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Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has said that the Federal Government spent not less than ?1 trillion on cancer control in the last one year.

Bagudu made this known at the 5.4-kilometre walk in Abuja, with the theme, ‘One Walk, One Fight – Walk Away Cancer,’ which brought together survivors, health advocates and political leaders in a united call for early detection, prevention and stronger government support to combat one of Africa’s deadliest diseases.

The minister explained that ?350 billion had been invested in establishing cancer centres across the country, while over ?300 billion had also been committed to cancer detection equipment, in addition to other allocations to the health sector.

He stressed that additional revenue had been made available to state and local governments for cancer prevention, early detection and treatment, adding that there was a need to hold them accountable for the judicious utilisation of the funds.

‘I want to commend the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), under the leadership of its president, Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, for its relentless and longstanding cancer awareness and sensitisation campaign.

‘Cancer control remains one of the priority areas of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the health sector,’ he said.

On her part, the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Dr Maria Mahmoud, said early detection played a significant role in combating cancer before it advanced, urging Nigerians, particularly women and girls, to undergo regular screening, which she said was available at little or no cost in many centres.

‘We really appreciate and commend this sensitisation initiative for Nigerians. With this kind of massive turnout, the high prevalence of cervical cancer will go down,’ she said.

The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmed, also said nobody should fight cancer alone, stressing the importance of early screening and noting that the disease did not discriminate based on age or social influence.

‘To all cancer patients and survivors, we see your fight and honour your courage. We shall continue to stand with you in solidarity,’ she said.

In his remarks, the president of the Cancer Society of Nigeria, Professor Abidemi Omonisi, called on the Federal Government, civil society organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to support cancer patients and survivors as part of efforts towards national development.

‘I want to thank the president of the UICC, Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, for being a leading cancer control advocate in the country. She is not just an advocate but also contributes financially to supporting cancer patients and survivors because treatment is very expensive,’ he said.

In her address, the president of the Union for International Cancer Control, Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, said the organisation, in collaboration with other stakeholders, had been fighting cancer for over 12 years and would not relent in its efforts to tackle the deadly disease.

‘We want to see a lot more financial appropriation for the fight against cancer. A lot has been done this year, and we want to thank President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative for investing heavily in the health sector for national development,’ she said.

A cancer survivor, Mr Farooq Oreagba, said he had been diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer more than 12 years ago, attributing his survival to early screening and detection.

‘To everyone here, being diagnosed with cancer is not a death sentence. All I need from everyone is regular screening, as early detection saves lives. My cancer was detected even when I was not ill. I have a few more years to go, and I am still not ready to quit,’ Oreagba said.

Two Europe-based Nigerian ‘businessmen’ who flew home on holiday and attempted to return to Paris, France with their bellies loaded with cocaine have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

The duo, Aliocus Godian Odife and Sam Blackborn, according to a statement by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, were intercepted on 28th October 2026 during the outward clearance of Air France flight AF 832 from Abuja to Paris.

Both men have excreted a total of 200 wraps of the Class A drug weighing 3.460 kilograms.

Odife, who claims to live in France and works in a factory, arrived in Nigeria for a short holiday on 21st October.

He was, however, arrested by NDLEA operatives on his return flight few days after when he was subjected to a body scan, which confirmed the presence of foreign objects in his stomach. Under interview, he admitted to having ingested 110 pellets of cocaine.

He was placed under observation during which he excreted all 110 wraps, which tested positive for cocaine, with a total weight of 1.901 kilograms.

On the same flight, his co-traveller, Sam Blackborn, was also nabbed by NDLEA officers at the departure hall of the Abuja airport. His body scan likewise returned positive for ingestion, while he confessed to having swallowed 90 pellets of cocaine. Under observation, he excreted all 90 wraps, which tested positive for the class A drug after each excretion and weighed a total of 1.559 kilograms.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on actionable intelligence on the movement of skunk, a strong strain of cannabis from the Island to the Mainland, on 25th October, intercepted a white Volkswagen LT 28 bus along Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja, where 537 kilograms of the psychoactive substance were recovered. The same day, another team of officers intercepted a brown J5 bus along the Gbagada-Oshodi expressway, with 439 kilograms of the same substance seized.

