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The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to align its actions with judicial directives and provide clear, consistent communication to prevent further confusion and unrest among constituents in Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State.

The group noted that the situation emphasises the importance of accountability in electoral processes and the necessity of adhering to legal frameworks established by higher courts.

The national spokesman of IYC, Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill, noted in a statement on Tuesday, that there is a notable discord between statements issued by INEC officials, with reports of the delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency being both suspended and not suspended.

He said this inconsistency raises questions about the internal communication and hierarchy within the INEC.

The IYC spokesman expressed concern over the apparent lack of clarity in INEC’s policies and the potential for public misinformation.

He recalled that a landmark ruling on December 2, 2022, declared the current delineation in Warri Federal Constituency as fraudulent and ineffective, mandating a comprehensive re-delineation by INEC. The IYC posed a critical question regarding the legality and appropriateness of INEC’s continuous voter registration in an area where the Supreme Court had deemed the electoral wards and units non-existent.

Princewill said, given the tension arising from INEC’s inconsistent handling of the re-delineation and voter registration process, the IYC is advocating for clarity in communication from INEC and adherence to the Supreme Court’s ruling.

He argued that until INEC implements its field report regarding the re-delineation in Warri Federal Constituency, it lacks the authority to conduct any voter registration in that area.

Princewill asserted, ‘Let it be known that the delay tactics employed by INEC in implementing its draft report won’t work, as it must not take the commission an eternity to put things together in Warri Federal Constituency. The Ijaw Youth Council will surely resist it with every fibre of its being.

‘INEC’s intentional delay and extension of the continuous voter registration exercise to Warri Federal Constituency is nothing short of contempt of court and an affront to the Nigerian judiciary in particular. If the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot fix an issue with a legal backing in just one federal constituency in Nigeria, what then will be the hope of Nigerians putting their trust in a credible election in Nigeria by the same INEC?

‘While we have continued to preach peace and the unity of Nigeria, the relevant authorities must be seen doing the right thing by not throwing this lovely and peaceful nation into another form of unrest on account of this.’

Veteran Fuji musician Adewale Ayuba has dismissed an online report alleging divorce and a paternity dispute with his wife, Azuka Ego.

In a statement posted on Instagram, Ayuba’s management described the claims as ‘unfounded and baseless,’ stressing that the couple has been happily married for over 30 years.

The family condemned the report as a cheap attempt to smear Ayuba’s reputation and ridicule their unity, vowing not to let the attack on his integrity go unchallenged.

They categorically denied any truth to the paternity scandal, branding it a fabrication, and highlighted the blogger’s error in claiming their marriage lasted only a year – a mistake they said further exposed the story’s falsehood.

The statement reads, ‘Hello Everyone, our attention has been drawn to a baseless and malicious story circulating online, published by a faceless blogger, concerning Dr Adewale Ayuba’s family. This story makes outrageous claims about an alleged divorce from Dr Ayuba’s wife, Mrs. Azuka Ego Saliu Oke Ola (Nee Kwento), and a completely unfounded scandal regarding the paternity of their children, suggesting he ‘broke his silence’ over some non-existent discovery.

‘We want to state this clearly and categorically to everyone who supports Dr Adewale Ayuba: There is absolutely no truth, not a single iota-in this cooked-up story. Dr Adewale Ayuba and his wife, Mrs Azuka Ego, are happily married, and their wonderful children are doing very well. The issue of paternity over their children has never, ever arisen in their marriage.

‘Furthermore, this reckless blogger stated their marriage only lasted one year. For the record, they have been happily married for well over thirty years! This fundamental error alone exposes the story as a complete fabrication.

‘This is nothing more than a cheap, despicable attempt to embarrass Dr Ayuba’s family, malign his character, and bring his united family to public ridicule’.

According to them, Ayuba will be taking legal action against the blogger, consulting with lawyers to pursue all available remedies.

‘We want you all to know that we are currently consulting with our lawyers to pursue all available legal remedies against this irresponsible individual. We will not allow Dr Adewale Ayuba’s integrity to be attacked without consequences’, they added.

The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, has disclosed that nearly 70 percent of funds shared at monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meetings now come from taxes collected by the agency.

Adedeji disclosed this in an interview marking his two years in office, where he said the surge in tax revenue has strengthened fiscal stability across the country.

According to him, improved collections have enabled 30 states to repay N1.85 trillion in debts within the past 18 months.

‘Debt servicing costs that once consumed 90 per cent of government revenue have now dropped to about 50 per cent. External reserves have also grown on the back of stronger fiscal stability,’ he said.

