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The United Kingdom has published new guidance outlining educational courses and training programmes foreigners can undertake without applying for a Student visa.

The guidance published by the UK Home Office on October 8 2026 explains the visa options available to foreign nationals visiting the country for educational activities including programmes under the Erasmus+ scheme.

Under the rules eligible visitors can study in the UK for up to six months using a Standard Visitor visa provided their courses meet the relevant requirements.

Here are the educational activities foreigners can undertake without a Student visa:

1. Studying at accredited educational institutions: Foreigners can enrol in eligible short courses at recognised educational institutions.

2. School exchange programmes: Visitors can participate in approved exchange activities involving schools in the UK and other countries.

3. Academic scientific and research exchanges: Eligible visitors can take part in academic exchanges scientific programmes and research-related activities.

4. Training programmes: Foreigners can receive or provide training during their visit subject to visitor visa conditions.

5. Workshops seminars and conferences: Visitors can attend educational and professional workshops seminars and conferences.

6. Job shadowing: Participants can observe professionals at work to gain practical knowledge and experience.

7. Short-term traineeships: Eligible visitors can undertake certain traineeships lasting less than six months.

8. Skills competitions: Foreigners can participate in approved competitions designed to test or develop professional and practical skills.

9. Sports coaching and training: Visitors can receive coaching or training at sports organisations.

10. Preparatory visits: Participants can undertake visits to prepare for educational or training activities.

Under the Erasmus+ programme young people can also use the visitor route to participate in youth exchanges training sessions networking activities and study visits.

Youth workers may also take part in job-shadowing activities under the programme.

The guidance states that courses and traineeships lasting less than six months may qualify for the Standard Visitor route meaning participants do not need a Student visa if they meet the relevant conditions.

For applicants under 18 traineeships lasting up to 30 days may also qualify under the visitor route.

When a Student Visa Is Required

Foreign nationals intending to undertake longer or more structured academic programmes may be required to obtain a Student visa.

Applicants aged 16 and above studying further or higher education courses programmes involving work-based learning or traineeships with an approved sponsor may need to apply for the visa.

Their educational institutions must hold a valid Student sponsor licence and issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) before applicants can proceed with their visa applications.

Foreigners planning to study in the UK are advised to check the immigration requirements for their specific courses and programmes before travelling.-

A member of G-15 and former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Kwara State Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki-Gambari at the weekend splashed over N4 billion on empowerment programme in support of residents of the state.

Seriki-Gambari aka ambassador said the programme is meant to drum support for President Bola Tinubu and his deputy’s next year’s re-election bid.

The APC chieftain said this in Ilorin while unveiling his empowerment package entitled ‘Yahaya Seriki Empowerment and Enterprise Colloquium.’

The package comprises N1 billion and about N3.2 billion worth of items including 150 vehicles modern sewing machines etc.

He said the package was designed to help beneficiaries improve their livelihoods and achieve economic independence.

He added that the programme was motivated by his desire to give back to society and create opportunities for people to make progress through different means of livelihood.

‘The purpose of this empowerment is to help people progress in their own way. All I am doing is giving back to the society that brought me this far’ he added.

‘When God blesses you and you have enough failing to make other people smile means you are poor in spirit. Making other people happy is something I strongly believe in and enjoy doing’ he said.

He said he believed that individuals who had attained financial success should use their resources to improve the lives of others and provide opportunities for those who needed support.

On the 2027 elections the APC guber aspirant declared his support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima describing the President’s policies as necessary for Nigeria’s development.

‘This empowerment programme is in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I believe we have never had it this good in the history of Nigeria.

‘We have a President who believes in building a better country and changing the narrative for the better’ he said.

He urged Nigerians particularly young people to support Tinubu’s second-term ambition insisting that the country should rally behind the President.

In his remarks at the event Senator representing Kwara Central applauded the gesture.

Mallam Mustapha now PDP Kwara central senatorial candidate said ‘my brother Ambassador Yahaya Seriki-Gambari today demonstrated yet again his remarkable commitment to humanity through a one-of-its-kind empowerment programme during which he distributed vehicles tools and equipment for artisans and other valuable items worth billions of naira.

