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The Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other prominent political figures for standing with his family following the death of his mother, Nkechi Stella Rhodes-Vivour.

Rhodes-Vivour, the ADC flagbearer for the 2027 Lagos governorship election, expressed his appreciation in a post on X, describing the support his family received across political divides as a source of strength.

He said losing a loved one creates a certain vulnerability, changes one’s perspective on life and brings attention back to what truly matters.

‘There is a certain vulnerability that comes with the loss of a loved one. It changes one’s perspective on life and reminds us of what truly matters,’ he wrote.

Rhodes-Vivour thanked former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi and Kashim Imam for their empathy and comforting presence.

‘I am particularly grateful to H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, H.E. Atiku Abubakar, H.E. Rotimi Amaechi, H.E. Peter Obi, and H.E. Kashim Imam for their support, empathy, and comforting presence during this difficult period,’ he said.

The ADC flagbearer also appreciated Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, Ken Pela, Olumide Akpata and Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, for extending kindness to his family.

‘My sincere appreciation also goes to H.E. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, H.E. Obafemi Hamzat, Ken Pela, Olumide Akpata, and Jandor for extending a hand of kindness and standing with my family in our time of grief,’ he added.

Rhodes-Vivour also thanked members of his political family across different platforms for their prayers, encouragement and unwavering support over the past two weeks.

Paying tribute to his mother, he said her greatest testament was the love she gave and the lives she touched within her family, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ECOWAS, her church and among her friends.

‘Her legacy reminds me that the true measure of a life is not in what we accumulate, but in the love we share and the positive impact we make,’ he said.

Rhodes-Vivour urged Nigerians to honour his mother’s memory by loving more deeply, standing for what is right and making a positive difference wherever they have the opportunity.

P.M. NEWS reported on 13 July that Nkechi Stella Rhodes-Vivour had died, with her family describing her as a loving wife, devoted mother and grandmother who would be greatly missed

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has sealed shops and business premises along the Tejuosho-Ojuelegba corridor over persistent illegal dumping of refuse on road medians.

The enforcement followed repeated warnings to traders who allegedly continued violating Lagos State environmental sanitation laws in spite of sustained sensitisation campaigns.

A statement issued on Thursday by LAWMA’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr Mukaila Sanusi, said the operation was conducted by the agency’s Waste Investigation Surveillance and Enforcement team.

LAWMA Managing Director, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the action became necessary to restore environmental order and safeguard public health along the busy corridor.

He said indiscriminate waste disposal by traders had undermined sanitation efforts and defaced public infrastructure, despite continuous engagement with market leaders and stakeholders.

According to him, several advocacy campaigns and consultations failed to stop the practice, leaving the authority with no choice but enforcement.

‘We had no option but to invoke relevant provisions of the state’s environmental laws,’ Gbadegesin said.

He disclosed that affected shops and market stalls would remain sealed until traders fully complied with prescribed sanitation requirements.

‘The affected shops and market stalls will remain sealed until the traders comply fully with prescribed sanitation requirements,’ he stated.

Gbadegesin added that LAWMA must also be satisfied that adequate preventive measures had been implemented before the premises could be reopened.

He stressed that road medians, drainage channels and other public spaces were not designated locations for waste disposal.

The managing director warned that the authority would sustain strict enforcement against individuals and businesses violating environmental regulations across the state.

He urged traders, market associations and residents to patronise assigned Private Sector Participants waste operators for proper refuse management.

Gbadegesin also advised residents to dispose of waste responsibly and support government efforts aimed at maintaining a cleaner environment.

He reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to combining continuous public enlightenment with firm enforcement to improve environmental compliance statewide.

According to him, the authority will continue implementing measures designed to protect public health and improve residents’ quality of life.

LAWMA has intensified enforcement of environmental sanitation laws in recent months across Lagos.

The agency has repeatedly warned that illegal dumping on road medians and drainage channels contributes significantly to flooding, environmental degradation and public health risks.

National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Seriake Dickson, has warned politicians plotting to manipulate the 2027 general elections to prepare for disappointment.

Dickson declared that Nigerians would resist violence, intimidation and every attempt to subvert their will at the polls.

The former Bayelsa State governor gave the warning in a statement shared on his verified X account.

He assured Nigerians that every lawful vote cast during the elections would count, insisting that the will of the people remained supreme.

