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An Ebute-Metta Magistrate Court, presided over by Magistrate (Mrs) Akinde, on Tuesday ordered that the case file of Shamusideen Oladiti, a National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) member, be forwarded to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

This action followed widespread public outrage sparked by a viral video of Oladiti’s alleged assault.

Oladiti, 55, was arraigned on a three-count charge including unlawful homicide, conspiracy, and grievous assault.

The core charge relates to a violent August 27 attack at Lewis Street, Lagos Island, where he allegedly beat Imam Ramon with repeated fist blows.

Ramon later died from the sustained injuries at Lagos Island General Hospital, Marina.

The defendant has also been accused of conspiring with others still at large on September 17 and of separately assaulting another victim, Omale Samuel.

While the charge marked BG/B53/25 and signed by Anthony Iyeye of the Legal and Prosecution section of the Nigeria Police, Panti, Yaba, were read in court, Oladiti’s plea was not taken.

The Magistrate directed that the case file be duplicated and sent to the DPP within 30 days for advice on the appropriate prosecution.

The court adjourned the case until October 28, 2025.

Justice M.J. Zubairu of the Kaduna State High Court on Monday convicted and sentenced Solomon Ilemona Emmanuel for internet fraud.

The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted him on a one-count charge of impersonation and internet fraud.

The charge reads, ‘That you Solomon Ilemona Emmanuel (a.k.a SANTI XII) sometime in June, 2025 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently presented yourself as one SANTI XII on Facebook (a social media platform) to unsuspecting victims and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017.’

Emmanuel pleaded guilty. Following this, prosecution counsel M.J. Argungu asked the court to convict and sentence him.

Justice Zubairu sentenced Emmanuel to three years in prison or an option of a ?200,000 fine.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of a Tecno Camon Pro mobile phone and noted that Emmanuel had earlier restituted ?6,057,488.13 to his victims.

According to the EFCC, Emmanuel was arrested in the Kafanchan area of Kaduna State after intelligence reports revealed fraudulent online activities.

Investigations showed he acted as a ‘picker,’ receiving illicit funds through a Chinese vendor and transferring them to other members of the syndicate.

Edo State Executive Council has approved a revised supplementary budget of N799.820 billion from the initial N675,200 billion, representing an increase of N125 billion, or 18 percent for the 2025 fiscal year.

It was learnt that the approval followed an emergency executive meeting presided over by the Chairman-in-Council and Governor of the State, Monday Okpebholo on Monday.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the Commissioner for Finance, Emmanuel Okoebor, explained the rationale behind the adjustment and emphasised the government’s commitment to infrastructure development.

He explained: ‘Previously, we have a budget of N675 billion with recurrent expenditure having about 33 percent and capital 67 percent.

‘The new revised budget now has about 70 percent for capital expenditure as against 30 percent for recurrent expenditure.

‘It shows the commitment of governor Monday Okpebholo in infrastructural development in Edo state.’

Okoebor further explained the size and nature of the increment, saying that: ‘The increment in the budget is about N125 billion, which signifies about 18 percent of the previous budget.

‘Recurrent increased with about N12 billion, while capital is about N113 billion from the previous one. Given about 25 percent increment in Capital expenditure and just 5 percent increment in recurrent expenditure.

‘It clearly shows that the government is concerned about infrastructural development making Edo people happy. We have done about 254KM of roads across the state, and many more construction works are ongoing.

‘Recurrent expenditure has about 5 percent increment as the increase in minimum wage necessitated that increment including a lot of employment the present administration did in hospital management board for over 1000 and it needs to be captured.

‘The budget has been increased by N125 billion, which is about 18 percent, and capita expenditure about 25 percent increment, from N450 billion to N563 billion.’

According to the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paul Ohombamu, the revised budget is expected to be forwarded to the Edo State House of Assembly for legislative consideration and passage.

The U.S. Mission’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has partnered with the Federal Government to adopt innovative solutions aimed at enhancing agricultural trade for economic growth and food security.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Matthew Obogbaimhe, Chairman of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC), Kaduna Chapter, said this at a roundtable on Thursday in Abuja.