The FIRS boss praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for creating a tax environment that eases compliance.

‘The president has fulfilled his campaign promise to simplify tax compliance and remove hurdles faced by taxpayers,’ Adedeji noted.

Adedeji explained that the government’s tax reforms-the most far-reaching since independence-are designed to reduce the burden on citizens while improving government revenue. He pointed out that food, education, shared transportation, and agriculture have been exempted from value-added tax (VAT).

‘The reforms are already yielding results. Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio has risen from 10 per cent to 13.5 per cent in just two years, with a target of 18 per cent by 2027. In August alone, the federation account disbursed a record N2 trillion,’ he stated.

The FIRS chairman admitted that the transition has not been without difficulties. ‘It is like the pain of a woman in labour,’ he said, while stressing that government interventions are already helping to cushion the effects. These include the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and crude-for-naira support for local refiners, which he said are already reflected in fuel prices.

Adedeji outlined how the new consolidated tax law strengthens compliance by restructuring FIRS operations. Taxpayers are now segmented into small, medium, and large categories, with one-stop shops created to ease filing and payments.

‘We are service providers to taxpayers rather than just an enforcement agency,’ he explained. ‘When companies are doing well, expanding, and making profits, we will benefit from their growth. Our task is to remove hurdles in their way, and that is what the president has done with these new laws.’

He also clarified the decision to rename the FIRS as the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS). ‘The word ‘federal’ gave the wrong impression that we only collect for the federal government. In reality, we collect VAT, of which 90 per cent belongs to the states,’ he said.

On the controversial petrol surcharge included in the new law, Adedeji assured that it would not apply automatically. ‘It will only take effect if activated by a ministerial order and published in the official gazette,’ he noted.

Adedeji said the consolidation of multiple tax laws into a single code-set to take effect in January-will simplify Nigeria’s tax system. The new framework reduces the number of tax types to single digits, eliminates tax for businesses with annual turnover below N50 million, and adjusts personal income tax thresholds to shield low-income earners.

On June 26, 2025, President Tinubu signed into law four major bills: the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act. The laws aim to broaden the tax base, improve compliance, and enhance transparency across all tiers of government.

Adedeji further linked Nigeria’s fiscal improvement to Tinubu’s wider economic reforms. ‘The health of the federation account has blossomed greatly, as there are no bogus subsidy claims to deplete the pool,’ he said, referring to the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of exchange rates.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has resolved the labour dispute between the Emohua Local Government Area and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the state.

Fubara’s intervention followed the declaration of seven-day warning strike in all the 23 local government areas to protest the refusal of the state Chairman, Dr Chidi Lloyd to suspend the salaries of about 300 workers in his council.

The governor reportedly summoned Lloyd and the state leadership of NULGE to a meeting in Government House where he brokered a peace deal between the warring parties.

Speaking after the meeting, Lloyd thanked the state governor for his intervention saying Fubara issued a clear directive that brought them on the same page.

He said, ‘I have to in a very special way thank the Governor of Rivers State for his intervention in what would have been a disagreement between NULGE and management of Emohua Local Government Area

‘The governor has issued very clear directives and we are all on the same page. He has further directed that the Council and the Local Government Service Commission should take it further. We will come out very soon with all that we have agreed.

‘I also thank the President of NULGE for appealing to his workers to call off the strike. We will move forward, it is nothing personal, we just want to ensure transparency in the system. I want to commend the governor for being on the side of transparency’.

In his remarks, NULGE President, Rivers State, Clifford Paul, said the governor directed that the matter should be handled harmoniously.

‘So, on behalf of the State Council of NULGE I enjoin all our members to resume work. All the branch chairmen and the state officers are hereby directed to call off the strike’, he said.

The Chairman of the state Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Israel Amadi, commended the governor for his intervention.

‘His Excellency has given his mandate and we want to use this opportunity to thank him for intervening. And we hope that everything that we have discussed and resolved will be implemented as we also thank NULGE for their collaboration and cooperation’, he said.

The Lagos State Government will from Thursday partially close some jetties and ferry terminals along the Five Cowries Creek to pave the way for the hosting of the world’s first all electric powerboat race.

The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) in a statement said the restriction will affect private and commercial ferry operations between Falomo bridge, Oriental Hotel and Mekwen bridge from October 2 to 5.

