You’ve entered panic mode, ADC taunts Tinubu over CNG expansion

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said that the latest move to expand CNG-powered transportation as a way of reducing transport fares in the country is a sign that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in ‘panic mode’.

Reacting to the emergency meeting between the President and state governors on measures to reduce transportation costs on Friday through its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the move as a mere ‘political gimmick’ that is coming three years too late.

The party said the President and the governors were not genuinely interested in bringing down the cost of transportation across the country but were merely reacting to the questions raised by the opposition’s plan to introduce targeted production subsidy.

It said if the President believed that expanding CNG transportation could help to lower the cost of transportation nationwide, why was this intervention not part of the plan to remove subsidy on petrol from the beginning?

‘They left the people to suffer for three years, and now that the election approaches they suddenly realise that they could make transportation cheaper, ‘ the party said, asking, ‘ If CNG buses can provide cheaper transportation today, why were they not rapidly deployed when Nigerians first began to pay the heavy price for their wrong-headed subsidy removal policy?’

The ADC said the timing was particularly revealing, coming shortly after its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, placed targeted subsidies and the cost of living at the centre of the national political debate.

‘Why did it take Atiku’s subsidy plan for this government to suddenly start running helter-skelter and to realise the need to bring down the cost of transportation?’ Abdullahi asked.

According to the ADC, Nigerians would not be deceived by the ‘gimmick’ because they are able to distinguish between a government responding to their suffering and a government responding to the threat of electoral defeat.

‘For three years, Nigerians complained about transport fares, food prices and collapsing purchasing power. The government told them to endure. Now that the election is approaching, the same government has suddenly discovered that transportation is too expensive and government intervention is necessary. That is not leadership. That is cynical politics.’

The party said the hurried measures being considered by the government reinforce its position that the administration had the capacity to cushion the effects of its harsh economic policies all along but simply refused to do so until its electoral interests were threatened.

‘No doubt, if these interventions are possible now, they were possible. The difference is that then, President Tinubu did not think it was necessary to support suffering citizens until now when he needs their votes.’

‘A president who truly cares would not wait for three years and an approaching election before treating the cost of transportation as an emergency. One thing is clear, President Tinubu is not suddenly responding to the suffering of Nigerians. He is responding to ADC and Atiku; he is responding to the impending reality of the 2027 election that shows that he has failed on security, failed to create jobs, and failed to bring down the cost of living,’ the ADC said.

NPA sues FG, NERDC over compulsory textbook ranking policy

The Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) has dragged the Federal Government and the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) before the Federal High Court in Ibadan over the implementation of a compulsory textbook ranking policy.

The suit, filed by the Registered Trustees of the NPA at the Federal High Court, Ibadan Judicial Division, is numbered FHC/IB/CS/117/26.

The defendants are the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, NERDC, the Minister of Education and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The association, in an Originating Summons, is challenging the legality of the Textbook Ranking Framework introduced by NERDC as part of reforms in the education sector.

At the centre of the dispute is the NPA’s argument that textbooks already assessed, approved and certified by NERDC should not be subjected to another compulsory ranking exercise as a condition for their continued use, distribution, procurement or sale.

The association is asking the court to determine whether the statutory powers conferred on NERDC under the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council Act, Cap. N105, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, extend to the imposition of such a compulsory ranking regime.

The NPA is also challenging the legal status of regulations purportedly made pursuant to Section 23 of the NERDC Act.

Among the reliefs sought by the publishers is a declaration that NERDC’s powers to assess, review, develop and promote educational materials do not extend to imposing a compulsory ranking system on textbooks that have already been assessed, approved and certified by the Council.

The association is further asking the court to declare the compulsory ‘Ranking Fee’ unlawful and ultra vires, arguing that it cannot be imposed unless it represents a charge for a service lawfully rendered by NERDC within its statutory functions.

The NPA also wants the court to declare that any regulation made pursuant to Section 23(1) of the NERDC Act cannot come into operation without the approval of the President and publication in the Federal Gazette, as required by Section 23(2) of the Act.

It is also seeking a declaration that, in the absence of clear statutory authority or valid subsidiary legislation, NERDC cannot make payment of the ranking fee, compulsory reassessment or successful participation in the ranking framework conditions for the continued eligibility of previously approved textbooks.