According to him, politicians who depend on armed thugs, compromised security operatives and fabricated results to win elections will not succeed in 2027.

‘I want to assure you that every vote will count. There will be no room for violence, intimidation, or the deployment of security operatives and armed thugs against law-abiding citizens, as some people do,’ Dickson said.

The NDC leader called on Nigerians and members of his party to remain vigilant and prepared to resist attempts to undermine the electoral process through democratic means.

‘We believe the people’s will is supreme. Thank you once again for your prayers and support for me and for all the candidates of our party.

‘Together, we must remain vigilant and ready to democratically resist intimidation, oppression, violence, inducements, and every attempt to undermine the will of our people,’ he added.

Dickson also boasted that his political camp had defeated what he described as ‘federal might’ on several occasions.

‘We have defeated federal might severally before, and, by the grace of God, we shall do so again, with me leading from the front, as you know,’ he declared.

The Lagos State Government has called on African countries to integrate procurement, logistics and transportation systems to unlock the continent’s economic potential, improve public service delivery and strengthen regional trade.

The Director-General of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency (LSPPA), Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, made the call at the 8th Africa Procurement and Supply Chain Summit and Awards held at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos.

Represented by the Agency’s Director of Procurement, Mr. Akintunde Mooruf Subair, Onafowote said seamless coordination among procurement, logistics and transportation was critical to reducing supply chain bottlenecks, cutting operational costs, improving inventory management and ensuring the timely delivery of public projects.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Unlocking Value Across Africa’s Supply Ecosystem: Procurement, Logistics, and Transportation in Action,’ he described procurement as more than a purchasing function, saying it is a strategic instrument for economic development, transparency, sustainability and efficient governance.

According to him, effective procurement planning strengthens demand forecasting, supplier selection, contract management, risk mitigation and sustainable sourcing, particularly in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, transportation and infrastructure.

He noted that robust procurement systems promote value for money, improve transparency and accountability, curb corruption, support local businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and facilitate the successful execution of infrastructure projects.

Highlighting Lagos State’s procurement reforms, Onafowote said the state has implemented an end-to-end electronic procurement system, strengthened enforcement of the Lagos State Public Procurement Law and intensified capacity building through Procurement Planning Clinics, stakeholder engagement and continuous professional development for procurement officers.

He stressed that efficient transportation remains central to procurement success, urging governments across Africa to invest in modern logistics infrastructure, including road, rail and inland waterways, to enhance supply chain efficiency.

The LSPPA boss also advocated accelerated digital procurement, stronger legal and institutional frameworks, deeper regional collaboration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), greater investment in logistics infrastructure, data-driven decision-making, sustainable procurement practices, stronger public-private partnerships and continuous professional training.

He maintained that procurement reform should remain at the centre of Africa’s economic integration agenda, arguing that transparent, technology-driven and efficient procurement systems are essential to building resilient and sustainable supply chains across the continent.

The summit also recognised outstanding contributions to the sector, with Onafowote receiving the Public Procurement Icon of the Year Award, while Subair was honoured as Public Procurement Personality of the Year.

The event attracted procurement directors and officers from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Lagos State, alongside procurement professionals, policymakers and industry stakeholders from across Africa.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has warned political appointees serving in President Bola Tinubu’s administration to mobilise votes for the party or vacate their offices.

APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, declared that appointees could not occupy political offices while claiming to be technocrats with no responsibility to campaign for the ruling party.

Yilwatda issued the warning in Abuja on Wednesday while receiving members of the Progressive Local Government Chairmen’s Forum.

The delegation, led by the Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State, Mustafa Jibrin, briefed him on its grassroots mobilisation campaign ahead of the 2027 general election.

Yilwatda said local government chairmen were better positioned to expose political appointees who performed well in Abuja but had no influence in their wards.

‘It is you who will tell me that this commissioner is not working. Maybe he is working in the office, but politically he is zero in his ward.

‘It is you who know whether this director-general may be working in the office, but politically he is zero back home,’ he said.

The APC chairman insisted that anyone who accepted a political appointment must be ready to participate fully in the activities of the party.

According to him, appointees cannot enjoy the benefits of political office and later distance themselves from the politics that brought them into government.

‘We call them political appointees. There is a word ‘political’ there. They are not just technocrats. They are political appointees.

