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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has confirmed that Somtochukwu Maduagwu, a correspondent with Arise News jumped from the third floor of her Katampe apartment during an armed robbery attack on Monday, September 29.

Ajao Adewale, Police Commissioner, disclosed the details on Wednesday during a live appearance on Arise Television, where he described the incident as ‘tragic and very unfortunate.’

According to eyewitnesses and vigilantes within the compound, Maduagwu jumped from the third storey of the three-floor residential building, identified as Unique Apartments, while trying to escape the attackers.

‘She landed on the concrete pavement and was found unconscious in critical condition before being rushed to Maitama General Hospital.

Confirming the events that led to her tragic death, Adewale said police officers arrived at the scene to find the journalist unconscious.

‘Policemen moved to the scene and found her lying unconscious. She was immediately taken to Maitama General Hospital, where doctors tried to resuscitate her using CPR, but sadly, she could not make it,’ he said.

The police commissioner explained that the armed robbers had gained access to the apartment complex, a twin three-storey building with 18 flats located around the Gishiri axis of Katampe, under the Mabushi Division. Two private security guards were on duty at the time of the attack. One of them reportedly attempted to resist the robbers but sustained a gunshot injury in the process.

‘In the panic that followed, Sommie, who lived on the topmost floor of the building, jumped down from the third storey. The consequences were tragic and very unfortunate,’ Adewale said.

He further revealed that a special investigation team, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation), had been constituted to track down the perpetrators.

‘We have set up a specific investigation team headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Investigation, with all tactical units involved to track down the culprits.

‘The leads we are getting are already being worked on, and no stone will be left unturned until the perpetrators are brought to justice,’ he assured.

The commissioner extended condolences on behalf of the command to Maduagwu’s family, her colleagues at Arise News, and Nigerians who have been deeply shaken by the incident.

‘The FCT Command once again commiserates with the family of Sommie, the Arise News family, and Nigerians deeply touched by this ugly and disturbing incident,’ Adewale said.

The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Mortgage Bank has announced a growth plan aimed at deepening access to housing finance in Nigeria, with targets to grow its loan portfolio to N100 billion and expand mortgage services to 100,000 families within the next three years.

Hayatudeen Auwal, the bank’s Managing Director, disclosed this on Tuesday at the commissioning of its new head office in Abuja, noting that the expansion drive will include the establishment of 20 new branches nationwide.

He explained that the strategy is aimed at expanding access to mortgage financing while sustaining the bank’s record of financial discipline. ‘We intend to establish at least 20 branches nationwide in the next three years, grow our active customer base to 100,000 families, and scale our loan portfolio to N100bn. With the support of our Chairman, the entire housing development financing window has been opened to support the FHA Mortgage Bank.

‘The dream of bridging Nigeria’s housing finance gap and supporting the Federal Government’s housing delivery agenda is alive. Today, I’m proud to say we have not only sustained that dream but expanded it, turning vision into measurable progress. Our key achievement is being the number one collaborator with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria,’

According to Auwal, the bank has already achieved significant milestones, including facilitating over N27bn in mortgages for 3,427 Nigerians across the federation and enabling more than 6,000 citizens to access mortgage loans through the PENCOM retirement savings window. He stressed that the bank’s credibility rests on its consistency in meeting obligations, a factor that has earned it trust within the financial sector.

‘From the National Housing Fund, despite accessing a huge loan portfolio, we have never defaulted. We have never defaulted in making repayments, and we have never defaulted in meeting our objectives,’ he said.

The FHA Mortgage Bank boss further emphasised that housing finance remains central to achieving the government’s broader economic vision.

‘Thanks to Mr President, who has challenged Nigerians to envision a $1 trillion economy, we believe the housing sector is well-positioned to contribute to that goal. With the effort and commitment of our Chairman, FHA Mortgage Bank will play its part in achieving it,’

As part of its growth agenda, the bank is also preparing to launch a Diaspora Mortgage Project to help Nigerians abroad own homes back home, while exploring partnerships with pension funds, insurers, and international development agencies. Auwal added that efforts are ongoing to secure a national banking licence.

‘We are aiming to become a national bank. The Central Bank of Nigeria has already been informed and has given us a checklist of outstanding requirements. With our commitment, we are confident that before long, FHA Mortgage Bank will attain national bank status.’

Canada’s has formally ceased its permanent residency (PR) pathway for foreign nationals through its flagship Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWP).