Obogbaimhe said revitalising Nigeria’s agricultural sector required more than trade restrictions, stressing that the sector demands innovation, sustainable practices and investment in infrastructure.

The roundtable, tagged: ‘Innovative Approaches to Agricultural Trade for Economic Growth and Food Security,’ was organised by FAS in collaboration with NACC and the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG).

The discussion focused on the impacts of Nigeria’s agricultural trade restrictions on food prices, local production and investment.

It also provided the U.S. Mission’s FAS with an opportunity to connect with policy advisers and push for reconsideration of restrictions on U.S. agricultural exports.

Obogbaimhe said the partnership with FAS was driven by a vision to promote agricultural innovation and trade across Africa.

‘The roundtable provided a unique platform to exchange ideas and explore innovative agricultural trade policies that benefit consumers and farmers in Nigeria and the United States,’ he said.

Mr Christopher Bielecki, Agricultural Counselor for the FAS office in Lagos, said the forum enabled stakeholders to discuss innovative solutions to strengthen agricultural trade, reduce costs for agribusinesses and consumers, and create prosperity for American and Nigerian farmers.

‘The U.S. Mission’s FAS office looks forward to continued collaboration with the Nigerian government and agribusiness stakeholders to translate the roundtable’s recommendations into action.

‘By working together to advance innovative agricultural trade policies, the United States and Nigeria can foster greater food security, create opportunities for value-added processing, attract investment and strengthen the agricultural sector,’ Bielecki said.

NABG Director-General, Mr Jafar Umar, described the roundtable as timely and highly relevant to the national discourse on trade and food security.

He expressed the group’s readiness to partner with FAS, noting that NABG remains the leading voice of agribusiness in Nigeria.

Also speaking, Dr Betty Adegebo, a member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) research team, said Nigeria’s agricultural trade restrictions had resulted in higher food prices, increased informal trade, and inefficiencies in production, while failing to achieve self-sufficiency.

Presenting NIPSS findings, Adegebo said food inflation surged to 30.6 per cent in 2023, with staples such as rice and beef more than doubling in price over two years.

She noted that the price of one kilogramme of local rice rose by 137.32 per cent year-on-year in October 2024, while boneless beef increased by 98.73 per cent.

‘Production challenges persist, including an estimated maize production gap of 300,000 metric tonnes annually, and low yields of 2.0 tonnes per hectare, far below South Africa’s 5.2,’ Adegebo said.

She added that informal trade had expanded, especially in rice and poultry, as high tariffs and import bans continued to encourage cross-border smuggling despite government measures such as the 2019 border closure.

Adegebo said NIPSS recommended reducing import bans and tariffs, adopting long-term predictable trade policies, harmonising tariffs and sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, and leveraging frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

She also called for the establishment of a centralised body to oversee agricultural trade regulations, improve official trade, strengthen sanitary and phytosanitary oversight, and boost government revenue.

The event, was attended by Nigerian agricultural trade policy advisors, legislative representatives, agribusiness leaders, researchers, regulators, and U.S. agricultural associations.

President Bola Tinubu has expressed grief over the murder of Ms Somtochukwu ‘Sommie’ Maduagwu, a rising television anchor with Arise News during a robbery incident at her Katampe residence in Abuja.

He has accordingly ordered security agencies to track down the killers of the promising journalist, while describing the crime as ‘shocking, wicked, and unacceptable’.

The President said Maduagwu’s death had robbed Nigeria of a bright young talent and a promising journalist cut down in her prime.

‘Ms Maduagwu was a promising professional journalist whose life was cut short in a cruel and condemnable manner,’ Tinubu, recognising the loss of the Arise TV anchor, said in a Tuesday statement.

He directed security and law enforcement agencies to launch an immediate manhunt, stressing that the perpetrators must be apprehended and brought to justice without delay.

The President also conveyed his condolences to Maduagwu’s family, the management and staff of Arise News, highlighting the untimely demise of the Arise TV anchor, and the wider media community, noting that her passing was a painful blow to journalism and to the nation.

