Nigeria has lost distinguished professional in Dotun Oladipo – Atiku

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has expressed grief over the death of Dotun Oladipo, publisher of EagleOnline.

In a post shared on X, Atiku described Oladipo as ‘not just an extraordinary journalist; he was an extraordinary human being.’

‘Dotun was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word: gracious, thoughtful, decent, and humble,’ the former Vice President said.

Atiku noted that the late publisher was deeply committed to his craft and to the values of truth, professionalism, and public service.

‘But beyond his professional accomplishments was the man himself: warm, generous in spirit, respectful of others, and always willing to engage with kindness,’ he added.

According to Atiku, Nigeria’s journalism community, particularly the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP, has lost a distinguished professional.

‘His friends and colleagues have lost a dependable and gracious companion. And the many people whose lives he touched have lost a truly good man,’ he said.

He prayed for the repose of Oladipo’s soul.

‘May his memory remain a blessing, and may God grant his family, colleagues, and friends the strength to bear this painful loss,’ Atiku wrote.

Ondo ?????????govt recruits over 6,000 workers in 18 months

Ondo State Government says it has recruited more than 6,000 workers into critical sectors in last 18 months.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, made the disclosure on Friday in Akure during the maiden quarterly media briefing on the activities of Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration.

Adeniyan said the administration’s employment drive, anchored on its OUR EASE Agenda, focused on strengthening critical sectors of the economy while reducing unemployment across the state.

According to him, more than 6,000 recruits have been absorbed into education, healthcare, security and agriculture to improve service delivery and address manpower shortages.

‘It is on record that no governor has created more direct employment opportunities for the people of Ondo State than Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

‘In less than two years, more than 6,000 workers have been recruited into critical sectors such as education, healthcare, security and agriculture,’ he said.

Adeniyan said that the administration complemented the recruitment exercise with skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes targeted at youths and women.

He said the O’Datiwa Skill-Up a Woman Initiative trained and empowered 1,000 women in tailoring, catering, ICT and other vocational skills, with beneficiaries receiving start-up kits to establish businesses.

Adeniyan added that hundreds of youths had also benefited from the One Youth, One Skill Programme, while exceptional young entrepreneurs continued to receive government support.

He said the government had also provided interest-free loans and grants to market women, artisans and small business owners through the Ondo Ease Fund to stimulate economic growth and expand business opportunities.

According to him, the administration has equally demonstrated its commitment to youth inclusion by appointing more young people into government than any previous administration in the state.

Adeniyan also highlighted the administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare, noting that salaries were now paid on or before the 25th of every month, while pensioners received their entitlements alongside serving workers.

He added that the government had cleared inherited salary arrears, substantially reduced the backlog of gratuities, reviewed hazard allowances for health workers and improved the remuneration of medical doctors to motivate the workforce.

Adeniyan noted that the administration prioritised healthcare by improving the remuneration of health workers to retain skilled personnel, expanding health insurance coverage to all groups in the state.

He added that the administration was also committed to developing infrastructure.

Adeniyan said more than 200 kilometres had been completed while a state-wide 90-kilometre road rehabilitation programme was ongoing, with five kilometres allocated to each local government.

Delta, Edo, Anambra celebrate at 35

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has congratulated the citizens as the state marks its 35th anniversary of creation.

He assured them that the state had entered a new era of sustainable growth, development and prosperity.

The governor said this in a statement issued yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, in Asaba.

He described the anniversary as a milestone in the history of Delta State, noting the journey of the past 35 years had been defined by resilience, unity and the collective efforts of the people.

He hailed past leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil servants, private sector players and all the citizens for their contributions to the growth and development of the state since its creation on August 27, 1991.

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has promised to translate abundant assets in the state into tangible improvements.

The governor, in a statement to mark 35th anniversary of the state’s creation, said the occasion was a celebration of unity, resilience and shared progress.

He said his administration remained committed to accelerating development through the SHINE Agenda, acknowledging contributions of past administrations, traditional institutions, the private sector and other stakeholders to the growth of the state.

Okpebholo listed achievements made by his administration to include strengthened collaboration with security agencies to tackle criminal activities, prioritising health care through the upgrading of facilities and training of health workers, particularly at primary health care centres, increased subvention to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and Edo State University, Uzairue.

Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, yesterday declared a state of emergency on the environment, describing environmental degradation as the state’s ‘number one existential threat’.

He said more than 30 per cent of the state’s total landmass had been eroded, warning that dedicating the entire state budget to ecological remediation would still fall short of the financial requirement.

