arrived with an argument: that Nigerians deserved greater value, that innovation could be indigenous, and that the architecture of communication could be redesigned around the consumer.

Per-second billing was perhaps the clearest early expression of that philosophy. It challenged prevailing assumptions about the economics of mobile communication and placed the idea of paying for precisely what one consumed at the centre of the conversation. In that moment, a tariff became more than a commercial instrument; it became a metaphor for fairness, a quiet assertion that technology should serve the individual rather than merely extract value from him. It was an early indication of an institutional temperament that would repeatedly ask the question: what more is possible?

Two decades later, that temperament remains visible in the company’s continuing evolution. The story of Globacom is, in many respects, the story of a nation learning to imagine itself differently. The company did not merely participate in Nigeria’s digital awakening; it became one of the instruments through which that awakening acquired confidence. Its technological journey, from the early generations of mobile communication through 3G and 4G LTE and into increasingly sophisticated digital infrastructure, reflects an enduring refusal to regard technological limitation as an immutable condition. The deployment of Glo-1 in 2010 gave this philosophy perhaps its most dramatic physical expression: a vast fibre-optic artery beneath the Atlantic, linking Nigeria to the wider digital world and demonstrating that an indigenous Nigerian enterprise could conceive, finance and execute infrastructure of international consequence.

But infrastructure is only the skeleton of connectivity. The soul is value. A network may be measured in sites, spectrum, fibre, bandwidth and traffic, but its ultimate meaning resides in the lives that move through it. Every successful connection carries something more precious than data. It may carry a business opportunity, a student’s research, an entrepreneur’s transaction, a mother’s reassurance, a father’s voice or a creator’s first encounter with an audience beyond his immediate horizon. Telecommunications has consequently ceased to be merely a technical industry. It has become one of the invisible architectures of contemporary life.

It is within this larger understanding that Globacom’s ‘Never Settle for Less’ proposition assumes its deeper significance. It is not merely another advertising line competing for attention in Nigeria’s crowded communications environment. Properly understood, it is a philosophy of perpetual dissatisfaction with the merely adequate-a declaration that yesterday’s achievement must never become tomorrow’s ceiling. To Never Settle for Less is to recognise that excellence is not a destination at which an organisation eventually arrives, but a horizon that continually recedes as it advances towards it.

The proposition acquires practical expression through the company’s new and enhanced portfolio of offerings, including Glo Magic Data Bundles, TalkMasta Plus, and Welcome Bonus and associated digital propositions. These products are not merely commercial instruments; they are expressions of a broader philosophy of customer value. TalkMasta, for instance, transforms voice usage into an

opportunity for additional rewards, while Welcome Bonus seeks to make the earliest encounter with the network an experience of generosity rather than mere transaction. The underlying idea is simple but consequential: the customer should not have to choose between connectivity and value when both can coexist.

This matters because the Nigerian consumer has changed. The mobile phone is no longer simply a telephone. It is wallet, classroom, office, newsroom, marketplace, entertainment centre and social salon. Data is no longer merely megabytes consumed by a device; it is the bloodstream through which modern enterprise, education, creativity and human relationships increasingly circulate. A young entrepreneur can establish a business from a smartphone. A student can enter a global classroom without leaving home. A trader can reach customers beyond the physical boundaries of a marketplace. A family separated by geography can compress distance into a voice, an image or a moving face upon a screen.

The network, therefore, is no longer simply infrastructure. It is an invisible economy of human possibility. Recent market performance offers an intriguing contemporary punctuation mark to this continuing story. In May 2026, Globacom added approximately 1.2 million internet subscribers, accounting for nearly half of Nigeria’s reported monthly increase. Numbers alone do not constitute destiny, but they can reveal momentum; and momentum, in a sector defined by relentless technological and consumer change, is itself a language of relevance.

The significance of the ‘Never Settle for Less’ philosophy therefore extends beyond advertising. It becomes an institutional discipline: to examine the customer experience continuously; to question whether value is sufficiently meaningful; to ask whether technology is being translated into genuine human benefit; and to resist the seductive comfort of believing that what works today will necessarily be sufficient tomorrow.

At 23, Globacom’s potency consequently lies not simply in longevity. It lies in the capacity to convert experience into renewed ambition. Twenty-three years provide perspective, but perspective is useful only when it sharpens vision. The past may provide the foundation, but it must never become the ceiling.