‘This is certainly not his first intervention of this magnitude and I sincerely hope and pray that it will not be his last.

‘For me this is particularly heartwarming because it reflects a philosophy of service that I have consistently believed in and practised over the years first through the Saliu Mustapha Foundation and now under the auspices of my office as the Senator representing the Kwara Central Senatorial District.

‘Time and again I have challenged my principal rival in the forthcoming senatorial election to point to just one tangible enduring contribution he made to infrastructure or human capital development before assuming public office.

‘Something verifiable something impactful something that has stood the test of time. Till today neither he nor his supporters have provided a convincing answer to that challenge.

‘And therein lies the fundamental difference between those who have invested their personal resources time and energy in uplifting people and communities long before seeking public office and those whose claim to public relevance began only after political power was handed to them on a platter.

‘More often than not the difference in these backgrounds becomes even more evident in the quality of leadership and the outcomes they deliver while in office.’

Senator Mustapha added ‘To all the beneficiaries there is a clear thin line between luck and opportunity. I urge you to make the most of these opportunities put the items received to productive use improve your livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to the development of our society.

‘May Almighty Allah continue to bless and strengthen everyone who genuinely seeks to uplift humanity’.

Spokesperson of the G-15 Senator Yahaya Olorieghe also described the empowerment initiative as an opportunity to support the progress and development of Kwara State expressing confidence in the capacity of such interventions to improve people’s livelihoods.

Entering the Holy Kaaba in Makkah is one of the rarest experiences a Muslim can have. For millions of Muslims who travel to Saudi Arabia each year to perform Umrah or Hajj the Kaaba remains the spiritual centre of their pilgrimage a sacred structure towards which they turn in prayer five times daily. Yet while pilgrims can circumambulate it touch its walls and offer prayers around it access to its interior remains restricted.

For President Bola Ahmed Tinubu however his current Umrah pilgrimage brought an extraordinary spiritual experience: the opportunity to enter the Kaaba and pray inside the revered structure alongside members of his Nigerian delegation.

The moment was not merely another highlight of his official visit to Saudi Arabia. It was a deeply personal religious experience one that carries considerable significance in Islamic tradition and as the President said strengthened his resolve to serve Nigeria.

A sacred place beyond ordinary access

The Kaaba situated at the centre of Masjid al-Haram is Islam’s most sacred structure. It is the Qiblah the direction Muslims worldwide face during their daily prayers. Its significance transcends geographical boundaries bringing together more than a billion Muslims in a common act of worship regardless of nationality race language or social standing.

For Muslims the Kaaba is a profound symbol of Tawheed (the oneness of Allah) obedience to His commandments and the spiritual unity of the Ummah. Its significance is firmly established in the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Allah says: ‘Indeed the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah) – blessed and a guidance for the worlds’ (Qur’an 3:96).

The Qur’an also describes it as a sanctuary and a place of security for humanity (Qur’an 2:125). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) further affirmed its sanctity saying: ‘Indeed Allah has made this city sacred on the day He created the heavens and the earth’ (Sahih al-Bukhari 3189; Sahih Muslim 1353). Allah describes the Sacred House as a place of worship and a sanctuary for humanity.

Entering the Kaaba is therefore regarded as a special spiritual experience. Although Islam does not require a Muslim to enter its interior to complete Hajj or Umrah the opportunity to pray within the structure is considered an extraordinary honour.

The interior is not open to everyone because the Kaaba is not operated as a public visitor attraction. Saudi authorities in collaboration with its traditional custodians carefully regulate access; they safeguard the structure control its opening and oversee its cleaning.

According to Saudipedia the Saudi government’s official encyclopaedia the senior member of the Bani Shaibah family holds the key to the Kaaba a custodianship that dates to the time of Prophet Muhammad. The custodians traditionally known as the Sadanah open and close the door and participate in cleaning arrangements.