Soludo said this during a live broadcast at the Light House, Awka, to mark the 35th anniversary of the creation of Anambra State.

The broadcast, held under the theme: ‘Our Environment, Our Future, A Call for Personal Responsibility’, also featured the launch of a renewed clean and green initiative.

The initiative is aimed at transforming the state into a clean, planned and sustainable habitat.

The governor said while progress had been made in addressing insecurity since his administration assumed office, the environmental crisis required urgent and collective action.

‘Although cities globally are grappling with climate change and flooding, the situation in Anambra is a severe existential crisis, with about 98 per cent of the degradation attributed to human activities.

‘Anambra is the gully erosion capital of Africa, if not the world. More than 30 per cent of our total landmass have already been eroded.

‘Even if we dedicate the entire state budget to ecological remediation, it will still not be enough to address the magnitude of the problem,’ he said.

Soludo listed Nanka, Oko, Amaokpala, Ozubulu, Ogidi, Nkpor, parts of Onitsha and Nnewi among communities experiencing severe erosion, resulting in the collapse of homes, roads and farms.

He said the state’s porous soil had contributed to the problem, but human activities had drastically accelerated the degradation over the years.

The governor said available data indicated that the crisis was a cumulative 60-year problem.

He said the problem was driven by blocked drains, unauthorised construction on waterways, uncontrolled run-off and reckless excavation of soil without environmental impact assessments.

He also identified farming on vulnerable slopes as contributing 20 per cent to the crisis, deforestation 13 per cent and indiscriminate sand mining nine per cent.

Soludo acknowledged the efforts of previous administrations in tackling the environmental challenges, saying his administration had introduced structural measures to address the situation.

Why I advocate United State of Taraba – Gov Kefas

Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, on Friday, said collective unity among religious and ethnic groups towards developing the state was the reason he was advocating for ‘A United State of Taraba’.

While addressing citizens on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Taraba State, the governor also declared that the projects being undertaken by his administration were not more important than the unity of the citizens.

According to Kefas, his administration was building a Taraba where Christians and Muslims, people from the northern, central and southern parts of the state, as well as various ethnic communities, understand that they share one destiny.

‘No religion, political party or ethnic group can develop Taraba alone. No local government can permanently prosper while another part of the state collapses.

‘Our diversity should be our strength; it must never become a weapon against us. Of all the projects we are undertaking, none is more important than our unity, and that is why I advocate for ‘A United State of Taraba’,’ Governor Kefas explained.

The governor also insisted that politics must never destroy the unity and peace of the state, urging political associates and opponents not to recruit young people into violence.

‘As political activities increase, let us compete with ideas. Let us campaign and disagree, but let us not recruit young people into violence.

‘We must not weaponise ethnicity and religion. We must not introduce dangerous weapons into our communities. No one’s ambition is worth the blood of a Taraba citizen,’ Kefas insisted.

The governor urged security agencies to remain professional and impartial, just as he called on traditional rulers to remain fathers to all, political leaders to act responsibly, and young people to refuse to become instruments in the hands of politicians.

Governor Kefas also explained his decision to move from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor disclosed that his decision was a strategic step designed to strengthen Taraba’s engagement with the Federal Government, widen development partnerships and position the state to benefit more effectively from national opportunities.

‘My decision to move to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was not an abandonment of those who elected me; it was not an abandonment of my principles or a change in my commitment to Taraba,’ he continued.

‘My decision was a strategic step designed to strengthen Taraba’s engagement with the Federal Government, widen development partnerships and position our state to benefit more effectively from national opportunities.

‘Political parties are instruments through which leaders pursue service. I did not change my commitment to Taraba; I strengthened the platform from which I pursue that commitment.

‘We will work constructively with President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government, our National Assembly representatives, development institutions and responsible partners wherever cooperation advances our interests. Cooperation does not mean surrender. Where Taraba’s security, resources, dignity or welfare are involved, I will defend the interests of our people,’ he assured.

Governor Kefas disclosed that his administration had introduced a six-month Social Investment and Poverty Relief Programme, Taraba CARES, to tackle the effects of hardship on citizens.

According to the governor, the programme will provide targeted food assistance, household support, temporary community employment, agricultural inputs, livelihood equipment, health and nutrition outreach, school-family assistance, emergency water interventions, and assistance to vulnerable older persons and persons living with disabilities. It will run from October 2026 to March 2027.

The governor assured that Taraba CARES would not become a political sharing programme, as it does not belong to the APC, Christians, Muslims or any particular tribe.

He explained that the programme belongs to vulnerable Taraba citizens who genuinely need intervention, and that selection must therefore be based on verified need, transparency and community accountability.