‘You can’t be holding a political position and then say you are not a politician,’ Yilwatda said.

He likened such appointees to people carrying unmistakable tribal marks while denying their ethnic identity.

‘It is like somebody who has Yoruba or Kanuri tribal marks telling you that he is not a Yoruba or Kanuri man. It cannot happen,’ he declared.

Yilwatda warned those unwilling to campaign for APC against accepting political appointments.

‘If you don’t want to be a politician, don’t take a political appointment. We work to mobilise votes. Without the votes, you can’t be in office,’ he said.

He directed the council chairmen to identify areas where political appointees were failing the party and expose weaknesses that could undermine APC’s chances in 2027.

‘That is why we need you to work with these people. Tell them they are not doing well. Tell them where we need to work harder.

‘Tell them where we have leakages so that we can win the election,’ he added.

Yilwatda pledged the support of the APC leadership for the forum’s grassroots mobilisation programme and proposed mass rally to endorse Tinubu for a second term.

‘We will support you. We will stand by you. We will ensure that we have a strong partnership that will give this party a strong victory in 2027,’ he said.

Earlier, Jibrin said the forum had secured the backing of more than 685 local government chairmen and 31 APC governors.

He said the chairmen were targeting at least 70 per cent of the votes cast in the 2027 presidential election for APC.

Jibrin also disclosed plans to mobilise the council chairmen and their councillors for a mass endorsement of Tinubu’s re-election bid in Abuja.

Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) says the absence of reliable housing data remains a major obstacle to effective planning, policymaking and regulation in Nigeria’s housing sector.

The Executive Director, Operations, FHFL, Dr Emeka Inegbu, said this during the ongoing Stakeholders Validation Workshop on the National Housing Data Programme in Abuja.

A copy of his presentation was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

Inegbu described data as a critical driver of development programmes, saying global experience showed that planning became difficult where reliable information was unavailable.

‘Data has remained one of the key drivers of development.

‘Our experience across different institutions and programmes worldwide shows that where data is missing, planning becomes impossible,’ he said.

He said the National Housing Data Programme would provide policymakers and regulators with the information needed to make informed decisions and strengthen sector governance.

According to him, accurate and well-organised data will enable government and stakeholders to address housing challenges more effectively.

‘When data is properly organised, it supports policymaking and, more importantly, makes regulation easier,’ he said.

Inegbu expressed satisfaction with the work of the committee responsible for developing the programme.

He said the initiative would strengthen evidence-based policymaking and improve regulatory oversight in the housing sector.

‘We are satisfied with the work done by the committee and commend the progress made in bringing this programme to fruition,’ he said.

Inegbu also commended participants and organisers of the workshop.

He expressed optimism that the initiative would improve housing governance and support sustainable housing development across Nigeria.

NAN reports that FHFL finances affordable housing projects in Nigeria, mobilising capital and supporting developers to increase access to decent homes for low- and middle-income households.

Its mission is to expand affordable housing, while its vision promotes inclusive communities and sustainable development.

FHFL’s importance lies in reducing housing deficits and improving homeownership opportunities.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned politicians stockpiling Permanent Voter Cards that the tactic will not help them manipulate the 2027 general elections.

INEC said safeguards introduced into the electoral process had made it impossible for anyone to vote with another person’s PVC, forcing desperate politicians to turn their attention to vote-buying.

The Head of Voter Education and Publicity at INEC in Kwara State, Dr Adejumo Peter, disclosed this on Thursday during a seminar organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Ilorin.

‘INEC has introduced measures that make it impossible for anyone to use another person’s PVC to vote. That is why politicians have shifted their focus to vote-buying,’ Peter said.

‘Many politicians are still living in the past. Stockpiling and carting away PVCs can no longer guarantee electoral victory.’

He assured Nigerians that INEC would conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2027, insisting that every valid vote would count and the results would reflect the wishes of the electorate.

Peter said INEC officials in Kwara State would strictly follow the Electoral Act and the commission’s guidelines throughout the elections.

‘INEC in Kwara will follow the rules and procedures laid down by the commission. We will ensure that the elections are conducted on the basis of one person, one vote.

‘At the end of the exercise, the outcome will reflect the will of the people,’ he said.

The INEC official urged politicians to campaign on issues and their manifestos rather than resort to violence, intimidation or other actions capable of disrupting the electoral process.