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed the permanent closure of the pathway intended for caregivers applying from outside the country, ending a long period of uncertainty for prospective applicants.

The HCWP, which launched with separate options for Home Support and Child Care, was initially presented as including streams for workers abroad. However, despite early assurances, the international intake component never opened for applications and has now been officially discontinued. Backlog blamed for sudden closure

While IRCC has not provided a formal explanation for the decision, available data strongly suggests the closure is a direct result of the immense backlog in caregiver applications.

As of September 11, 2025, IRCC’s inventory of caregiver applications, which includes both the current and older pilot programs, stood at a staggering 34,400.

The department has stated its intention to process only 14 per cent of this figure, equating to 4,816 applications by the end of the year.

With Canada having already admitted 4,200 new permanent residents under caregiver pilots between January 1 and September 11, 2025, only approximately 600 spaces remain for the rest of the year.

This allocation falls significantly short of the 2,750 new permanent residents originally planned for the in-Canada stream of the HCWP alone. The closure therefore aligns with a broader governmental policy shift to prioritise the transition of temporary residents already within Canada to permanent status.

This strategy is reflected in recent category-based Express Entry draws favouring the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and federal instructions requiring provinces to dedicate 75 per cent of their nomination allocations to candidates already residing domestically.

Alternative immigration options remain

Despite the end of the international HCWP stream, foreign caregivers still retain several avenues to immigrate. They are:

Express entry: Workers whose roles fall under National Occupational Classification (NOC) 33102 (nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates) remain eligible to apply through the federal Express Entry system.

They may benefit from the popular category-based selection draws for healthcare and social services roles, although it is highly competitive.

The most recent healthcare-specific draw required applicants to achieve a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 470. Provincial Nominee Programmes (PNPs): Several provincial governments continue to actively invite caregivers through their respective nomination streams. These include:

Manitoba: Skilled worker overseas stream.

Ontario: Employer job offer: Foreign worker stream (through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program).

New Brunswick: Priority occupations stream

Newfoundland and Labrador: Skilled Worker category.

Canada has set an overall limit of 10,920 permanent residents for 2025 across all economic federal pilots, a number that encompasses the Caregiver Pilots alongside programmes such as the Agri-Food Pilot and Start-up Visa Program.

Umar Namadi, the Governor of Jigawa State, has congratulated the government and people of Nigeria on the occasion of the nation’s 65th Independence Anniversary, describing the day as a reminder of the unity, resilience, and sacrifices that built the country.

In his goodwill message, Governor Namadi said the anniversary is not only a time to reflect on the struggles of the nation’s founding fathers but also an opportunity to renew collective commitment to peace, progress, and prosperity. ‘Today, we celebrate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary with pride and gratitude. This day reminds us of the sacrifices of our heroes past, whose vision and courage laid the foundation of our beloved country. As a people, we must continue to uphold the ideals of unity, justice, and service to humanity,’ the governor said.

This is contained in a statement by Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Duste.

He noted that despite challenges, Nigeria continues to make progress under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose policies are geared towards strengthening the economy, improving security, and providing better opportunities for citizens. ‘Here in Jigawa, our administration is committed to complementing the efforts of the Federal Government by prioritising the welfare of our people, investing in agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and creating opportunities for our youth and women. Together, we will build a stronger state and contribute to the greatness of Nigeria,’ he added.

According to the statement, Governor Namadi urged Nigerians to remain united and hopeful, stressing that the diversity of the nation is a source of strength rather than division.

He called on citizens to continue supporting government policies and programmes for sustainable development. ‘As we hoist our green and white flag today, let us be reminded that the responsibility of building a prosperous Nigeria rests on all of us. With unity, faith, and determination, we shall overcome our challenges and fulfill the dream of a greater nation,’ he concluded.

The rift between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has pushed up cooking gas prices by 33 percent across Nigeria, leaving many households struggling to afford the essential commodity.

A kilogramme of cooking gas has risen from N1200 to N1600.

Across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other major cities on Tuesday, residents were forced to ration consumption or resort to alternative fuels such as kerosene, firewood and charcoal, further straining household budgets.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) retailers said they were battling acute shortages, as supply from both local producers and importers tightened significantly.

‘The situation is unbearable,’ said Chinyere Nwankwo, a mother of three who lives in Abuja. ‘I bought gas at N1,200 per kilogramme two weeks ago, but today it is N1,600. We can’t continue like this. Families are being suffocated.’

Industry sources blame the scarcity on disagreement between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery over pricing, supply channels and contractual terms.