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.”

2027: Youth for Tinubu Initiative Rebuilds Structures

The Director-General and Convener of the Youth for Tinubu Initiative, Ajibola Afolayan, has announced a total restructuring and expansion of YTI in Oyo State, alongside the launch of a new youth political force, the BSA Youth Movement, in support of the APC governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli.

In a statement made available to journalists, Afolayan noted that the development signals the start of aggressive, door-to-door mobilisation to secure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election and deliver APC victory across the entire ballot in Oyo State in the coming general election.

According to him, the group was founded in 2021 to mobilise youth for then-Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, adding that the group subsequently became one of the key youth structures that powered Tinubu’s emergence as President in 2023.

Afolayan further said that the organisation is being re-engineered for a more decisive 2027.

He added that the repositioned Youth for Tinubu Initiative will lead grassroots mobilisation for President Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The newly launched BSA Youth Movement, he said, will serve as the dedicated youth structure for Senator BSA’s governorship campaign in Oyo.

Afolayan further stated that the network will mobilise young professionals, entrepreneurs, students, artisans, farmers, community organisers and political activists to build a physical APC presence that translates directly into votes.

He reaffirmed YTI’s commitment to President Tinubu’s re-election, citing subsidy removal, FX reforms, tax reforms, NELFUND, CNG expansion, and massive investments in roads, rail, power, agriculture and youth empowerment as justification for continuity.

The director-general of the group noted that while YTI remains focused on the presidential campaign, the Oyo 2027 governorship contest requires a dedicated youth structure.

‘The BSA Youth Movement will remain focused on Senator Alli’s campaign while operating in synergy with YTI to deliver APC victory across the ballot.

‘We are not starting from zero. Youth for Tinubu Initiative was established in 2021, and we have travelled this political road before. We understand what mobilisation requires, we understand the grassroots, and we understand the importance of building structures that survive beyond social media.

‘But the scope goes beyond the top of the ticket. The structure will also drive coordinated support for APC’s 3 Senatorial candidates, all House of Representatives candidates, and all State House of Assembly candidates in Oyo State.

We are building a structure that will engage the electorate across the entire ballot. Every level of representation matters, and every candidate requires a strong grassroots connection.

‘The renewed YTI and BSA Youth Movement will deploy across Oyo’s five zones – Ibadan, Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso, Oyo and Ibarapa – with structures cascading into all 33 LGAs, wards, polling units, streets and communities.

‘The new mobilisation strategy deliberately moves beyond rallies and social media. The focus is direct, person-to-person engagement.

If we want the people to hear us, we must be prepared to go to the people. We will mobilise, galvanise, engage and canvass. We will go from house to house, ward to ward and community to community. We will speak with the people, listen to their concerns and present the records and programmes of the candidates we are supporting.

‘Oyo State deserves a conversation about competence, experience, capacity, inclusion and the future. That is the conversation BSA Youth Movement intends to take to the grassroots.

‘The political season has entered another phase. The structure is ready, the youths are ready, and we are taking the campaign to the people,’ he concluded.

Ex-governorship candidate Jegede dumps PDP

The erstwhile governorship candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede, has resigned his membership of the party.

Jegede, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), conveyed his resignation in a letter dated August 7, 2026.

A copy of the letter, obtained by The Nation, was addressed to the Chairman of Ward 11, Owode/Imagun Ward, Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, Mr Fabiyi Kole Adewale.

In the letter titled: ‘Resignation’, Jegede said his decision to quit the PDP was effective immediately.

‘Kindly take this as a formal notice of my resignation as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, effective immediately,’ he wrote.

Jegede, a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice under ex-Governor Olusegun Mimiko, was the PDP’s governorship candidate in the 2016 and 2020 elections, where he challenged the late former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He lost the two election exercise to the late Governor Akeredolu.

Confirming his resignation, Jegede said his next political movement would soon be announced.

‘Yes, I can confirm my resignation from the PDP. I will also let you know my next political movement,’ he told our reporter.

Jegede’s resignation from the opposition PDP comes some months after his core loyalists quit the PDP and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The loyalists were led by Balarabe Abiodun Akinwunmi, a known associate of Jegede, who is aligning with the Atiku Abubakar led coalition-backed ADC.

Akinwumi is now candidate of the ADC for the Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general election.

Sources revealed that Jegede would soon announce his official defection to ADC in his bid to contest the 2028 governorship election in Ondo State.

The development is coming amid the ongoing political alignment of opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 general election.