The association said its legal action was prompted by concerns over the implementation of the policy, particularly the possibility that publishers who fail to participate in the ranking exercise could have their previously approved textbooks excluded from classroom use.

The NPA said it had previously engaged the Federal Ministry of Education and NERDC over the policy, but the controversy remained unresolved as both sides maintained their respective positions.

According to the association, the court action became necessary to obtain judicial clarification on the limits of NERDC’s statutory regulatory powers.

The NPA, however, stressed that the lawsuit did not shut the door to further discussions with the government and other stakeholders.

It said it remained willing to work towards a textbook approval system that is lawful, transparent and beneficial to learners, teachers and the publishing industry.

The association said such a framework, however, must be developed within the limits of the law rather than imposed without a clear statutory basis.

The statement was signed by Rotimi Iyiola, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Publishers Association.

Mourning King Oyo: Tooro Kingdom details funeral ceremonies, heir traditions

A condolence book has been opened at the Buziga Palace in Kampala as the Tooro Kingdom, friends, and the nation of Uganda mourn the tragic passing of His Majesty (Omukama) King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

King Oyo, who made history by becoming the world’s youngest reigning monarch when he ascended the throne at just three years old, passed away at the age of 34 on Thursday evening, August 27, 2026, following a critical illness.

Addressing the public on Friday evening via a statement published on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister (Omuhikirwa) of Tooro Kingdom, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, invited well-wishers to pay their respects and join the Royal Family in prayer.

‘To all the people of Tooro and friends of Tooro, We wish to inform you that a Book of Condolences has been opened at Buziga Palace in Kampala, where prayers are also being held. All those who wish to pay their respects, offer condolences and stand with the Royal Family and the people of Tooro during this difficult time are welcome,’ Omuhikirwa Akiiki stated.

While prayers and condolence signings are underway in Kampala, the main traditional rites are taking place in the kingdom’s heartland in western Uganda. Omuhikirwa Akiiki confirmed that the official cultural ceremonies are being held at Karuzika Palace in Fort Portal under the leadership of the kingdom’s elder, Akiiki Musuga, strictly adhering to Tooro traditions and customs. He expressed deep gratitude to the public for the overwhelming influx of prayers, messages of sympathy, and solidarity during this period of grief.

The initial announcement of the monarch’s passing was made by the Prime Minister on Thursday night. Describing the loss as immeasurable to the Royal Family, Tooro Kingdom, and the entire nation, Omuhikirwa Akiiki confirmed that the Omukama passed away at approximately 10:00pm.

In his address to the kingdom, the Prime Minister appealed for calm, unity, and prayer, while reassuring the people of Tooro that the crown’s continuity remains secure despite the tragic loss.

‘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,’ Omuhikirwa Akiiki added, noting that complete details regarding the funeral program and official mourning arrangements will be announced in due course.

Gusau resigns as NFF President, unveils $8.5m Adidas kit deal

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau announced his resignation in Abuja yesterday, using his final address to unveil a record $8.5 million-a-year kit sponsorship deal with Adidas that ends the federation’s long-standing partnership with Nike.

Reflecting on the scrutiny of his tenure, Gusau said: ‘Everywhere you see: Gusau, Gusau, Gusau. My name has even been more pronounced than the name of Donald Trump!’ He added: ‘I thank God for the opportunity given to me to serve my country as President of the NFF, as President of WAFU B, and on the CAF Executive Committee. Going forward, I know the future of Nigerian football will be great.’

Gusau announced the deal at a press conference in Abuja attended by football administrators, state FA chairmen, club owners and media executives, describing it as the highest kit sponsorship package on the African continent.

Under the agreement, Adidas will pay $4.5 million in direct annual cash to the NFF, plus a further $4 million in apparel, equipment and match kit allocations each year. The deal also includes a 20 per cent royalty on official merchandise sold through Adidas outlets in Nigeria, with the retailer’s local store network projected to grow from 13 to 32 over the next three years.