‘LPG scarcity persists nationwide as PENGASSAN delays LPG discharge in Apapa,’ said LPG in Nigeria, a social enterprise that started in 2011 to grow the Nigerian LPG industry through advocacy.

Although the 650,000-barrel-per-day facility is expected to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports, reports suggest that limited volumes are being released into the domestic market. This, combined with rising global gas prices and foreign exchange pressures, has worsened the crisis.

Retailers argue that the federal government has failed to intervene decisively to stabilise the sector. ‘We are left at the mercy of producers and middlemen as the scarcity continues,’ said Adam Sulaimon, a retailer in Lagos.

‘Every day since last weekend, the price has gone up, and we have no choice but to pass it to consumers. If the scarcity continues, it could hit N2,000 per kilogramme before next week.’

The surge in cooking gas prices has far-reaching implications. Beyond household hardship, it undermines Nigeria’s clean energy transition agenda, which aims to discourage the use of firewood and charcoal due to concerns about deforestation and the environment.

The issue may escalate without quick resolution

The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) warns that without a swift resolution between PENGASSAN, Dangote, and other key stakeholders, the crisis could escalate into a national emergency.

Olatunbosun Oladapo, NALPGAM’s president, said its members are on standby to get the supply. However, vessel discharge has been stopped on the back of the PENGASSAN strike.

He said: ‘There’s no loading in any depot as we speak now. Our members are there to pick gas, but there’s nowhere to pick. Virtually all the storage facilities are dry, and the vessel was not allowed to discharge.

‘There’s no Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and other officers to inspect because of this PENGASSAN strike.

‘So it’s a national issue, and we are seeing the effects. The earlier we solve this problem, the better for the country. Because if there is no gas supply for the next three days, then there will be problems.’

The NMDPRA has yet to issue a clear statement, though insiders say the government is weighing options that include emergency imports and stakeholder engagement.

For now, Nigerians remain in the grip of soaring costs. ‘Cooking gas should not be a luxury,’ said Nwankwo. ‘But right now, it feels like only the rich can afford to cook.’

Meeting continues after Monday deadlock

The mediation meeting to resolve the ongoing dispute between Dangote Refinery and PENSASSAN ended in a deadlock on Monday as both parties could not come to terms, after about nine hours of meeting.

The meeting, which was chaired by Muhammad Dingyadi, minister of Labour and Employment, had the leadership of PENGASSAN, Dangote Refinery, minister of finance, and key directors of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority in attendance.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting at the early hours of Tuesday, Festus Osifo, president of PENGASSAN, explained that the meeting could not resolve the issues at hand as the management of Dangote Refinery refused to reinstate the sacked staff.

He insisted that the demand of the association was the reinstatement of the 800 staff who were sacked, adding that the strike action would continue without their reinstatement.

‘Yes, as you could see, we’ve been here for about nine hours trying to find solutions. And we’ve had numerous deliberations from the larger team. We broke into a smaller team, trying to find solutions. But unfortunately, there is no solution tonight.

‘All we want is that we have 800 people plus that are at home. These people are fathers; they are mothers, and their careers are at stake. When you terminate people the way you’ve terminated them, it will be extremely difficult for them to find jobs anywhere.

‘ Some of these people are trainees and you said they have committed sabotage. So, if they go home like that, there is no other company they will get jobs to do again in Nigeria because they have seen them as saboteurs. So, these are careers that will be damaged if proper remedy is not put in place.

‘So, that is why for us, our position has been very clear, you have to reinstate these people. If you reinstate them tonight, we will call off our action tonight, but unfortunately, that reinstatement did not happen. And we were not able to reach conclusions on the subject.

‘So they have asked us to come back again by 2 o’clock. So, we will reconvene and we pray that God should touch the heart of the capitalists. God should touch the heart of the oppressors for them to call our people back to work,’ Osifo said.

Bolaji Balogun, CEO of Chapel Hill Denham, has shared strategic guidance for entrepreneurs aiming to build sustainable businesses in Nigeria and Africa.

He presented the growth strategies at a recent Worldwide Alumni Celebration of the London Business School (LBS), Nigeria chapter in Lagos, themed ‘Africa’s Builders: What it takes to start, grow and scale.’

He noted that Africa’s demographic advantage lies in its rapidly growing young population, which he says can boost economic growth by creating wealth through entrepreneurship.