Historically the Kaaba was opened to visitors on designated days with separate access for men and women. However general access was discontinued as the number of pilgrims increased making unrestricted entry difficult to manage. These restrictions also help prevent overcrowding and protect the sacred structure.

Today entry is granted on special occasions and to selected individuals including custodians officials and invited guests subject to approval by Saudi authorities. Such access is an administrative decision rather than a religious entitlement that comes automatically with performing Umrah or Hajj.

This explains why Tinubu’s experience attracted considerable attention. While thousands of Nigerians and millions of other Muslims travel to Makkah every year to perform Umrah only a limited number are granted the rare privilege of entering the Kaaba.

Tinubu’s joy and gratitude over the rare privilege

For President Tinubu the opportunity was particularly meaningful as it combined his personal devotion with his responsibility as Nigeria’s President.

The Nigerian leader expressed profound gratitude to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for granting him and members of his delegation access to the sacred structure.

He described the experience as historic acknowledging the hospitality and recognition extended to him and the Nigerian delegation.

‘I want to say a big thank you for the faith for the recognition. I can’t believe the fencing of the Ka’abah is in Green-White-Green which reminds us of the Nigerian identity’ he said.

The President was visibly excited by the gesture particularly the Nigerian national colours displayed around the Kaaba ahead of the visit. The green-white-green arrangement added a national dimension to an already memorable religious experience.

He also expressed appreciation for the Saudi leadership and administrators of the holy sites saying:

‘I thank the Crown Prince and all the administrators of the holy land. I thank them for the hospitality and recognition given to me as the leader of the delegation and the country.’

He also reflected on the challenges facing Nigeria and the importance of faith in overcoming them.

‘We are all facing challenges and hostility around us. We will overcome them with faith in God Almighty. I’m grateful forever. I thank the King and the Royal Crown Prince. It is an honour that I enjoyed and it is gracious of them to have allowed me to enter the Ka’abah. This is history’ Tinubu said.

Prayers for wisdom peace and Nigeria’s prosperity

Perhaps the most significant aspect of Tinubu’s experience was not merely gaining access to the interior of the Kaaba but what he said he asked Allah for during that rare opportunity.

Rather than focusing on personal wealth political survival or the privileges of office the President said his prayers centred on seeking wisdom and resilience to continue serving Nigerians.

‘Well I asked for wisdom and resilience to continue to serve the people. I know that prayer has been granted’ he declared.

He recalled that before the 2023 presidential election he had also performed Umrah and asked Allah for His blessings. Having become President he said he had promised to return to Makkah to express gratitude.

The President also prayed for Nigeria’s diversity to become a source of strength and prosperity rather than division. In a country grappling with insecurity economic hardship religious differences and political tensions his prayer carries an important message about the need for national unity and peaceful coexistence.

During his earlier reflection on the Umrah pilgrimage Tinubu said:

‘I believe this Umrah is very significant for the love of our people commitment to the job and our country Nigeria; commitment to the will of Allah that His words must prevail and that there’s no other God but Him and He’s the only one that makes a human being what he can be and what he would be in life.’

He also prayed for sustainable peace national unity harmony and stability asking Allah to guide the country’s leaders and to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood among Nigerians.

The President’s reflections went beyond his immediate religious experience to the responsibilities of leadership. Drawing inspiration from Surah Aal-Imran verse 26 which affirms Allah’s absolute sovereignty and authority to grant and withdraw power he acknowledged that political authority is ultimately a trust from God.

He emphasised that anyone entrusted with power must exercise it responsibly with humility and in the people’s interests.

‘I have faith in that and I believe extremely well that He has done me and my country a great favour. Out of many millions of people to be the President and Commander-in-Chief is a favour that only Almighty God can do to a human being’ he said.

He further declared that the spiritual experience had strengthened his commitment to Nigeria.

‘My commitment to Project Nigeria is higher. I am determined to usher in prosperity and fully develop the country consistent with the wish of Allah and the support of the people.’

He added ‘It is important to put Allah first then move on. Follow your conscience. Follow the right path that will lead Nigeria to greatness.’