Therein lies the deeper symbolism of Globacom’s present moment. The company is not standing at 23 as an institution looking backwards at a completed journey. It is standing at 23 as a traveler who has climbed sufficiently high to see farther, and who therefore understands that the horizon is not an endpoint but an invitation.

For that is the paradox of genuine leadership: the greater the distance travelled, the less acceptable stagnation becomes. And so, after 23 years of building networks, creating possibilities, challenging assumptions and participating in Nigeria’s extraordinary digital transformation, Globacom arrives at a new question, perhaps the most important question an institution can ask of itself: what more is possible?

Its answer is contained in four simple words whose apparent simplicity conceals an entire philosophy of ambition, innovation and value: Never settle for less.

10 passengers injured in multiple crashes on Abuja-Lokoja road

According to the witness, one of the trailers, with registration number KTG 163XC, dangerously overtook another vehicle before colliding with the second trailer. The impact caused both trailers to veer off the road and crash into a ditch.

He said three persons were injured in the crash and were evacuated to Kwali General Hospital by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Yangoji Unit Command.

The witness said the second crash occurred on the same highway at about 7pm and involved an 18-seater Hiace bus with registration number HJA 566 XA.

He said the bus, which was carrying 22 passengers, was travelling from the Lokoja end of the highway at high speed when the driver lost control and crashed into a ditch, leaving seven passengers injured.

An FRSC official who participated in the rescue operation but spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the two crashes, saying all 10 injured victims were taken to Kwali General Hospital for treatment.

The official blamed the incidents on dangerous overtaking and speeding, adding that the FRSC was working to clear the obstructions caused by the crashes from the highway.

Inside Museveni and King Oyo’s three decades of a royal-state relationship

For three decades, the relationship between President Museveni and the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV was intertwined with the history of Tooro Kingdom’s restoration, its relationship with the central government and the young monarch’s efforts to position the kingdom for development.

King Oyo, who died on Thursday night, August 27, 2026, aged 34, was enthroned on September 12, 1995, at the age of three, following the death of his father, King Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III.

He reigned for almost 31 years, making him one of the longest-serving traditional rulers of his generation.

His death has therefore brought to an end a remarkable chapter in Uganda’s modern history, one that began with a child king and saw him grow into an adult monarch who had to navigate royal family disputes, the recovery of kingdom properties, relations with government and an ambitious development agenda.

Museveni as Oyo’s ‘Omukuza’

President Museveni’s relationship with King Oyo dates back to his late father, Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III, whom the President appointed as Uganda’s ambassador to Cuba before the restoration of the kingdom. He served in the diplomatic post until the time of Oyo’s birth on April 16, 1992.

On the day of Oyo’s enthronement on September 12, 1995, Museveni became the Mujwara Kondo, or crown bearer, and was named Omukuza, a traditional role associated with nurturing, guiding and safeguarding the young monarch.

The President maintained a close relationship with the young king during his formative years, particularly as Oyo was still a minor and the kingdom was being managed through regents.

When Oyo reached the age of 18 in 2010, President Museveni attended his 15th coronation anniversary, marking another important moment in the relationship between the State and the Tooro monarchy.

The President also continued to maintain contact with the kingdom through representatives whenever he could not personally attend Oyo’s coronation anniversaries.

At Oyo’s 30th coronation anniversary last year, for instance, President Museveni was expected to be the chief guest but delegated the then Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, to represent him.

A royal family dispute

Museveni’s involvement with Tooro was not limited to ceremonial occasions.

In 2013, a dispute erupted within the royal family when Oyo’s cousin, Prince David Kaijanangoma, challenged the King’s leadership, accusing him of incompetence and failure to spend sufficient time in the kingdom.

The dispute attracted the support of a section of royal family members and some Batooro, creating tensions around the kingdom’s leadership.

Prince David also attempted to organise his own coronation-related activities in Fort Portal, but several of his efforts were stopped by security operatives between 2014 and 2016.

The dispute escalated in March 2015 when Prince David was arrested and charged with criminal trespass over allegations that he intended to overthrow King Oyo.

The two sides eventually sought Museveni’s intervention.

In 2015, Oyo and Prince David met the President, who subsequently established a committee headed by Bishop Reuben Kisembo of the Ruwenzori Diocese of the Church of Uganda to investigate the disagreements within the kingdom and make recommendations.