In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives on 29th October conducted a follow-up operation at Idere Road, Igboora, where two suspects, Oguntona Nasiru and Soji Balogun, were arrested while loading 554 kilograms of skunk into a Volvo truck for onward movement into town. The operation targeted a notorious drug dealer known as ‘Omo Oba’, who escaped arrest on 25th October when officers seized 309.5 kilograms of the strong cannabis strain popularly called ‘Ghanaian Loud’ linked to him.

In Kano, NDLEA operatives on 26th October raided a location in Tsamiya area of Gezawa, where they recovered 247,500 tablets of diazepam weighing 57.7 kilograms and 100,000 tablets of Exol-5 weighing 38.7 kilograms. Two days later, on 28th October, another team of officers stormed the Dorayi area of the state, where they arrested Ziya’ulhaq Abdullahi and Garba Muhammed with 19,250 pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 13.6 kilograms.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway have arrested a woman, Aisha Isah, at the toll gate with 266 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition. On the Zaria-Kano expressway, a 68-year-old man, Ifeanyi Egwolonwu, was arrested at Gwargwaje, Zaria, with 2,770 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 100 ampoules of diazepam injection, 11,000 tablets of diazepam and 4,500 tablets of Exol-5.

In a raid at Tashan Banke area of the state, officers also arrested seven suspects, including Faisal Adamu, and recovered 178.85 kilograms of cannabis alongside quantities of diazepam, tramadol, Exol-5 and pregabalin.

In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives on 25th October, acting on credible intelligence, raided cannabis farms in Ijare forest, where they arrested four suspects, including Bassey Okon, Abraham Edet and Oto Udo. A total of 16 bags of processed cannabis weighing 180 kilograms were recovered from the farms.

Similarly, a team of NDLEA operatives supported by soldiers on 28th October 2026 raided Eko Camp in Ilushi, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State, where a cannabis plantation measuring 1.646 hectares with an estimated yield of 4,115.53 kilograms was destroyed. A 50-year-old woman, Christiana Uboi, was arrested at the camp with 301 kilograms of processed cannabis, while another 176 kilograms of the drug was recovered during the raid.

In Sokoto, operatives of Zone 7 Command of NDLEA, acting on credible intelligence, on Saturday, arrested a 68-year-old man, Ibrahim Ayuba, with 236.6 kilograms of skunk.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities, among others, in the past week.

While commending the officers and men of NAIA, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Ondo, Oyo and Edo Commands for the arrests and seizures, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), noted that the interception of the two cocaine couriers at Abuja airport is a fresh warning to those who think they can use their residence abroad as cover to traffic drugs across Nigerian borders.

He said the Agency’s officers at all entry and exit points remain alert, and that there is no hiding place for anyone who chooses to risk their life and liberty by ingesting illicit drugs for a fee.

Marwa also charged officers and men of the Agency across the country to sustain the current tempo against drug cartels while not relenting in their drug demand reduction efforts, including WADA sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.

The National Youth Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Oluwafemi Oyetunde, has called for a partnership between the church and the Oyo State Police Command to promote crime prevention and improve relations between young people and law enforcement officers. Pastor Oyetunde made the call when he led a delegation of the church’s National Youth Affairs to the Oyo State Police Command headquarters on Thursday.

He said the church was interested in working with the police to prevent crime and build trust between young people and law enforcement officers.

‘We are here to also talk about crime prevention. How can we prevent crime, and how can we also build trust between young people and the police?’ he said.

He added that religious organisations had a role to play in national development and expressed the church’s readiness to partner with the police.

Pastor Oyetunde also sought information on police career opportunities, including short-service entry pathways, to enable young people to understand the available options.

Responding, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, urged young people in the state to shun violence, familiarise themselves with criminal laws and pursue peaceful means of expressing their grievances.

The commissioner warned that ignorance of the law could expose young people to criminal liability, urging them to understand the consequences of their actions.

‘Criminal law is like a naked wire. Any little touch can be dangerous.

‘One of the things that can help young people avoid violating the criminal law is to know the law itself,’ he said.

CP Olugbenga also urged young people to remain peaceful when protesting or expressing dissatisfaction with public institutions, noting that their actions should not infringe on the rights of other citizens.

‘We are not saying you cannot come to protest. You can present your grievances, but you must be peaceful and civil,’ he said.

The police commissioner identified community policing as an important approach to improving relations between law enforcement officers and members of the public.

‘Community policing makes it possible for us to identify a common problem and discuss the way forward. It will not be the police alone solving that problem,’ he said.

He said mutual understanding and communication were necessary to build trust between the police and young people.