A privilege that should inspire greater responsibility

Tinubu’s entry into the Kaaba is undoubtedly a remarkable moment particularly for Nigerian Muslims who regard the President’s experience as a source of spiritual pride and national recognition.

For a leader an experience like this should reinforce humility justice compassion accountability and service to humanity. These are qualities Islam consistently emphasises and should guide anyone entrusted with public authority.

The President himself acknowledged that power ultimately belongs to Allah and that those who receive it must use it responsibly. That reflection provides an important standard for measuring leadership.

For Tinubu however the rare privilege has offered an opportunity to express gratitude seek divine guidance and renew his commitment to Nigeria.

His prayers for wisdom resilience peace and prosperity now carry an expectation: that the principles he invoked in Makkah will be reflected in the everyday lives of Nigerians.

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has arrested several suspects for carrying out illegal National Identity Numbers (NIN) enrolments in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

The arrest was carried out by its Inspectorate Compliance and Enforcement Unit (ICEU) as a renewed crackdown on illegal NIN enrolment unauthorised data modification and extortion.

According to the Head of Corporate Communications of NIMC Dr Kayode Adegoke the recent enforcement operation in Gwagwalada and other locations led to several arrests and the seizure of illegal enrolment equipment.

Adegoke said the operation reflected the Commission’s commitment to ending unauthorised enrolment activities and unethical practices and to protecting the integrity security and credibility of Nigeria’s National Identity Management System.

‘NIMC notes that many of the problems people face with their National Identification Number (NIN) stem from bypassing official enrolment procedures.

‘ NIN enrolment can only be done at any of the Commission’s approved Centres while modification of data can be done via self-servicemodification. nimc gov.ng.

‘NIN holders should download the NINAuth application from the iOS App Store and the Android Play Store for the protection of their NIN for printing of the NIN slip and other security benefits’ Adegoke said.

The Director-General/CEO Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote reiterated the Commission’s zero tolerance for extortion and unethical conduct. She said NIMC is committed to providing seamless hitch-free NIN enrolment for Nigerians and legal residents.

The Commission urged all NIN applicants and holders to use only NIMC-approved channels for enrolment and related services.

The African Democratic Congress(ADC) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police. Tunji Disu and Director-General Tunji Disu and Director-General Department of State Services(DSS) Adeola Ajayi over what it described as sustained pattern of violence and intimidation against its members.

The ADC at a news conference by the Director-General of its Governorship Campaign Organisation Bello Goronyo in Sokoto yesterday cited three incidents that happened between October 28 and 30.

According to the party its governorship candidate Manir Dan’iya was attacked by suspected All Progressives Congress(APC) thugs on October 30 at the Sultan Sadiq Abubakar International Airport Sokoto.

The October 28 incidents said the ADC were attacks on its women supporters on a peaceful solidarity march and the destruction of its campaign office in the state capital.

Goronyo said at the news conference which was attended by Dan’iya his running mate Bello Ambarura and state Chairman Abdullahi Maigwandu that vehicles belonging to the governorship candidate were smashed by the suspected armed thugs. He added that two DSS personnel attached to Dan’iya were detained by operatives of the state-owned security outfits including the Sokoto Marshals and Sokoto Community Guards.

The party said that ”no amount of intimidation threat and violent attacks” on Dan’iya and its other candidates for the forthcoming general election would ”subdue the wave of acceptance for them across the state.

‘ ADC is fast drawing more support and building ground ahead of the general elections in the state’ the ADC stated.

The ADC consequently asked the IG and DSS boss to among others carry out an independent investigation into the incidents prosecute the perpetrators and protect its candidates and supporters.

But the APC Chairman in the state Haruna Adiya dismissed the allegations as a propaganda campaign to distract the public from what he said were the ADC’s challenges.

Adiya said: ‘Initially they alleged that our supporters attacked their women. Now they have come up with another allegation that their governorship candidate was attacked on his way back from the airport after their late-night visit to former Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

”They further claimed that security operatives seized vehicles belonging to DSS personnel. Anyone familiar with the operations of security agencies would recognise how implausible such an allegation sounds.’