Gusau said the switch was driven by economic necessity, citing the naira’s collapse against the dollar during Nigeria’s outgoing 11-year Nike contract. He said the Nike deal fixed cash and kit terms at $500,000 and $1 million a year respectively regardless of exchange-rate movements, which he said eroded the deal’s real value as the exchange rate moved from roughly N400 to the dollar in 2022 to N1,400 by early 2024.

‘If somebody was giving you $500,000 in 2015 and is still giving you $500,000 in 2026, what do you say about it? It is like you have nothing,’ Gusau said.

He said the NFF approached Nike from 2024 seeking improved terms but could not reach agreement, and that Nike declined to match Adidas’s offer despite holding matching rights in the contract.

Gusau said the new funding would let the NFF pursue high-profile head coaches for the Super Eagles and Super Falcons, a step he said the federation had previously been unable to afford.

Reviewing his board’s three-year, 11-month tenure, Gusau pointed to the return of the CAF ‘A’ Licence coaching course after an eight-year gap, due to begin on 16 September; the restructuring of the Nigeria Premier Football League around fixed fixture dates; and the placement of Nigerian referees on recent continental assignments at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Gusau also pointed to the ongoing construction of a national teams camp in Bauchi, comprising a modern match computer centre and accommodation facilities, as a legacy project of his board. He said the facility, funded through four-year FIFA Forward development money, is scheduled for completion by March next year, and is designed to end the NFF’s reliance on private hotel camping for national teams – a practice he said costs the federation billions of naira annually.

ýNFF Crisis: NSC Names Ikpeme Acting General Secretary

ýThe National Sports Commission (NSC) has appointed Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme as Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), following a major leadership shake-up in the country’s football governing body.

ý

ýIkpeme, who previously served as the NFF Deputy General Secretary, will oversee the federation’s secretariat during the transition period, while Dr Ademola Olajire, former Director of Media and Communications, will serve as Acting Deputy General Secretary.

ý

ýThe appointments followed the resignations on Thursday of NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi, and several members of the federation’s Executive Committee.

ý

ýThe NSC also suspended all processes initiated for the NFF Elective Congress scheduled for September 27.

ý

ý’A fresh electoral process will commence following the completion of the anticipated comprehensive reforms, to be undertaken in consultation with world football’s governing body, FIFA, and CAF,’ the NSC said in a statement.

ý

ýThe commission said the new electoral process would form part of wider reforms aimed at addressing governance issues within Nigerian football.

ý

ýAs part of 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) have been directed to immediately hand over league operations to their respective Chief Operating Officers (COOs).

ý

ýThe NSC said where a league’s COO is not an NFF staff member, Acting General Secretary Ikpeme would deploy a replacement from within the federation.

ý

ýThe commission said the measures were necessary to maintain administrative continuity as stakeholders, government officials, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) work on a broader reform roadmap for Nigerian football.

ý

ýIt added that further directives would be issued as the transition and reform process progresses.

US gives Uganda drugs for Ebola preparedness

The United States government has donated a monoclonal antibody treatment to Uganda to strengthen the country’s preparedness against Ebola as an outbreak of the disease continues in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

The treatment, MBP134, was handed over to the Ministry of Health at National Medical Stores on Wednesday.

Minister of State for Health (Primary Health Care) Charles Ayume received the donation on behalf of the government.

The US Embassy said Uganda currently has no active Ebola cases, but the ongoing outbreak of the Bundibugyo species in the Democratic Republic of Congo poses a serious risk because of cross-border movement.

‘As Ebola continues to spread in the DRC, the United States is making sure Uganda is ready to act fast,’ US Chargé d’Affaires Mikael Cleverley said.

He said the donation would help Uganda respond quickly to potential cases and strengthen health security in both countries.

The embassy said the DRC outbreak had become the largest recorded outside West Africa, with more than 4,500 confirmed cases and over 2,000 deaths as of mid-August 2026.

If Ebola is imported into Uganda, the treatment would allow health workers to deploy medical countermeasures immediately rather than waiting for supplies to arrive, the embassy said.

MBP134 was developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical with support from the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, part of the Department of Health and Human Services.

According to the embassy, the treatment is designed to recognise and neutralise Ebola virus particles, with pre-clinical studies showing effectiveness against several Ebola species, including Bundibugyo.