‘You can have trust when you understand yourselves,’ he added.

Pastor Oyetunde’s three-day visit to Oyo State comprised an executive meeting with the leadership of the Mission’s Youth Affairs in Oyo on the first day, official visits to key institutions on the second day and a 24-hour Prayer and Word Retreat, themed ‘BUILDUP’, on the third day.

The delegation included Pastor Fabulous Oluwabusiwa, Pastor-in-Charge of Province (PICP), Youth Province 4; Pastor Wole Akindele, Assistant Pastor-in-Charge of Province (APICP); Pastor Oyesanmi James, Regional Youth Evangelist, Region 21; Pastor Oluwafemi Oladele, Central Operations Officer; Pastor Daniel Nwoji, Director of Programs; and Victory Adudu, Director of Prayer.

Others were Pastor Moses Oladimeji, Regional Youth Pastor, Region 42; Pastor David Olagunju, Regional Youth Pastor, Region 21; Pastor Enoch Olatunji, Area Coordinator, Youth Province, C12; and Ayotunde Folahan, Assistant Director of Media, NYAYA.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Sokoto State Government of allegedly using intimidation, threats and security agencies to frustrate its planned presidential campaign flag-off in the state.

The party also alleged that the government pressured hotel operators to cancel reservations made for its delegates and supporters ahead of the event.

The Director-General of the ADC governorship campaign in Sokoto State, Bello Aliyu Goronyo, made the allegations while addressing journalists at the party’s secretariat in Sokoto on Sunday.

Goronyo said the party had formally notified the state government of its intention to host the presidential campaign flag-off, initially scheduled for October 31, 2026, but alleged that the government responded by expressing opposition to the event.

He described the response as an attempt to undermine political pluralism and deny opposition parties the freedom to conduct lawful political activities.

‘The Government replied by stating its disagreement with the flag-off. That reply raises serious concern about the Government’s commitment to political pluralism, freedom of association and the right of opposition parties to hold lawful political activities,’ he said.

The ADC chieftain further alleged that the government mounted pressure on hotel operators to cancel bookings made by the party for delegates and supporters expected to attend the campaign.

He claimed that some government-owned hotels declined to accommodate guests, citing full bookings, while private hotel operators were allegedly threatened with demolition if they failed to cancel the party’s reservations.

‘We have received reports that hotel operators were threatened with consequences, including the demolition of their properties, if they refused to comply,’ Goronyo alleged.

He described the development as part of what he called a sustained campaign of intimidation against the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party also alleged that its women supporters were attacked during a solidarity march on October 28, with some sustaining injuries, while their mobile phones were reportedly stolen, clothes torn and vehicles vandalised.

Goronyo said the ADC state campaign office was also attacked on the same day, resulting in damage to its windows, doors and other property, while three motorcycles were destroyed.

The party further accused personnel of the Sokoto Marshals and Sokoto Community Guards of involvement in an alleged attack on its governorship candidate, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport on October 30.

According to Goronyo, the candidate’s vehicles were smashed, gunshots were reportedly fired during the incident, and two Department of State Services personnel attached to his security detail were detained.

He called on the police and the DSS to investigate the incident and identify those responsible.

‘The authorities must establish who authorised the operation, what instructions were issued to the personnel involved, who discharged firearms and under what authority, and why DSS officers assigned to protect a political candidate were detained by state security personnel,’ he said.

The ADC also expressed concern over alleged instructions to personnel of the state-owned security outfits to prevent its supporters from entering Sokoto ahead of the campaign flag-off.

‘No governor, political party or security commander has the authority to restrict citizens from entering a state because of their political affiliation,’ the party said.

Despite the alleged intimidation and other challenges, Goronyo insisted that the presidential campaign flag-off would now hold on November 4, 2026.

‘No threat, intimidation or unlawful obstruction will deprive the party of its constitutional right to organise political activities and campaign for its candidates,’ the ADC stated.

The party urged the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS and other relevant authorities to conduct an independent investigation into the alleged attacks, threats against hotel operators and involvement of state security personnel.

It also called for adequate protection for its candidates, leaders and supporters, urging members to remain peaceful and law-abiding.

However, the Sokoto State Government had earlier denied allegations that it directed hotels to reject ADC delegates. The state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) also maintained that hotel reservations were made to accommodate dignitaries expected to attend a traditional title ceremony.

Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) has dismissed the Trade Union Congress (TUC)’s rejection of the N70,000 monthly transportation allowance for public servants, insisting that the opposition will not affect the implementation of the agreement reached with the Federal Government.

The council said the agreement, which provides for the payment of the allowance for six months beginning from November 2026, followed extensive negotiations involving the Federal Government, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), JNPSNC and Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Trade Union Side, Comrade Olowoye Gbenga, the council disclosed that the meeting held on October 27 and presided over by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, lasted more than six hours before an agreement was reached.

Reacting to TUC’s rejection of the transportation allowance, JNPSNC acknowledged the Congress’s right to express its views on labour matters but maintained that it was not part of the negotiations that produced the agreement.

‘The rejection of any of the items by any Trade Union is inconsequential to the implementation of the agreement, especially the payment of N70,000 transportation allowance,’ the council declared.

It said the agreement was reached through constructive engagement and exhaustive negotiations, stressing that workers’ interests, irrespective of their union affiliations, should take precedence over disagreements among labour.

A former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, Ambassador Yahaya Seriki, has organised a N4 billion empowerment programme in support of President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Seriki unveiled the initiative, tagged ‘Yahaya Seriki Empowerment and Enterprise Colloquium’, in Ilorin at the weekend, saying the package was designed to help beneficiaries improve their livelihoods and achieve economic independence.

The APC chieftain, who is the founder and Managing Director of Kursi Investments Limited, Abuja, said the package comprised N1 billion in cash and about N3.2 billion worth of equipment and other items, including 150 vehicles and sewing machines.

He said the programme was motivated by his desire to give back to society and create opportunities for people to improve their livelihoods.

‘The purpose of this empowerment is to help people progress in their own way. All I am doing is giving back to the society that brought me this far’, he said.

Seriki said he believed individuals who had achieved financial success should use their resources to improve the lives of others and support those in need.

On the 2027 elections, the APC chieftain declared his support for the re-election of Tinubu and Shettima, describing the President’s policies as necessary for Nigeria’s development.

‘This empowerment programme is in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I believe we have never had it this good in the history of Nigeria.

‘We have a President who believes in building a better country and changing the narrative for the better,’ he said.

He urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to support Tinubu’s second-term ambition, calling on citizens to rally behind the President.

Also speaking at the event, the senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District and the PDP senatorial candidate for the 2027 general elections, Senator Saliu Mustapha, commended Seriki for his humanitarian activities in the state.

‘My brother, Ambassador Yahaya Seriki-Gambari, today demonstrated yet again his remarkable commitment to humanity through a one-of-its-kind empowerment programme, during which he distributed vehicles, tools and equipment for artisans, and other valuable items worth billions of naira.

‘This is certainly not his first intervention of this magnitude, and I sincerely hope and pray that it will not be his last.

‘For me, this is particularly heartwarming because it reflects a philosophy of service that I have consistently believed in and practised over the years, first through the Saliu Mustapha Foundation and now under the auspices of my office as the Senator representing the Kwara Central Senatorial District.

‘Time and again, I have challenged my principal rival in the forthcoming senatorial election to point to just one tangible, enduring contribution he made to infrastructure or human capital development before assuming public office.

‘Something verifiable, something impactful, something that has stood the test of time. Till today, neither he nor his supporters have provided a convincing answer to that challenge.

‘And therein lies the fundamental difference between those who have invested their personal resources, time and energy in uplifting people and communities long before seeking public office, and those whose claim to public relevance began only after political power was handed to them on a platter.

‘More often than not, the difference in these backgrounds becomes even more evident in the quality of leadership and the outcomes they deliver while in office.

Senator Mustapha added, ‘To all the beneficiaries, there is a clear thin line between luck and opportunity. I urge you to make the most of these opportunities, put the items received to productive use, improve your livelihoods, and contribute meaningfully to the development of our society.

‘May Almighty Allah continue to bless and strengthen everyone who genuinely seeks to uplift humanity’.

Former President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina; Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, are among prominent African leaders expected to lead discussions on strategies for accelerating economic transformation and building a prosperous, resilient and inclusive African economy.

The leaders will participate in the second edition of the Oxford Global Think Tank (OGTT) Leadership Conference scheduled for November 3 in Abuja, where policymakers, business executives, financial experts and civil society representatives will examine practical approaches to unlocking the continent’s economic potential.