Balogun shared the insights based on his 35 years of inspiring entrepreneurial journey and working with other successful entrepreneurs who built from scratch to big conglomerates on the continent.

In starting a business, he advised start-ups to have a big vision, clarity about the unique problems they intend to solve, discipline, financial prudence, and lots of experience.’

‘You must have a big vision and be clear about the problems you are solving when starting a business,’ he said.

‘The other thing that you’ll find common is that you need tremendous discipline around consistency in execution. It’s about financial prudence, operational rigour, and you will also need a lot of courage when you start,’ he explained.

He emphasized that starting a business requires experience, urging start-ups to have working experience before launching into entrepreneurship.

‘Experience is important as it helps you learn the business and the fundamentals properly. It helps you understand the structure, margins, customers and markets and how brands are built,’ he said.

In growing a business, Balogun says that growing a business in Africa requires the ability to identify, hire, and retain high-quality people over a long period. He noted that aggression is needed to grow any business, saying, ‘When you look at the entrepreneurs that have succeeded around here, they all have a mean streak around them, whether it’s Aliko, or Aigboje and the late Herbert of Access Bank, or Tony of UBA. Every single person who has built something here invariably has a bit of aggression.’

‘If you don’t have a bit of aggression, go home. Aggression is necessary for three simple reasons. It’s about the ability to make decisions quickly.’

‘It’s about the ability to process a lot of information and be clear-minded through that process and to be able to make the right decisions quickly.’

He stressed that having aggression ensures not making a mistake because it provides the ability to pivot when necessary and the swiftness to react to opportunities that are available all the time.

He urged startups to establish structures that promote accountability, transparency, ethics, and governance discipline.

In scaling a business, Balogun says the business must have had a significant community impact and now be focused on a broader stakeholder community.

He urged entrepreneurs who want to scale their businesses to ensure that their corporate governance is stronger, they understand the power of the capital market, they understand sustainability, increase employee training, reinvest in the business, think long-term, and continue the quest for excellence.

The event also included a panel discussion on what it takes to build a regional and continental business in Africa and practical advice on how to grow and scale businesses successfully was offered.

The panelists include: Adedotun Sulaiman, chairman, Parthian Partners Ltd; Roosevelt Ogbonna, group managing director, Access Bank; Kathleen O’Connor, clinical professor, LBS and Olumide Soyombo, co-founder, Bluechip Technologies and Voltron Capital. It was moderated by Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, CEO, EnergyInc Advisors.

Africa’s venture capital firms (VCs) are increasingly taking the lead in funding rounds, marking a shift to greater local involvement in the continent’s rapidly expanding startup ecosystem.

In October 2024, Moniepoint achieved unicorn status after closing a $110 million Series C from Lagos-based Verod Capital, which joined Google’s Africa Investment Fund and Lightrock as investors.

In recent months, notable deals have highlighted how homegrown investors are backing innovation across fintech, clean energy, e-commerce, and human resource (HR) technology. These transactions underscore how African or Nigerian VCs are moving beyond seed bets to play a more decisive role in scaling startups.

‘While global investors often wait for signals before backing African startups, the real catalyst is local venture capital firms. Local VCs must take the first step, which is not just with mentorship or training, but with actual capital, to show that African startups are viable. Once that confidence is built, global funds will follow,’ said Frank Samuel, investment associate at Sahara Impact Ventures.

He cited the advantage local investors bring, which is their deep understanding of the context, noting that they know the networks, the government touchpoints, and the partnerships that can unlock growth opportunities for startups.

‘Unlike international funds, which add value when startups scale globally, local VCs are the ones that can navigate ministries, state institutions, and technical financing to support innovation on the ground. That’s why the next big funding wave in Nigeria and across Africa will be led by local venture capitalists,’ Samuel stated.

Abiodun Lawal, principal at Heave Ventures said, ‘While foreign investors come with cash and little oversight, local investors have the opportunity to ‘go beyond cash.’

‘Local investors can leverage their strengths such as domain and context awareness, nuances, introductions, policy influencing, and lobbying,’ Lawal said.

He noted that these ‘beyond cash’ activities improve returns as investments are de-risked. ‘The fine balance however is that investors should not get in the way of the entrepreneurs.

‘We believe Africa is not Silicon Valley. Our terrain is called the Tropical Savannah,’ Lawal stated.

Zone, a payment infrastructure startup, closed an $8.5 million seed round in March 2024, co-led by TLcom Capital, one of Africa’s most active early-stage funds. SunFi, a clean energy company, also secured $1 million in early 2025 with backing from Ventures Platform, Delta40, and Kaleo Ventures.