The treatment is not commercially available and can be used under compassionate-use arrangements, the embassy said.

The donation comes less than a month after Uganda declared the end of its 2026 Ebola outbreak after completing the required 42-day period without recording a new confirmed case.

Uganda recorded 20 confirmed cases during the outbreak, with 18 recoveries and two deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The US government said it has announced more than $619 million in funding for Ebola response efforts across the region.

Uganda continues to strengthen surveillance, particularly along its borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo, amid the ongoing outbreak there.

Health authorities have said the preparedness measures are intended to enable rapid detection, isolation and treatment of suspected cases should the virus cross into Uganda.

WhatsApp Business: Meta introduces N14 per-message charges from October 1

Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, will begin charging businesses for certain messages sent through the WhatsApp Business Platform from October 1, 2026.

The company announced the pricing change in a WhatsApp Business Platform update published in July 2026.

Under the new system, businesses will pay about N14 per service or qualifying utility message sent through the platform.

The charges will apply to companies using the official WhatsApp Business Platform, formerly known as the WhatsApp Business API, to manage customer conversations on a large scale.

Banks, fintechs, e-commerce companies, telecoms operators, logistics firms and large retailers that use the platform for customer service and transaction-related communication are among those that will be affected.

However, the new charges will not affect ordinary WhatsApp users or most small businesses using the standard WhatsApp Business app on their phones.

Currently, when a customer sends a message to a business, a 24-hour customer service window opens. During this period, businesses can respond with free-form service messages and certain utility messages without paying Meta.

From October 1, however, Meta will charge businesses on a per-message basis for service messages sent during the customer service window.

Meta said in its developer documentation, ‘Effective October 1, 2026, Meta will charge on a per-message basis for all service messages, consistent with how Meta charges for template messages. These messages have not been charged since November 1, 2024.’

The company added, ‘Effective October 1, 2026, Meta will charge on a per-message basis for utility messages sent in response to users (within an open 24-hour customer service window). These messages have not been charged since July 1, 2025.’

Utility messages include payment confirmations, order updates and delivery notifications.

Meta also warned businesses and Solution Providers to add a payment method before the new charges take effect.

It said, ‘For any Solution Provider or directly-integrated businesses that does not have a payment method on file by September 30, 2026, Meta will stop delivering service messages as of when they become charged on October 1, 2026.’

For Nigerian businesses, a chargeable utility or service message is expected to cost about $0.0101, equivalent to roughly N14 based on an exchange rate of about N1,340 to the dollar.

Marketing messages will cost more, at about $0.062 per message, or approximately N84 using the same exchange rate.

The charges are Meta’s fees and do not necessarily represent the total amount a business will pay. Companies using Business Solution Providers or third-party platforms to access the WhatsApp Business Platform may also face additional charges.

For instance, a Nigerian fintech sending 500,000 chargeable utility or service messages at $0.0101 per message would pay about $5,050 in Meta messaging fees alone.

At an exchange rate of N1,340 to the dollar, this amounts to approximately N6.8 million, excluding additional provider charges.

Although the cost per message is relatively small, the charges could significantly increase operating costs for businesses that send hundreds of thousands or millions of messages each month.

WhatsApp has become an important communication channel for Nigerian businesses, with banks and fintechs using it for customer support and transaction-related communication.

E-commerce, logistics and retail companies also use the platform for order updates, delivery notifications and other customer interactions.

The new pricing is part of Meta’s broader changes to WhatsApp Business, with the company gradually moving business messaging towards a per-message pricing model.

From October 1, previously free service messages and qualifying utility messages sent within an open 24-hour customer service window will become chargeable on the WhatsApp Business Platform.

ASUP Seeks Probe Into Alleged N1.3bn Unremitted Pension Deductions at Mubi Poly

Academic Staff Union Of Polytechnics (ASUP) of the Federal Polytechnic Mubi chapter, Adamawa State, has urged the Federal Government to constitute panel to investigate alleged non-remittance of staff pension contributions by the institution’s management.

Chairman of the Union, Comrade Kadala Solomon Bandi, made the call at a press conference held in Mubi on Thursday, where he demanded forensic audit and constitution of verification panel by the Federal Ministry of Education and National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to look in to the pension issue.