The ADC has been attracting prominent politicians and former members of opposition parties as part of efforts to build a stronger political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.

Jegede’s move is expected to further reshape the political landscape of Ondo State, particularly within the opposition camp ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development comes amid continuing concerns over the crisis and weakening structure of the PDP in the state, with some of its members and supporters already moving towards the ADC.

JAMB lists three reasons your name may be missing from matriculation list

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has given three reasons candidates may not find their names on the matriculation list.

The board explained the reasons in an explainer video posted on its official X handle on Friday.

According to JAMB, the first reason is the most common, while the third is the most important.

The board said candidates who have not accepted their admission on the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) may not have their names on the list.

‘Number one is the most common, while number three is the most important. You have not accepted your admission on JAMB CAPS or your admission status reads not admitted,’ the board said.

JAMB advised candidates whose admission status shows ‘not admitted’ to return to their institutions and have their admissions processed.

‘If it reads not admitted, return to your institution to process your admission,’ JAMB stated.

The board also said some candidates may be missing from the list because their institutions have not sent their verified matriculation details to JAMB.

‘Your institution admission office has not forwarded your verified matriculation details to JAMB,’ it said.

JAMB urged candidates affected by this to contact their institutions and ensure their admissions are processed on CAPS.

Another reason, according to the board, is failure to print the JAMB original result slip and admission letter.

‘You have not printed your JAMB original results slip and admission letter,’ the board said.

It advised candidates in this category to visit the nearest JAMB office or an approved Computer-Based Test centre to print the documents.

‘So visit the nearest JAMB office or approved CBT centre and get it printed,’ the board advised.

JAMB also urged candidates to follow its social media platforms for further updates and information.

Environmental degradation: Lawyers move to defend Nigerians against rights abuses

A coalition of lawyers has launched a national legal offensive against environmental degradation and other rights violations, vowing to defend Nigerians who face intimidation, harassment or reprisals for speaking out against abuses in their communities.

The lawyers, under the Nigerian arm of the Defenders Legal Rapid Response Team, said no citizen should be left helpless when the exercise of legitimate environmental, land, community or fundamental rights attracts threats from government authorities, corporations or powerful individuals.

The initiative, promoted by the Environmental Defenders Network in collaboration with Chima Williams Esq. and Associates Law Firm, with support from CLIDEF, currently has about 35 members drawn from different areas of legal practice and spread across four of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Speaking at the inauguration in Benin City, the Executive Director of CLIDEF, Chima Williams, said the initiative was established to restore public confidence in the legal profession and demonstrate that lawyers could still be counted upon to defend citizens whose rights were threatened because of their legitimate advocacy.

Williams stressed that the team was not an ‘all-comers platform’, but a carefully constituted network of lawyers united by a commitment to deploy their professional expertise, time, intellectual capacity and networks in defence of citizens facing reprisals.

He said the membership comprised lawyers from different generations and professional backgrounds, including senior practitioners, academics, professors, government lawyers, activist lawyers and retired senior law-enforcement professionals who are also legal practitioners.

According to him, the diversity of the team would enable it to draw on extensive professional and practical experience in responding to cases involving environmental abuses, land disputes, community rights, fundamental rights violations and the victimisation of citizens who challenge wrongdoing.

Williams said the ultimate objective was to create a dependable legal mechanism through which Nigerians could quickly identify lawyers willing to stand with them in the face of intimidation, provided their causes were lawful and consistent with the Nigerian Constitution, existing laws and other applicable legal instruments.

He expressed concern over the erosion of public confidence in the legal profession, particularly perceptions that some lawyers compromise cases involving powerful individuals, corporations or institutions.

The CLIDEF Executive Director said the new platform was determined to reverse such perceptions by demonstrating that professional integrity remained central to the legal profession and that the influence or status of an opposing party should not determine a citizen’s access to justice.

‘The truth must be spoken at all times because it is only the truth that will set us free,’ Williams said, stressing the need to restore confidence in lawyers as defenders of justice, human rights and the rule of law.

He disclosed that the network would soon extend its membership to the remaining two geopolitical zones, with the aim of establishing a truly national rapid-response mechanism capable of providing urgent legal intervention to citizens whose rights are under threat.

The inauguration also highlighted the strategic role of the media in supporting public-interest litigation, with Williams stressing that responsible reporting could help expose environmental abuses, human rights violations and actions by powerful institutions.

He said stronger collaboration between lawyers and the media would be critical to ensuring that cases involving public interest receive the visibility required to promote accountability, protect vulnerable communities and strengthen the rule of law across Nigeria.

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.