Accrue, a fintech platform, raised $1.58 million, led by Lattice Fund with contributions from other regional backers. The momentum has continued into mid-2025 as Solar energy provider, Arnergy, raised $18 million in a Series B round that included local participation, while construction e-commerce startup CutStruct and HR solutions company PaidHR each secured $2 million seed rounds with Zedcrest Capital among the investors.

Local VCs such as Microtraction and newer players like Future Africa are offering important lessons on how domestic capital can lead, shape, and sustain startup ecosystems.

Microtraction has built its reputation by investing early – often in pre-seed or seed round startups. It has actively provided small but meaningful checks to founders who are just getting started.

A recent example is Microtraction’s Community Fund (first close $15 million), which aims to write first cheques of $100,000 for about 7 percent equity in early-stage African tech companies, with options for follow-ups.

Future Africa describes itself as a ‘founding investor’ with check sizes in the $100,000-500,000 range. They build a community of founders, investors, advisors, corporates, and government partners to support portfolio companies from early on.

The network effect helps founders access more than just capital, but also advisory services, partnerships, institutional support, and so on.

Local VCs often invest in startups solving problems specific to Nigeria or Africa, ranging from fintech, edtech, healthtech, or logistics, rather than only chasing global tech export stories. For Microtraction, its portfolio spans fintech, health tech, SaaS, edtech, crypto, gaming, and mobility across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda.

Challenges

The challenges faced by local VCs are lingering structural and market challenges, which include limited pools of domestic institutional capital such as pension funds.

Sovereign wealth funds in Nigeria often have mandates, risk appetites, or regulatory constraints that make early-stage tech investments difficult.

Beyond capital, scaling companies needs legal, HR, compliance, operations, international expansion, and many local VCs are still building those support systems.

Local VCs also face competition from foreign VCs with deeper pockets, global networks, and the ability to write larger cheques.

By writing larger checks and co-leading rounds with global players, homegrown investors are positioning themselves as key drivers of the next wave of African innovation funding.

As Nigeria’s tech ecosystem expands rapidly, local venture capital (VC) firms are increasingly stepping up as key drivers of innovation, capital deployment, and sustainable growth.

Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO, has warned that the United Kingdom (UK) and other major economies face a crippling shortage of skilled tradespeople like electricians and plumbers.

The deficit, according to him, could be best met by encouraging more workers from overseas.

The technology chief underscored the urgent need for a massive increase in the blue-collar workforce to keep pace with the accelerating global boom in data centre construction.

This fast-growing sector, essential for powering the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, requires a vast physical infrastructure, and Huang insists the required skills are not on track to be filled domestically. ‘If you’re an electrician, you’re a plumber, a carpenter we’re going to need hundreds of thousands of them to build all of these factories,’ Huang stated.

He projected an explosive demand in the sector, claiming, ‘The skilled craft segment of every economy is going to see a boom. You’ve going to have to be doubling and doubling and doubling every single year.’

The call for overseas labour

Huang’s comments echo the anxieties of other leading business figures who have highlighted immigration policies and a lack of interest among young people as creating a perfect storm for construction and manufacturing.

Earlier this year, Larry Fink, BlackRock CEO, voiced his concerns to the White House, specifically pointing to the negative impact of immigrant labour deportations on the ability to build essential AI data centres in the United States (US). ‘We just don’t have enough,’ Fink lamented, noting the shortfall in skilled workers like electricians needed for the construction drive.

This view was recently backed by Jim Farley, Ford CEO, who cited a gap between political ambitions to ‘reshore’ manufacturing and the reality of the domestic workforce.

According to Farley, the US is already short by over half a million construction workers and 600,000 factory staff, demonstrating that ‘there’s nothing to backfill the ambition’ of large-scale, national projects. The demand for these workers is not speculative. Industry analysts project that global capital expenditure on data centres will soar to $7 trillion by 2030.

Each large-scale data centre can demand up to 1,500 construction staff during its initial build, with many roles offering six-figure salaries without the requirement of a university degree.

Huang’s stance signals a shift, suggesting the most lucrative opportunities now lie in the physical side of technology rather than the software. When asked what he would study if he were a young man today, the Nvidia CEO confessed he would now choose disciplines rooted in the physical sciences.

With AI threatening a swath of traditional white-collar, entry-level roles, it is obvious that the future workforce needs to be ready to get its hands dirty, and a major influx of domestic and foreign talent is required to power the next industrial revolution.