He further assured Nigerians that his administration will continue to strengthen security measures to safeguard lives and property.

Similarly, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu expressed deep grief over the young journalist’s death, calling it ‘painful and most unfortunate.’

‘I woke up to the sad news of the untimely death of one of our young and brilliant minds in the journalism profession, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, an Arise TV anchor. Her death is painful and quite unfortunate. She has been cut down in her prime,’ she said.

The First Lady extended condolences to the Chairman of Arise Media Group, Chief Nduka Obaigbena, as well as to the bereaved family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones.

She prayed that God grants them the strength to bear the irreplaceable loss and expressed hope that justice will be swift.

‘May her soul rest in peace, and may God comfort her family and all who mourn her,’ she added.

The dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Group has escalated as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed all its affiliates and members nationwide to immediately mobilise for what it described as a ‘full-scale, decisive engagement’ against the conglomerate’s alleged anti-worker practices.

NLC’s directive, contained in an internal memo signed by its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, follows months of industrial unrest led by PENGASSAN and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

The two unions have accused the Dangote Group of union-busting, unfair labour practices, and victimisation of workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and other subsidiaries.

According to the NLC, the conflict has now moved beyond the individual struggles of PENGASSAN and NUPENG, and has become a broader fight for workers’ rights across the country.

‘This letter serves as a formal and urgent request in response to the protracted and deliberate anti-worker crusade being waged by the Dangote Group against the Nigerian working class,’ Ajaero wrote in the memo.

‘The ongoing battle with PENGASSAN and NUPENG is merely a symptom of a deeper sickness, a capitalist pathology of union-busting, worker enslavement, and gross impunity that defines the Group’s industrial relations strategy.’

The NLC further accused the Dangote Group of behaving like ‘a state within a state,’ alleging that the company had repeatedly violated Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, flouted International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98, and treated national labour laws with ‘utter disdain.’

Ajaero described the company’s operations as sites of exploitation rather than legitimate workplaces.

‘Their facilities are not workplaces but plantations of exploitation, where the dignity of the worker is systematically crushed to maximise profit for the few,’ he declared.

‘The time for pleading and endless, fruitless dialogue is over. The moment for decisive, collective action is now,’ he said.

Declaring the start of a new phase of confrontation, the NLC placed all its affiliates on immediate and full alert. Ajaero instructed unions to launch a comprehensive unionisation drive targeting every Dangote facility in the country, calling it a ‘strategic priority.’

‘You are requested to commence, with immediate effect, preparation for a vigorous and comprehensive unionisation of all workers within every Dangote Group facility falling under your jurisdiction,’ the memo read.

The congress further ordered the establishment of Action Mobilisation Committees in every affiliate union. These committees are to engage directly with the NLC National Secretariat within 72 hours to harmonise strategy, logistics, and communications.

Ajaero emphasised that the ultimate goal of the campaign is to force the conglomerate to respect workers’ fundamental rights.

‘This action aims to compel the Dangote Group to unconditionally respect the right of every worker to freely join a union of their choice, cease all forms of intimidation and union-busting activities, and submit to the authority of our nation’s labour laws and institutions,’ he said.

NLC also accused the Dangote Group of leveraging its economic power to escape regulatory oversight and accountability, alleging that key government agencies have been compromised.

‘The impunity of the Dangote Group must be met with the resistance of organised labour,’ Ajaero asserted.

‘No amount of media propaganda or paid hirelings will stop us from fighting for our liberty in the face of apparent regulatory capture, where the state seems to have abdicated its responsibility to hold this behemoth accountable.’

Court stops PENGASSAN, others from cutting gas supply to Dangote Refinery

This was just as Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim of the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja on Monday restrained PENGASSAN from embarking on its planned industrial action against Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.

Justice Subilim, in a ruling on an ex-parte application filed by Dangote Refinery on Monday, specifically restrained the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum, and the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, who are defendants in the suit, from cutting crude and gas supply to Dangote Refinery.

George Ibrahim, SAN, from Ogwu James Onoja law firm in Abuja, argued the application on behalf of the plaintiff and secured the order against the defendants.