Adesina, who is also Executive Chairman of the Global Africa Investment Summit, will deliver the keynote address, while Sanusi and the Founder of ANAP Foundation, Atedo Peterside, will co-chair the conference.

The conference, themed ‘Leadership for a Prosperous Future,’ will focus on leadership choices, institutional reforms, technological innovations and investment opportunities required to translate Africa’s vast resources and potential into sustainable economic growth.

Discussions will also address emerging challenges, including the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, shifting global power dynamics, demographic changes and evolving economic realities.

Other expected participants include the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani; Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; Executive Vice President of Afreximbank, Dr Kanayo Awani; Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Dr Emomotimi Agama; and Chief Executive Officer of Flutterwave, Gbenga Agboola.

A statement by the Conference Media Adviser, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, said deliberations would be anchored on three pillars: resilience, innovation and dynamism.

According to the statement, participants will explore strategies for strengthening African institutions, mobilising capital, improving productivity and expanding economic opportunities across the continent.

A major highlight of the conference will be its focus on artificial intelligence, including the launch of an AI report and an AI Virtual Centre, alongside an exhibition showcasing emerging technologies and their potential to transform Africa’s development.

The organisers said the gathering was designed to move beyond broad development aspirations by identifying practical actions and partnerships that could strengthen institutions, deepen productive capacity and promote inclusive economic growth.

‘Africa’s future will be shaped by the quality of leadership and the choices its institutions and leaders make today,’ the organisers said.

The conference, hosted by the Oxford Global Think Tank, founded by Ms Arunma Oteh, will hold at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., followed by a cocktail reception.

The Oxford Global Think Tank is an independent, non-governmental and non-partisan organisation that promotes research and dialogue on development, while supporting public and private sector leaders in exploring policy ideas and strengthening institutions.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to order an independent probe into the alleged use of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated photographs and the manipulation of personal data in the preliminary Register of Voters published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The call came on Sunday from Lagos-based rights group Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) through a statement by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

Referencing its letter dated October 31, 2026, the human rights group charged the President Tinubu-led government to direct the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, to conduct a prompt, thorough, and independent investigation.

SERAP’s call came after the electoral body acknowledged public complaints about suspected AI-generated photos and questionable records discovered during the nationwide display of the preliminary voter register from 9 to 15 October 2026.

According to INEC’s statement of 27 October 2026, the commission agreed that ‘many questionable registration records were identified and flagged for further examination and that the online publication does not reflect all ongoing data-cleanup activities.’

The irregularities, according to SERAP, raise concerns about data security, voter register integrity, and the 2027 general elections.

The letter reads in part: ‘The reported irregularities raise serious concerns about the security and integrity of Nigerians’ personal data and the reliability of the voter register ahead of the 2027 general elections.

‘The security and accuracy of the voter register are fundamental to the protection of Nigerians’ personal data and their right to participate in public affairs.’

The Lagos-based rights group urged the NDPC to establish the nature, extent, and geographical spread of the affected records, determine if a personal data breach occurred under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, and identify those responsible.

SERAP expressed worries that some registration officers may have misused their official access credentials to introduce irregular records, including AI-generated photographs.

SERAP said, ‘An internal review by INEC cannot substitute for the NDPC’s independent exercise of its statutory data-protection mandate,’ just as it cited Sections 24, 39, 40, and 65 of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, which require personal data to be processed accurately and securely, and mandate data controllers to report breaches within 72 hours.

The group equally referenced Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution on the right to privacy.

The human rights group prayed to the NDPC to conduct a forensic examination of INEC’s database, publish its findings, enforce corrective measures, and ensure affected Nigerians can verify and correct their records without being unfairly excluded from voting.

SERAP gave the government a seven-day ultimatum to act, warning that failure would lead to legal action.

‘We would be grateful if the requested measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions,’ the letter added.

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna have declared their support for Governor Uba Sani ahead of the 2027 governorship election, citing the construction of roads in their communities.

The PDP members in Soba LGA said they would support the governor at the polls despite their membership of the opposition party, arguing that his performance in infrastructure development had earned him their backing.

The Co-ordinator of PDP in the area, Adamu Danburam, said he and hundreds of their members would vote for Uba Sani because the governor had done for his community what the PDP had failed to do.

‘I am a staunch PDP member, but for us, politics is about individuals. Although we belong to the PDP, I will vote for Uba Sani because he has done for me what the PDP could not do.