According to the release, there will be a partial closure from Falomo bridge to Oriental Hotel on Thursday October 2 between 10 am and 6 pm. On Friday October 3, there will be a total closure from Oriental Hotel to Mekwen bridge between 10 am and 6 pm. For Saturday October 4 and Sunday October 5, LASWA said there will be a total closure from Falomo bridge to Oriental Hotel between 8 am and 6 pm daily.

The statement noted that the measure is to facilitate the successful hosting of the E1 Championship, an international sporting event being held for the first time in Lagos.

‘This temporary closure is a vital safety and security measure to ensure seamless event operations, safeguard lives, and project Lagos as a world class destination for international sporting events,’ the agency explained.

Normal operations are expected to resume on Monday October 6.

LASWA appealed to passengers and ferry operators to use alternative routes and make travel arrangements ahead of time.

The E1 Championship is the world’s first all electric powerboat tournament. Lagos is one of the host cities in the global series, a development which state officials see as a boost to the aquatic economy and the tourism profile of Nigeria’s commercial capital.

The Rivers State Government has cancelled the parade to mark the 65th Independence Day in the State.

A statement by Sir Dede Friday of the Special Services Bureau, said the event earlier scheduled to hold at the Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt was called off.

The statement said the development was in line with the Federal Government’s decision to cancel a similar event.

‘We regret any inconvenience caused by this cancellation,’ the statement reads.

A non-governmental organisation aimed at cutting maternal mortality and improving reproductive health care, Maternal and Reproductive Health (MRH) Collective, has called on government, stakeholders, and institutions to intensify efforts in implementing formal maternal care among pregnant women and girls.

MRHC made this call at its Iyaloju initiative dissemination meeting on Monday, held at Sojourner by Genesis Hotel, Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja, Lagos.

The meeting was held to analyse the progress of the Iyaloju project, an initiative aimed at improving the use of primary health care for maternal services in Nigeria, where pregnant women lack access to skilled care.

The hall was full às government officials and community stakeholders, and civil society organisations strategising on the way forward.

Those who directed the event were Ðr. Olajumoke Oke, Mrs. Funmi Owosho, Dr. Chiamaka Uwalakà, and Ms Fehintoluwa Aluko.

Also àt the event were Mr. Uçhe Azubuike, Ms Damilolà Busari, Mr. Sodiq Owolabi, ànd Ms Mariàm Oladejo.

Mrs. Funmi Owosho moderated the panel session. Other panelists were Dr Iwayemi, Baale Àmusu Sunday, Mrs. Otiwa Christiana, Dr. Otakpor Uzoyieçhine, Felix Omomobi Oluwole, Dr. Àsiyànbi, ànd Mrs Sanni Afolabi.

With a power-point presentation, the initiative focused on improving the utilsation of skilled health maternal services (primary health care facilities) among vulnerable women and low-income urban women in Lagos State using strategies such as Emergency Obstetric Care training for Doctors and Nurses, Respectful Maternity Care Training for healthcare workers from all cadre, Data audit trainings for Health Information Managers, Community outreaches in communities and participatory forums. This project was implemented across 18 LGAs in Lagos State except for Alimosho and Ikorodu LGAs.

The programme seeks to ensure more women receive the quality care they need during pregnancy and childbirth.

Executive Director of MRHC, Dr. Olajumoke Oke, said that the forum was held to analyse findings, get feedback and insights from stakeholders of the Iyaloju initiative since it began.

She said that the forum was an avenue ‘to discuss and come up with recommendations that will significantly impact maternal health outcomes positively in the state.’

Oke said, ‘As policy makers, leaders and community influencers, your feedback is invaluable. So we are not just here to share our data, we are also here for your feedback, your insights, so that together, we can create a lasting impact on the state. We couldn’t have done any of what we have achieved in these three years alone.

‘That is why we call together all the stakeholders that have helped us to make it happen, from the Ministry of Health and Primary Health Care board who helped us and guided us from the inception, from the design phase down to the implementation stages and the end line, and the primary health care board especially, which played a crucial role in coordinating our activities within the health care facilities.

‘We can’t go on without mentioning also the community influencers who are the stakeholders that helped us to step down and explain our activities to the women that we serve and our media partners present today. We thank you once again, because without you, we might not be able to spread the word to the ends of the nation.’

During the meeting, MRHC discussed its research findings from when it began the Iyaloju Project, comparing baseline and endline data of facility and community evaluation. According to the organisation, a cross-sectional study was carried out among women aged 15 to 49 in 10 local governments in Lagos State based on the population size and low incomes.