The senior lawyer in the ex-parte motion applied for an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st defendant, its members, agents, servants, privies, representatives, assigns or whatsoever and howsoever called from calling or directing the halt of crude and gas supply to the claimant under any guise and/or embarking on any industrial action against the claimant with a view to crippling, blocking roads, or obstructing the flow of vehicular movement, shutting down operations of the claimant or licensees of the 2nd to 4th defendants named in the 1st defendant directives dated September 26, 2025, or by any means frustrating the businesses/activities of the claimant/applicant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

He applied for ‘an order of interim injunction restraining the 2nd-4th defendants, their employees, members, agents, servants, privies, representatives, licensees, assigns or whatsoever and howsoever called from giving effect to the directives of the 1st defendant to halt the supply of crude and gas to the claimant or joining, continuing, embarking on, or in any manner participating in the planned industrial action of the 1st defendant and its affiliates and cronies or any other strike whatsoever against the claimant/applicant with a view to frustrating her businesses and operations pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.’

Ibrahim argued that the applicant is a petroleum production and/or distribution company licensed to own, operate and produce petroleum and petrochemical products for the general consumption of the Nigerian public, and whose business provides essential services to the Nigerian economy and the general public.

He said, in recent times, there have been incidents of sabotage by some employees of the claimant at the claimant’s plant which sprang up issues of grave health concern and safety of human lives.

According to him, the management of the claimant came to an irresistible conclusion that there should be reorganisation in the plant which led to relieving some of its staff of their employment, and same was communicated to all staff by a memo or circular dated 25th September, 2025.

The senior lawyer said, in the early hours of Friday, the 26th day of September 2025, the claimant received online reports that Nigerian workers were laid off by the claimant because they joined the 1st defendant’s union.

According to him, the management of the claimant by a press statement refuted the said report and explained in clear terms that the claimant was not averse to its members unionising as that is their constitutional right. However, he clarified that the claimant has over 3,000 Nigerians in its workforce and that only a negligible number of staff were affected by the reorganisation of the plant as a result of sabotage and safety concerns.

The lawyer asserted that by a letter dated September 26, 2025 and circulated online, the 1st defendant, through its General Secretary, Comrade Lamumbalghotemu Okugbawa, wrote to the Hon. Minister of Petroleum, Gas and warned that the 1st defendant and its members were going to take action that would force the claimant to its knees if the claimant failed to recall the affected staff, which was described in the said letter as over 800.

‘The 1st defendant issued a press statement on the 26th day of September, 2025 wherein it erroneously referred to the laying off of the workers by the claimant as anti-labour practices, alleging that the workers were being victimised because they joined the 1st defendant as members of the union, which is not correct.

‘Irrespective of the explanation offered by the claimant in Exhibit DR3, the 1st defendant became more provoked and directed its Executives and Members in the licensees of the 2nd-4th defendants through whom the claimant accesses crude and gas for its plant to stop supplying gas to the claimant.

‘The 2nd-4th defendants are on standby to carry out the directives of the 1st defendant through their agents and licensees as mentioned in Exhibit DR6 with a view to stopping the supply of gas and crude oil to the claimant in order to halt its business and operation as threatened unless the Honourable Court intervenes.’

‘The 1st Defendant is going to make good its threat to shut down operations of the Claimant knowing the strength of its membership across the country unless the Honourable Court intervenes.

‘The 1st Defendant, its members and protegees in the services of the 2nd to 4th Defendants have perfected plans to embark on an industrial action which will cripple the operations and services of the Claimant to the Nigerian public as well as the economy.

‘The 1st Defendant has not engaged the Claimant with respect to a dispute, if any, before championing and calling for an industrial action against the Claimant contrary to the extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’

In his brief ruling on the ex-parte application, Justice Subilim held that the balance of convenience is in favour of the Applicants as the continuation of the strike would irreparably damage its business and cripple the provision of essential services to the Nigerian public.