Bandi, who stressed the need for urgent intervention, lamented that the non-remittance of staff pension contributions had spanned up to ten years under successive administrations of the institution.

He stated that the failure to remit pension deductions to the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and the National Pension Commission (PenCom) constituted a violation of the Pension Reform Act 2014.

UPPC stun Vipers in season opener

UPPC delivered a statement result by condemning reigning champions Vipers to a 1-0 defeat in the opening game of the 2026/27 Startimes Uganda Premier League at the St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende on Friday evening.

Congolese defender Bady Da Silva put through his own net from Thomas Ochungo’s cross following miscommunication between him and goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba on 32 minutes despite no pressure from any UPPC player.

This was the first league game for Vipers new French coach Denis Lavagne who will be under early pressure with the club’s next match being the Caf Champions League preliminary round clash against Mauritanian side Nouadhibou.

It was also the first on-the-pitch loss for Vipers who went last season unbeaten save for the boardroom decision against Kitara that went against them.

They were second best against a UPPC side that should have been out of sight by the time Vipers put them under pressure in the second half.

A flowing move on 21 minutes should have ended in at least Ibrahim Orit forcing goalkeeper Mbaba into a save but a slight hesitation helped Vipers recover.

Mbaba then made two unorthodox saves with his feet keeping out a Reich Kokolo strike and also pushing wide an Ochungo cross 10 minutes into the second half.

Orit had missed the target with a header at the start of the second half from a Gideon Odongo cross as the UPPC attack led by Ibrahim Orit and Sharif Ssengendo and Steven Munguchi flourished.

Vipers and Lavagne now have a week to regroup before their Caf engagement that will now be under increased scrutiny.

NBA conference: Lawyers decry poor organisation, feeding, guest selection

Some participants at the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt have decried poor organisation, inadequate welfare arrangements and uncomfortable venues, saying the event fell short of last year’s edition in Enugu.

The conference, themed ‘Beyond Limits,’ is holding in its final days amid complaints about a decline in the intellectual quality of some activities.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Dr Monday Onyekachi Ubani, in an interim assessment, described the conference as ‘lacklustre, uninspiring and, in several respects, deeply disappointing.’ He praised last year’s Enugu conference for its organisation, traffic management and hospitality, saying positive reports from that edition had drawn a large turnout to Port Harcourt, especially among younger lawyers.

He faulted the quality of conference materials, particularly the conference bag, saying it did not reflect the ‘dignity, class and intellectual character’ expected of Africa’s largest gathering of lawyers. He also questioned the choice of some invited personalities, arguing that popularity and social media visibility should not take precedence over intellectual pedigree, professional accomplishment and scholarship. ‘Entertainment has its place, but it must never replace intellectual substance,’ he said.

Other participants echoed concerns over welfare and feeding. A video circulating among lawyers showed participants struggling to access meals at a food distribution point, sparking reactions online, though it did not establish that meals were generally unavailable.

The NBA had earlier said registered physical attendees were entitled to lunch on each of the three conference days, with digital meal tickets introduced for access to food stations.

Ubani said lunch arrangements were not sufficiently centralised, tea-break venues were poorly organised, and some halls used during the first two days were hot and unsuitable for serious engagement. ‘These may appear to be minor details to some people, but they are not,’ he said, arguing that a participant contending with heat, hunger and congestion could not fully concentrate on proceedings.

The experience has also revived concerns about Nigeria’s inadequate convention infrastructure. Ubani said an annual conference attracting tens of thousands of lawyers, more than 18,000 of whom had registered as of April, should not continue to depend on facilities not designed for gatherings of such magnitude. He called for investment in purpose-built convention centres accommodating at least 25,000 people, with adequate halls, air-conditioning, parking, security, sanitation, exhibition spaces, restaurants, reliable electricity and transportation.

Describing his assessment as interim, with the remaining days still capable of redeeming the conference, Ubani urged the NBA to improve planning, strengthen logistics and select guests more carefully. ‘We must plan better. We must organise better. We must select our guests with greater care. We must prioritise intellectual substance over unnecessary spectacle,’ he said.