MRHC revealed, ‘We used mixed methodology for our result findings, a cross-sectional study among women of reproductive age who have had at least one child or are currently pregnant at the time of data collection. The sampling procedure was a multi-stage one where we selected 10 LGAs based on those that had high population size and low-income communities, and within those LGAs, we identified purposes. We selected households by simple random sampling, then we recruited and interviewed respondents who consented to participate in the research study.

‘For the data collection procedure, the study population focused on women of reproductive age between the ages of 15 to 49 years. The data collection period for baseline was between the 12th of June and to 7th of August. 2023, and the endline was from the 3rd of March to the 9th of May 2025. The instrument used was a structured questionnaire where we asked questions on social demographic characteristics of the respondent, their reproductive history, and care-seeking behaviour during the most recent pregnancy, the place of delivery, and satisfaction with care received at the facility where they delivered. The total number of respondents surveyed in the community for baseline was 3651, and for end line, it was 3509. For the facility survey, the total number of respondents was 927 for baseline, and 963 for end line.’

From its findings, it stated that there was an increase in the perception of respondents in seeking formal maternal care at health centres, with deliveries from traditional birth attendants declining from 30.1% in 2023 to 24.6% in 2025, while deliveries in public and private hospitals rose from 39.1% to 40.7% and 30.8% to 34.7% respectively.

The organisation cited affordability as the main issue causing women to make use of traditional birth attendants, and also revealed that some women had no form of health insurance.

MRHC stated that changing health worker behaviour and community norms was a long-term initiative, adding that there was a need to sustain social behavioural interventions, to enable the norms to be integrated into the community and be institutionalized.

‘It’s very key for development, to invest in community engagement and health worker mentoring to ensure women feel comfortable with the formal health care system. Then there’s an urgent need to increase awareness around health insurance, especially for pregnant women and women in the communities generally. I think that the government should be able to lead this charge while we can support as much as we can.

‘We also recommend a strengthening of the accountability systems at the facilities, largely to evaluate the quality of care. What kind of care is being given? How are health workers interfacing with clients? Things of that nature should be evaluated, and there should be some form of accountability in the system. And in that way, we’ll see, and we’ll begin to record even better, respectful maternity care in the facilities’.

Giving an overview of the project, Chief Operating Officer of MRHC, Mrs. Funmi Owosho, said that the organisation aimed to create the opportunity for every African woman and girl to access information, resources, and quality health care that she needed to live a healthy and prosperous life.

Owosho said, ‘Our work at MRHC is anchored on three strategic pillars. We have the research arm, the programmes, and the advocacy arm. For research, we conduct rigorous studies to uncover the root causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria and across Africa. This includes examining barriers to accessing healthcare and assessing healthcare delays in emergencies. These insights guide the design of impactful interventions. Our research portfolio covers evaluations and feasibility studies, health system mapping, implementation, and participatory research, as well as clinical trials.

‘Currently, we have research projects being carried out across Nigeria, across Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, and Gombe. Our programmes are community-focused, and these community-based interventions are designed to reach and support the most vulnerable women. And we’re currently implementing three flagship initiatives. First is the Iyaloju initiative, which is why we’re here today. And one major objective of the Iyaloju initiative is to generate demand for maternal healthcare by engaging communities to shift norms and increase health-seeking behaviour.’

Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement Manager of the MRHC, Dr Chiamaka Uwalaka, reiterated that the policy stakeholders meeting would ‘share insights from our intervention activities and research activities to policy makers, so that with the information we give to them, they can use it to also influence decision making.’

Uwalaka said, ‘We had this meeting in 2023 and in 2024 as well, and this is a policymakers meeting as well, but we brought up different other stakeholders to be part of it, because this is the closeout ceremony of the project’.

Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. Oluwakemi Ogunyemi, acknowledged everyone present at the event, stating that the organisation had achieved a lot through the Iyaloju initiative.

She stated that no individual organisation could achieve milestones alone, hence the need for stakeholders, community leaders, and civil society members to always work together.

Ogunyemi also emphasised the commitment of her office in promoting policies that prioritise the well-being of women and children in the community.

The crisis in the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated with the resignation of the party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Leye Igbabo.

Igbabo’s exit came just 72 hours after the state congress that produced Hon. Dupe Aisida as the new chairman alongside other executive members in Akure.

In his resignation letter dated September 30, 2025, and addressed to the state chairman, Igbabo cited a hostile atmosphere at the PDP secretariat, which he said hindered him from discharging his duties effectively.

He also alleged deceit, compromise, and indiscipline within the party leadership, describing the environment as unconducive to productive work.