The judge held that it was in the interest of justice for the Court to restrain the Respondents to preserve industrial peace and further aid the continuous provision of essential services to the Nigerian public pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

Justice Subilim, while granting the restraining order, directed that same be served on the defendants immediately along with motion on notice, adding that the restraining order shall last for seven days only and subsequently fixed October 13 for hearing of the motion on notice.

Meanwhile, the conciliation meeting at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, to resolve the faceoff was still ongoing as at the time of filing this report.

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Labour and Employment conference room in Abuja, was chaired by the minister.

Also in attendance were the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Dr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; top officials from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources; the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Engineering Matters; and senior representatives of key oil and gas regulatory agencies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

Speaking at the opening of the talks, Dingyadi underscored the gravity of the situation, describing the strike by PENGASSAN as one of significant national concern.

He admitted that the government initially underestimated the scale of the industrial action until it became clear that the strike had spread beyond Dangote Refinery to affect other critical oil and gas operations, including those of the NNPC.

‘What is happening today is very dear to this country, very dear to our economy, and very dear to the security of our nation,’ Dingyadi said. ‘We didn’t know the magnitude of this strike. Initially, we thought it was just about Dangote Refinery, but we have now been informed that it has extended to affect NNPC and other subsidiaries in the oil and gas industry.’

The minister commended PENGASSAN for its longstanding record as a constructive and peaceful union, emphasizing that the group has historically demonstrated deep commitment to the growth and stability of Nigeria’s economy.

‘PENGASSAN has always been very peaceful, and we know for a very long time they have never done this kind of thing,’ he stated. ‘We consider them as friends and as people who wish this country well. Their action must be understood as a reflection of deep concerns that deserve urgent and sincere attention.’

Dingyadi assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu is closely monitoring the situation and is deeply concerned about its potential impact on citizens.

He stressed that the government’s intervention is focused on preventing the crisis from escalating into a national emergency, particularly in ways that would negatively affect ordinary people.

‘We want to make sure that this face-off is not extended to the ordinary citizens of the country,’ Dingyadi added. ‘That is why we are taking urgent steps to act as conciliators, to resolve this issue amicably for the good of our workers, our economy, and the spirit of our nation.’

From BlockDAG’s presale dominance and BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team partnership to established names like Polkadot, Cardano, and Chainlink, there’s a mix of fresh energy and proven strength. Each project offers something unique. The big question is which of these can bring both short-term excitement and long-term value. Let’s break them down one by one and see why each of these coins deserves a closer look right now.

1. BlockDAG (BDAG): Utility Meets Culture

BlockDAG has become the project people can’t stop talking about. With a presale price of just $0.0013 per BDAG, it has already raised $415 million, including $40 million in the last month alone. More than 312,000 unique holders are on board, while 3 million people mine BDAG daily through the X1 mobile app. Add 20,000 X-Series miners sold across 130 countries.

The hype is now supercharged by its multi-year partnership with the BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team. This deal means fan simulators, on-track activations, hackathons, and digital integrations are all powered by BlockDAG tech. Few crypto projects have managed to partner with global sports on this level, providing them with exposure to millions outside the usual crypto circles. That’s why many traders see BDAG as a promising opportunity.

The Awakening Testnet is also a game-changer. Instead of waiting until mainnet, BlockDAG is already stress-testing account abstraction, miner integration, vesting contracts, and EIP-4337 groundwork in a public rollout. This ‘Mainnet Prequel’ shows exactly how the system works before launch. For anyone watching top crypto coins, the mix of cultural reach and technical delivery makes BlockDAG (BDAG) the one that feels like it has both speed and staying power.

2. Polkadot (DOT): Interoperability in Action

Polkadot remains a key crypto for interoperability, enabling multiple parachains to run in parallel and communicate seamlessly. This cross-chain design remains relevant despite newer competitors, as it simplifies transfers and data movement, two major hurdles in Web3. As of September 2025, DOT trades near $5.02, far below its 2021 peak but viewed as a consolidation rather than a collapse.

Analysts highlight parachain auctions and steady developer activity as proof of resilience. If the adoption of cross-chain apps expands, Polkadot could benefit as an early leader. Its long-term value depends on whether those applications gain meaningful scale and real-world traction.