The intervention helped open the way for reconciliation.

In April 2017, Prince David again called for dialogue with King Oyo and sought the President’s support. By February 2019, he had publicly declared peace with his brother.

The battle for kingdom properties

Another major issue that shaped the relationship between King Oyo and the central government was the question of Tooro Kingdom properties.

Following the restoration of traditional institutions in 1993, the kingdom maintained that a large portion of its properties had remained in the hands of the central government.

The recovery of the properties subsequently became one of the key priorities of the Oyo administration.

In 2017, a 17-member committee was established to negotiate with the government over the return of the kingdom’s properties.

The negotiations culminated in a Memorandum of Understanding signed between President Museveni and King Oyo in 2019 at State House, Kampala.

The government also provided Shs2 billion to the kingdom, which was used to renovate some of its infrastructure.

The process of identifying and verifying the properties, however, did not end with the signing of the MoU.

In 2020, the government launched a verification exercise led by the then State Minister for Lands, Persis Namuganza.

By the time of King Oyo’s death, about 17 land titles had reportedly been returned to the kingdom, while the wider verification and recovery process remained ongoing.

The final years: development and tourism

In the final years of his reign, Oyo’s engagements with President Museveni increasingly focused on development, tourism and the economic future of Tooro.

One of the most significant meetings took place on May 16, 2025, at the President’s State Lodge in Fort Portal City, where Museveni held a closed-door meeting with King Oyo and Queen Mother Best Kemigisa during his tour of the region under the Parish Development Model programme.

After the meeting, Museveni said discussions had focused on strengthening tourism in Tooro.

The President said they had discussed the construction of a stadium in Fort Portal and the expansion of the existing aerodrome into an airport to boost tourism.

He also said the two sides had agreed to address land-related disputes involving the kingdom and establish common ground for peaceful coexistence between the kingdom and local governments.

‘We discussed constructing a stadium in Fort Portal and expanding the aerodrome into an airport to enhance tourism.’

The President also said the discussions covered the kingdom’s land issues.

King Oyo confirmed that the question of kingdom properties was raised, noting that it had remained unresolved since the 2019 MoU.

The King also raised the revival of plans for Tooro to co-host the World Monarchs Summit, which had been planned for 2026.

Oyo offered land for stadium

King Oyo told Museveni that he was willing to contribute kingdom land for the construction of a modern stadium, which he viewed as an opportunity for Tooro to benefit from preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027.

‘I informed His Excellency and the First Lady of my contribution of land for the construction of a modern stadium in Fort Portal. This initiative will enable the kingdom to capitalise on opportunities associated with hosting the Africa Cup of Nations,’ he posted on X.

Earlier this year, the Tooro Kingdom handed over the land title to the government, fulfilling the commitment King Oyo had made during the May 2025 meeting.

A final commitment to Tooro’s development

On September 15, 2025, three days after Oyo’s 30th coronation anniversary, Museveni again met the King at State House.

Although the President had delegated Speaker Anita Annet Among to represent him at the coronation, he later met Oyo and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the kingdom’s development plans.

‘During our discussion, we explored the Kingdom’s framework and expressed our commitment to supporting it. We also agreed to collaborate in the areas of agriculture, education, sports, and tourism,’ the President posted on X.

Oyo attended the meeting with Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, Princess Royal Nsemere Ruth Komuntale Farquharson Akiiki, her husband, Duke Phillip Farquharson Amooti, and Jamari Mathew Farquharson Adyeri.

Museveni said the meeting explored the kingdom’s development framework and identified areas where the government and the kingdom could work together.

‘We also agreed to collaborate in the areas of agriculture, education, sports, and tourism,’ the President said.

According to the kingdom’s Prime Minister, Mr Calvin Armstrong, the same meeting resulted in the current Youth Economic Empowerment Programme, which the late King lobbied the President to implement.

The programme is aimed at empowering hundreds of young people through agriculture, entrepreneurship and skills development in support of the Kingdom’s 25-year Development Plan.

He explained that the empowerment programme will benefit youth groups in all nine counties of Tooro Kingdom. The initiative will include the distribution of three million coffee seedlings, two million cocoa seedlings and three million chickens, while also supporting 50,000 young people in agriculture.