The Lagos State government has announced a two-day traffic diversion to facilitate the smooth hosting of the Electric Powerboat Racing Championship E1 Series event.

The championship, which is Africa’s first electric powerboat race set to take place on Lagos Inland Waterways of Victoria Island Lagoon, will begin on Friday, October 3, and end on Sunday, October 5, 2025.

For this reason, there will be a total road closure at First Lekki Junction inward Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island.

A statement from the state’s Ministry of Transportation enjoins motorists on this route to use alternative routes, which have been marked out for that purpose.

Motorists from Ajah heading to Lekki will make a U-turn at Lekki First Junction by the Pedestrian Bridge to link Yesufu Abiodun to Maroko Police Station to access City of David to Ligali Ayorinde to connect Ajose Adeogun straight to Eko Hotel Roundabout to Ahmadu Bello Way to Independence Bridge and McEwen/Onikan to continue their journeys.

Alternatively, motorists from Ajah inward CMS can go through Abraham Adesanya to link Ogombo Road to access Okun Ajah Road to connect Coastal Road to Ahmadu Bello Way to Independence Bridge and McEwen/Onikan to continue their journeys.

Additionally, motorists from Lekki and its environs, going to Ikoyi/Mainland could go through Admiralty Way to access Lekki Link Bridge to Alexander Road/Bourdillon Way to connect Gerrard Road and Osborne Road to continue their journeys.

Alternatively, motorists from Lekki and its environs going to CMS can connect Yesufu Abiodun to link Oniru Road to access Aboyade Cole Road to Ligali Ayorinde Street to Eko Hotel Roundabout and Ahmadu Bello Way to continue their journeys.

In the same vein, motorists on the other side (from CMS/Independence Bridge and Ozumba Mbadiwe inward Lekki-Epe Expressway) will have a thoroughfare to Ajah and its environs.

Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the state’s commissioner for transportation, assured motorists of adequate parking made available for the event at Fidelity Bank, Access Bank, and Law School Premises, Victoria Island.

He also urged all participants to cooperate with officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), who will be strategically deployed along all event routes to ensure smooth traffic flow.

The commissioner assured further that during the period of the 2-day road diversion, the coastal road will be open to traffic.

He advised motorists to be patient as the diversion is part of the traffic management plans for the E1 Boat Race event to take place on the waterways at Victoria Island, Lagos.

Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf of Kano State has described the action of the state’s commissioner of police, pulling out of the March Pass ceremony marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, as an indiscretion and an affront to national unity.

Addressing crowds that gathered to mark the country’s 65th Independence anniversary, Sani Abacha Stadium venue of the ceremony, Abba accused the state commissioner, Ibrahim Adamu Bako, of deliberately withdrawing officers from the celebration, a move he said has embarrassed the state.

‘As you can see, on this historic and independent anniversary of Nigeria, he decided to pull out of the parade along with his own personnel.

‘This is for reasons pertinent to him and pertinent to his people. Let me say that Kano State’s Chief Security Officer, on behalf of the government, are not happy with this attitude of the Commissioner of Police.’, Governor Abba said. The governor’s remarks, made at the climax of the ceremony, underscored the fragile relationship between state officials and federal security institutions in Nigeria, where police commissioners report to the federal government rather than to governors, even though governors are constitutionally designated as their states’ ‘chief security officers.’ Abba accused the police of partisanship and warned that their absence risked undermining public trust in law enforcement.

‘Security agencies, in Kano in particular, shouldn’t be involving themselves in partisan politics, which will do no good to all of us in Kano State and in Nigeria, of course,’ he said. ‘I would like to seize this opportunity as a Nigerian, as a Kano citizen, and as the Chief Security Officer of Kano State, to condemn the unethical and partisan attitude of the current Commissioner of Police.

‘Today, every Nigerian is happy to celebrate the independence of this country,’ he said. ‘The good people of Kano are peace-loving people. They have been looking for this day, when we all gather here, to celebrate the independence of our country’, the Governor further stated.

He further described the commissioner’s last-minute decision to withdraw as politically motivated. ‘When our rights are written today in court, yet the Commissioner of Police decided to withdraw at the last minute,’ Mr Yusuf said. ‘This is unethical. This is disloyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’

In concluding his address, Governor Abba commended other security agencies for attending. He emphasised his displeasure that the police, a central figure in such ceremonies, had absented themselves.