3. Cardano (ADA): Steady but Searching

Cardano is known for its slow, research-driven approach, emphasizing academic rigor over flashy launches. As of September 23, 2025, ADA trades near $0.37, showing stability after earlier corrections. Support has held, while developers focus on identity, governance, and sustainability. The challenge is proving this careful strategy leads to real adoption.

Source- CoinGecko

Cardano’s community remains among the most loyal, with high staking participation, but questions persist regarding its commercial use. Many investors view ADA as a long-term investment, expecting rewards once larger projects are implemented. For those seeking top crypto coins grounded in research, Cardano still holds promise but needs stronger growth.

4. Chainlink (LINK): Data Feeds and DeFi Power

Chainlink remains vital to crypto as the leading decentralized oracle network, connecting smart contracts with real-world data such as prices, weather, and sports results. Its role underpins DeFi at scale, keeping LINK central in institutional discussions and exchange listings. Currently trading at $21.83, LINK has pulled back from August highs but holds support near $21.

Analysts expect a breakout above $25-27 to retest $30 soon, potentially. Exchange balances are at their lowest since 2022, showing reduced selling pressure and whale accumulation. With DeFi and real-world assets expanding, Chainlink is viewed as essential infrastructure rather than hype-driven speculation.

Which of the Top Crypto Coins Feels Strongest?

Examining these four projects side by side, each has distinct strengths. Polkadot continues to push interoperability as its key advantage, Cardano holds firm with a research-first approach, and Chainlink remains the backbone of decentralized data. All three are important to watch, and each can deliver gains depending on how their ecosystems develop over the next cycle.

However, the project drawing the most attention right now is BlockDAG. With a presale that has already raised $415M, a BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team partnership bringing mainstream visibility, and a testnet that is already rolling out features most chains only deliver after launch, it is building momentum faster than its peers. For buyers wondering which of the top crypto coins, BlockDAG is the one that could turn early support into outsized rewards.

The Mbayongu community in Kaamem, Manya area council of Takum LGA, Taraba, has condemned the arrest of its district head, Zaki Terkura Kugba, by operatives of the Nigerian Army led by Sgt. Yohana Emmanuel of Ada Barracks, Takum.

Residents told Nigerian Tribune that soldiers stormed the community on Saturday morning, assaulting locals and breaking into homes before seizing the traditional ruler, his motorcycle, and a tricycle.

A youth leader, James Tyona, said the monarch was attending a meeting with community leaders in a nearby village when he was informed of the soldiers’ presence.

‘They invaded our community, beat people indiscriminately, and took away Zaki Terkura Kugba. On sighting him, they started beating him before Sgt. Emmanuel intervened,’ Tyona alleged.

According to him, the soldiers claimed they were acting on intelligence that a suspected terrorist known as JC was in the area to collect ‘taxes.’

He, however, insisted that no criminal or incriminating evidence was found.

Tyona described the monarch as a strong supporter of security efforts, noting that criminals had repeatedly threatened him for frustrating their operations.

‘It’s shocking that the Army arrested the same man who has been using his personal resources to support security agencies. The criminals are already celebrating his arrest and have sent us fresh threats demanding ?20 million in taxes before October 3,’ he said.

The community appealed to the Chief of Army Staff, the Commander of 6 Brigade, Jalingo, and Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas to intervene and secure Kugba’s release, warning that the area risked falling under the control of bandits.

When contacted, Sgt. Yohana Emmanuel confirmed the operation but declined to explain why the monarch was arrested. Efforts to reach Lt. Umar Muhammad, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Brigade Jalingo, were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) on Tuesday said it averted a nationwide blackout after the national grid experienced significant generation shortfalls due to industrial action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

NISO, established in 2024 as part of the restructuring mandated by the Electricity Act of 2023, manages Nigeria’s national grid and electricity market operations independently of grid infrastructure development. Its core mandate is to function as an impartial and independent entity responsible for system and market operations within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

To avert a total system collapse, the agency said it rolled out emergency measures, including ramping up hydropower generation, real-time load balancing, and selective load shedding. It added that available generation dropped from over 4,300 MW to about 3,200 MW at its lowest point due to gas supply disruptions.