Ikpeme named Acting NFF General Secretary

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has appointed Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, formerly the Deputy General Secretary, as interim General Secretary to oversee the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat.

Dr. Ademola Olajire, who previously served as Director of Media and Communications, has been named interim Deputy General Secretary.

The leadership restructuring follows Thursday’s resignations of NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, and several members of the Executive Committee.

Consequently, all administrative preparations for the NFF Elective Congress originally scheduled for September 27 have been suspended. A new electoral framework will be introduced following comprehensive governance reforms to be conducted in consultation with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Under the transition measures, the Chairmen, appointed Directors, and Chief Executive Officers of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), and Nationwide League One (NLO) must hand over league operations immediately to their respective Chief Operating Officers (COOs). For leagues where the COO is not an NFF staff member, Acting General Secretary Ikpeme will deploy a replacement from within the federation.

The NSC stated that these transitionary measures aim to maintain administrative continuity while stakeholders, government officials, FIFA, and CAF collaborate on a broader reform roadmap for Nigerian football. Further directives are expected in due course.

HIV/Aids fight: Let’s not become complacent

Our story, ‘Places with highest new HIV infections’, in the Daily Monitor of Thursday August 27, 2026 shows that we could easily drop the ball when it comes to the fight against HIV if we let complacency have its way.

According to the story, figures from the Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) indicate that the majority of the country’s 37,000 annual new HIV infections occur in Buganda, Ankole, Tooro and Busoga sub-regions, with each reporting more than 2,000 new cases. Wakiso topped the list as the hardest-hit district, registering nearly 4,000 new infections every year.

Ms Juliet Nassuna, the HIV focal person for Wakiso, attributes the alarming infection rates to a number of factors including complacency in following the prescribed prevention measures amid the shortages of condoms and HIV testing kits, unregulated massage parlours, mushrooming rural bars, and high unemployment that are forcing the youth into transactional sex.

Dr Nelson Musoba, the director general of Uganda Aids Commission, mentions alcohol consumption as a problem that exacerbates the problem. Other factors highlighted are gender-based violence, low risk perception and urbanisation.

It is prudent to note that quickly bundling these factors as the gaps to plug and coming up with a one size fits all intervention might not be as effective.

That is why we agree with Dr Vincent Bagambe, the Uganda Aids Commission director of planning and strategic information, when he says the drivers of infections in urban areas cannot be generalised.

He says: ‘Each city has its own uniqueness. Some cities are getting increasing new HIV infections because of the sprouting and unplanned residential areas. But some of them are because the surrounding districts have increased economic activity. We’ve seen where there is mining, where there is a coffee boom, we keep getting reports that prostitution in those areas increases.’

This means interventions have to be tailored to the specific risk factors in the different regions for lasting impact and change to be achieved. The underlying issues should also be probed, understood and then dealt with accordingly.

Let us not pay the high price of complacency in this fight. Now that we have the numbers, it is not a blind fight. We know where the gaps in the HIV/Aids fight are and what is fuelling them.

This information should be enough to guide on how best those gaps can be plugged. Let’s keep our guard up in the fight against HIV.

Uba Sani approves N810m grant for 4,050 skills graduates

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has approved N810 million as financial support for 4,050 graduates of the Kaduna State Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development to enable them to establish businesses.

The governor announced this on Thursday at the maiden graduation ceremony of the institute held at the Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa Campus in Rigachikun, Kaduna State.

Under the initiative, each graduate will receive N200,000, which will be administered through the Kaduna State Enterprise Development Agency (KADSEA).

Sani said the grant would help the beneficiaries purchase essential tools, provide initial working capital, complete professional registration and cover transportation costs while seeking employment opportunities.

He said the state government was also engaging companies and industries to create opportunities for direct employment, apprenticeships, internships, mentorships, subcontracting and other structured engagements for the graduates.

‘We are also developing a digital platform to connect graduates with employers and track employment outcomes,’ he said.

The governor said the success of the programme would not be measured by only the number of people trained, but by the number of graduates employed, enterprises created, incomes improved and contracts secured.

According to him, the graduates, who qualified for the National Skills Qualification Level II, represented a new generation of skilled citizens capable of creating value for themselves, their families and the wider economy.

He said his administration was building an ecosystem where young people could become self-reliant, women could transform skills into enterprises and persons living with disabilities could participate fully in the economy.