‘It is disheartening to know that the Secretariat has become hostile to the effective and efficient performance of my duties as the Director of Media and Publicity.

‘I note with pain, utter deceit, huge compromise, and gross indiscipline. There is no more sincerity of purpose, and under such circumstances, I do not want to be labelled as an incompetent official. Staying in such an unproductive environment amounts to a precious waste of time and energy.

‘I therefore resign my appointment as the Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Ondo State, with immediate effect,’ the letter read in part.

Igbabo took over the position in April 2025 following the resignation of Mr. Kennedy Peretie.

Peretie, in his own resignation letter, had declared that the PDP in Ondo State had moved from ‘the intensive care unit to the morgue,’ alleging that the party leaders had no genuine intention to win elections but were only concerned with trading the party’s platform every election year.

The back-to-back resignations of the party’s spokespersons have highlighted the deepening cracks within the opposition PDP in the state, raising concerns over its preparedness for future elections.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed sadness over the death of ARISE Television News anchor, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, who was reportedly killed during an armed robbery attack at her residence in Katampe, Abuja.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, the governor described the 29-year-old broadcaster, fondly known as ‘Sommie’ by colleagues, as a rising star in the Nigerian media industry who carried out her duties with passion and professionalism.

‘On behalf of the government and the people of Lagos State, we commiserate with ARISE News over the death of one of its news anchors, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, who was reportedly killed during an armed robbery attack in her house at Abuja,’ Sanwo-Olu said.

He added, ‘Somtochukwu Maduagwu was a diligent and thoroughbred professional. Her death was a big shock considering the way she was killed, but we take solace in the Almighty God that she lived a fulfilled life and made positive impacts in the media industry.’

Sanwo-Olu also extended his condolences to the deceased’s family, friends, colleagues, and the management of ARISE News, especially its Chairman, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena.

‘She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, associates and colleagues and the entire management and staff of ARISE News. I pray that God will comfort everyone that was close to her and grant her eternal rest. My prayers and thoughts are with her immediate family and the Chairman of ARISE TV, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena. May God grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,’ the governor said.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has urged the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to prioritize national interest in its dispute with the Dangote Group, warning that any strike at this sensitive time would damage Nigeria’s fragile economic recovery.

Umahi made the appeal on Monday during an inspection of Sections I and II of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Lagos, according to a statement by his media aide, Uchenna Orji, stressing that any industrial action would derail the progress the nation is beginning to record.

He also used the occasion to dismiss as ‘fraudulent’ a claim by Stella Okengwu, Chief Executive Officer of Winhome, who alleged she invested $250 million in a parcel of land affected by the highway construction.

The Minister described her allegations as a scam and warned that she risks being invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if she fails to provide evidence of the investment within seven days.

According to Umahi, Okengwu must show proof that she purchased the land in 2022 for ?50 million and obtained development approval, let alone committing $250 million to it.

‘Where is the money? If it was not invested in a rickety gate on the land, then she should declare where it went,’ he said, adding that the Lagos State Government had already revoked the property to make way for the Federal project and offered her monetary compensation.

The Minister further urged her to account for the funds she claimed to have raised from diaspora investors or submit herself for investigation by anti-graft agencies.

Civil society groups that initially supported her protests have since withdrawn, describing her claims as unfounded and misleading.

Umahi explained that his inspection tour was part of a periodic performance evaluation of ongoing federal road projects across the country and to verify additional works being executed by the project’s contractor, Hitech Construction Company Limited.

The entourage included Segun Sowunmi, public affairs analyst and former Atiku presidential campaign spokesperson; the Surveyor-General of the Federation, Adeyemi Adebomehin; senior directors of the Federal Ministry of Works; and representatives of civil society organizations.

Umahi said the presence of figures across party lines and civil society groups was deliberate, providing independent voices to assess the project’s quality and pace.

He commended Hitech Construction for its commitment to national development, noting that the firm is constructing what will become Nigeria’s largest flyovers to connect Sections I and II of the highway.

He dismissed social media reports portraying the unprotected shoulders of the highway as signs of failure, describing them as ignorance or mischief by those unfamiliar with phased engineering processes.

He urged Nigerians to disregard such uninformed and mischievous social media activists, while assuring that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a transformational project that will not be derailed by distractions, but will stand as a backbone for national development.

Sowunmi, who also spoke after the tour, praised the project as a masterpiece and lauded President Bola Tinubu’s infrastructure vision under the Renewed Hope agenda.

He urged Nigerians to rise above partisan politics and support projects that secure the nation’s future.