NISO explained that it urgently deployed contingency measures to preserve the stability, security, and reliability of the national grid. These included hydropower optimisation, generation dispatch, load balancing, voltage and frequency support, and demand-side management.

‘The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) wishes to notify the public of recent major generation shortfalls on the National Grid, caused by industrial actions of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) within the gas supply chain.

‘These disruptions triggered widespread gas shortages, reducing available generation from over 4,300 MW in the early hours of Sunday, 28th September 2025, to about 3,200 MW at the lowest point.

‘Selective load shedding was applied as a last resort to avert a system-wide collapse and ensure fair power distribution. These timely actions enabled the NISO NCC to minimise the impact of the labour-induced gas shortages, sustain operational security, and maintain supply to critical loads, thereby averting a nationwide blackout,’ the statement read.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to proactive grid management, operational excellence, and the adoption of best-in-class practices to ensure a secure and reliable electricity supply for the nation.

CAMEROON is heading toward its October 2025 presidential election, but what is unfolding feels less like a campaign and more like a tragic play. At the centre of this spectacle is President Paul Biya, one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, who is barely present. Instead of the man himself, his supporters display giant portraits of his face. These posters are not just unusual campaign tools; they are a shameless admission of reality. At 92, Biya is largely absent from the daily life of his nation, and his portrait has become the ultimate symbol of a government that clings to the image of power while abandoning the real work of leadership.

The sight of campaigners waving his posters through dusty streets raises more questions than answers. Where is the president? Why does he not appear before his people to share his vision for the future? The truth is an open secret. Biya spends long stretches in Geneva, Switzerland, and rarely appears in public at home. His rare appearances are tightly controlled, serving only to remind citizens of his absence. He is now the world’s oldest Head of State, and his campaign by proxy shouts the question his regime refuses to answer: if he cannot campaign, how can he govern?

This silence is no accident. The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) treats the president’s health as a state secret, forbidding open discussion. This censorship is not about protecting Biya but about protecting the system around him. By avoiding public debate, the regime prevents any real conversation about succession. The campaign, run through sanitised social media posts and official statements, is less about engaging citizens than about instructing them to accept the status quo. In Cameroon’s tightly controlled political space, the people are expected to obey rather than be heard. The real force behind Biya’s re-election bid is fear, not hope. His inner circle, who have benefited from his 42 years in power, know that only his presence keeps their competing ambitions in check. By keeping him in office, they delay an inevitable power struggle. The portrait campaign is therefore less about the future of Cameroon and more about preserving the privileges of a small elite. For the country’s youth, who have never known another leader, it is a painful message that their future must remain on hold for the sake of an aging regime.

The cost of this long rule is visible everywhere. Important decisions are delayed, state institutions stagnate, and frustration grows among citizens who live with the consequences of an absentee president. Leadership demands presence, and Biya’s absence has crippled governance and slowed national development. Yet this campaign of portraits may also be exposing cracks in the regime’s armor. Former allies and ministers have begun to break away, and in a dramatic gesture, Biya’s own daughter, Brenda Biya, has reportedly denounced his endless hold on power on social media, urging Cameroonians to reject him. This is not the behaviour of a confident political dynasty but of one unraveling under the weight of its own excess.

For the opposition, this moment is a rare chance. If they can put aside personal rivalries and unite, they can rally citizens around a simple but powerful contrast: the choice between a living, accountable leader and the rule of a portrait. Ultimately, Cameroon must face a question it has avoided for decades: has the presidency become a lifetime throne? The endless cycle of re-election, now reduced to campaigning with posters instead of a candidate, makes a mockery of democracy. It turns the sacred act of voting into a hollow ritual.

The image of Paul Biya held high in the streets is more than a campaign tool. It is a mirror reflecting a country at a crossroads. It shows a system that has traded vitality for frailty, engagement for silence, and the future for the past. This campaign of portraits is a campaign of shame. The time for illusions is over. Cameroon must now choose reality over a picture.