‘Even as a PDP coordinator in my area, I will vote for Uba Sani because we have resolved to vote for someone who knows our community and has done something to improve our lives. I support him because he has constructed a road for us,’ he said.

Danburam also prayed for the governor to complete his tenure successfully, adding that residents hoped he would address other challenges facing their communities if re-elected.

He specifically appealed to the governor to provide a hospital, electricity, and clean drinking water for Birnin Da’a village.

Another PDP member, Dogara Mohammed, said he had never changed political parties but would vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 election because of the road constructed through his community.

‘Everybody knows that I have never changed political parties, but this time, I will vote for the APC because of the road he constructed through our town.

‘The road will benefit many people, including future generations. It will also help many people across the country, especially those who use it to travel,’ he said.

Mohammed added that the residents intended to reward the governor for the project through their votes.

Similarly, Hassan Adamu Abdullahi said the poor condition of roads had previously made it difficult for farmers to transport their produce to markets in Soba and other locations, particularly during the rainy season.

‘Before the road was constructed, we faced serious difficulties because of the poor road network. It was difficult to transport our farm produce to markets, especially during the rainy season.

‘But now, Governor Uba Sani has constructed a road linking Gurundafi, Soba and Turawa. We can reach our destinations easily within a few minutes. We are truly grateful,’ he said.

The residents described the road project as an intervention that would improve transportation, ease the movement of farm produce and support economic activities in their communities.

The Kaduna State Government has also constructed roads in other parts of the state, including a 15-kilometre road linking Kasuwar Magani to Wusar in Kajuru Local Government Area and a 23-kilometre road linking Madaci to Madakiya and extending to Kafanchan in Jema’a Local Government Area of Southern Kaduna.

Over 300 residents of Ondo State have benefited from the Federal Government’s distribution of locally manufactured solar home systems and clean cooking stoves under its National Sustainable Empowerment Programme (NSEP).

The beneficiaries, drawn from the three senatorial districts of the state, received the items at an empowerment programme organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) at the Dr Olusegun Mimiko Event Centre, Akure.

The intervention is aimed at improving access to clean energy, reducing household health risks, promoting indigenous technology and supporting small-scale businesses.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the programme was part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its commitment to economic self-reliance, local production and youth-centred development.

Olawande said the initiative was designed not only to provide immediate relief to vulnerable households but also to stimulate local industries, create employment opportunities and encourage Nigerians to embrace homegrown technological solutions.

He stressed that the selection of beneficiaries was not based on political affiliation, adding that the government was determined to ensure that its interventions reached ordinary Nigerians in need of support.

According to him, beneficiaries would also receive stipends to support the establishment and expansion of micro-businesses, making the intervention more sustainable.

He said: ‘Over 300 beneficiaries in Ondo State are receiving these items, irrespective of political affiliation.

‘This is not a political strategy but a demonstration of President Tinubu’s commitment to fulfilling his promises and making government interventions beneficial to ordinary Nigerians.’

The minister explained that the clean cooking stoves would reduce health risks associated with prolonged exposure to smoke from firewood, particularly among women and children, while the solar systems would provide electricity for students and small-scale business operators.

He said the programme had been extended to several states, including Kano, Katsina, Lagos and Oyo, adding that Ondo was selected as part of efforts to expand its nationwide coverage.

Olawande also announced that the Nigeria Youth Academy (NYA) would be launched on November 9, with a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, offering grants ranging from N5 million to N20 million to support promising young entrepreneurs.

He urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the items, describing the intervention as an opportunity to improve their livelihoods.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Khalil Halilu, said the agency was focused on converting research and development into practical products that address the needs of Nigerians.

Halilu said the locally manufactured solar systems and clean cooking stoves were part of efforts to promote indigenous technology, generate employment and provide solutions to challenges confronting communities.

He said: ‘Our clean cooking stoves make cooking healthier and more efficient, while the home solar systems help small businesses have electricity throughout the day and ensure that children can do their assignments even when there is no public power supply.’

He explained that the initiative was also intended to strengthen local manufacturing and create employment opportunities through the production of Nigerian-made equipment.

‘In a nutshell, it is about translating research and development into actual products that will impact people’s lives and, most importantly, make the intervention sustainable,’ he said.

The NASENI chief executive expressed satisfaction with the agency’s collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Development, describing the partnership as an important step towards sustainable development.

He assured that more empowerment initiatives would be introduced to improve living conditions, promote local manufacturing and create opportunities for economic advancement.