‘I urge politicians to play by the rules. They should campaign on their manifestos and shun violence before, during and after the elections.

‘Let us conduct the elections peacefully like a sporting contest. They should accept the outcome of the elections,’ he added.

The Nigerian Navy has rescued two teenagers, both male, from drowning after their boat capsised in Egweama Community, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

This is contained in a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

According to Folorunsho, the rescue was made by personnel of Forward Operating Base (FOB) FORMOSO.

He said that the incident occurred when the two boys, both aged 16, encountered difficulties while returning from a routine trip within the community waterways after their wooden boat capsised due to adverse water conditions on Tuesday.

‘The teenagers were stranded and at risk of drowning. On sighting the distressed victims, personnel of FOB FORMOSO responded swiftly and successfully rescued the two teenagers, evacuating them to safety. The rescued boys were thereafter provided with the necessary assistance and medical attention to ascertain their condition,’ he said.

The director of naval information said that the successful rescue reflected the professionalism and operational readiness of navy personnel in safeguarding lives within the nation’s maritime environment.

He said it also underscored the navy’s enduring commitment to maritime safety, search and rescue operations, as well as protection of lives in coastal and riverine communities.

‘Additionally, it highlights the service’s continued efforts to foster strong relationships with host communities through responsive and people-oriented operations’, he said.

The naval spokesperson reaffirmed the navy’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all legitimate users of Nigeria’s waterways while sustaining its mandate of securing the nation’s maritime domain.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Tinubu to concentrate on tackling Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship and insecurity instead of engaging in political battles with his opponents.

Atiku, who is the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, made the remarks while responding to President Tinubu’s recent comments suggesting that opposition politicians were ‘crying wolf’ because they feared the 2027 general election.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the President’s greatest challenge was not the opposition but the performance of his administration.

He maintained that millions of Nigerians were more concerned about soaring food prices, inflation, unemployment and persistent insecurity than political rhetoric.

According to Atiku, rather than directing his attention towards political rivals, the President should focus on easing the burden on citizens grappling with the rising cost of living and improving security across the country. He said those issues, not political contests, should occupy the government’s attention.

The former vice president also criticised what he described as combative language from the President during an engagement with leaders of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, saying the occasion called for reassurance and statesmanship.

Atiku said Nigerians expected practical solutions to the country’s pressing challenges, insisting that improving the economy and restoring security should take precedence over political exchanges.

The latest remarks add to the growing war of words between the Presidency and opposition figures as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election gather momentum.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has criticised the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, for giving priority to the construction of new roads while many existing federal highways across the country remain in a poor and dangerous condition.

Speaking during plenary at the Senate on Wednesday, Oshiomhole said the Federal Government should first focus on rehabilitating major roads that have become difficult for motorists to use before embarking on fresh road projects.

The former Edo State governor expressed concern over the state of federal roads linking Edo State with neighbouring Delta State and other parts of the country.

According to him, several of these highways have been neglected for years despite repeated appeals by lawmakers and residents.

Oshiomhole argued that the recent approval of about 20 new road projects by the Federal Government raises questions when many existing roads that serve thousands of commuters daily have not been repaired.

He specifically mentioned the roads connecting Benin to Warri, Asaba, Auchi and Okene, describing them as being in a deplorable condition.

He said the poor state of the highways has continued to affect the movement of people, goods and services, while also increasing travel time and transportation costs.

The senator alleged that the Minister of Works has not been fair in the allocation of road projects, claiming that some parts of the country have received more attention than others.

He urged the Senate leadership to intervene and encourage the minister to ensure that road projects are distributed fairly across the country.

According to Oshiomhole, the Senate had previously drawn the minister’s attention to the condition of the affected roads through a motion, but little has been done to address the problem.

He said part of the road project is only receiving attention because President Bola Tinubu approved the use of the tax credit scheme to fund the rehabilitation of some sections.

Oshiomhole maintained that federal infrastructure projects should reflect national interest rather than favouring certain areas. He stressed that every region deserves equal access to quality roads because they are essential for economic growth, trade, security and the daily movement of citizens.

He called on the Minister of Works to adopt a more balanced and inclusive approach in planning and implementing road projects, insisting that repairing existing highways should be treated as a priority alongside the construction of new ones.