Adiya also faulted what he described as inconsistencies in the ADC’s account noting that while the party’s media aide claimed security operatives were deployed to prevent Dan’iya from entering Sokoto metropolis the candidate’s own statement indicated he had visited different locations in the city to pay condolence visits.

The APC state chairman stated that Governor Ahmed Aliyu who is currently in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah had consistently advised APC supporters against activities capable of creating tension.

He advised the ADC to address its internal challenges rather than drag the APC and the state government into its affairs.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa State has reaffirmed the fundamental right of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to participate in the 2027 general elections like other eligible Nigerian citizens.

The electoral umpire also reiterated its deliberate measures to eliminate barriers hindering the participation of persons with disabilities in the country’s electoral process.

The Head of Voter Education and Publicity Department of the Commission in the state Aliyu Hassan Sha’aba disclosed this on Monday during a one-day engagement with the PWDs Electoral Officers (EOs) and Disability Desk Officers at Rockview Hotel Yola.

He explained that every eligible citizen regardless of physical visual hearing intellectual or psychosocial disability has the right to vote and participate in the electoral process without discrimination.

He said ‘Persons with disabilities have the same fundamental right to participate in elections as other eligible citizens. They (PWDs) have the right to participate in the electoral process without discrimination and to receive accurate information about electoral procedures.

‘Persons with disabilities have the right to exercise their franchise freely and without intimidation and be treated with dignity and respect by election officials. They have the right to also report barriers misconduct or other electoral concerns through the appropriate channels.’

He therefore called on the electoral officers to identify and document barriers preventing PWDs from accessing polling units and electoral information while strengthening collaboration with disability organisations and other stakeholders to address the challenges.

On voting arrangements he urged electoral officers to ensure that polling units are accessible to persons with mobility challenges including those using wheelchairs crutches and other assistive devices.

Sha’aba noted that INEC provides ramps to facilitate access to polling units and stressed that election officials should offer necessary assistance without compromising the dignity privacy and independence of voters with disabilities.

For persons with visual impairments he said officials must provide information on approved voting assistance and assistive procedures ensuring that such support complies with electoral guidelines and protects ballot secrecy.

He also called for appropriate communication support for voters who are deaf or hard of hearing including written instructions visual information and sign-language interpretation where available.

He cautioned that assistance provided to voters with disabilities must not be used to influence their choices disclose their voting preferences or undermine the integrity of the electoral process.

Earlier the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Nura Mohammed called for stronger partnerships among INEC disability organisations and civil society groups to improve electoral inclusion.

He said the commission’s interventions include Braille Ballot Guides for visually impaired voters EC30 PWD Written Instruction Posters for deaf voters magnifying glasses for persons with visual impairments and albinism and voter education materials in Braille jingles flyers and posters.

He stressed the need to train stakeholders on the proper deployment of these interventions and take voter education closer to PWDs through schools camps and settlements.

The REC said electoral inclusion must extend beyond election day to cover voter registration education sensitisation and participation as candidates.

He urged stakeholders to work collectively to implement INEC’s inclusive electoral guidelines adding that assistance to voters with disabilities must never be used to influence their choices or compromise ballot secrecy.

The dispute between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the Federal Government’s N70000 monthly transport allowance for federal workers has intensified with both labour centres exchanging accusations over their authority to negotiate on behalf of workers.

The NLC President Joe Ajaero on Monday insisted that his congress could independently negotiate labour matters with the Federal Government while the TUC President Festus Osifo accused him of excluding the congress from negotiations.

The disagreement followed the Federal Government’s approval of the N70000 monthly transportation intervention for workers across all levels for six months.

Appearing on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief Ajaero said the NLC could negotiate alone based on the International Labour Organisation’s principle of representation by the most representative workers’ organisation.

‘TUC can negotiate along with NLC but NLC can negotiate alone based on the principle of most workers’ representatives of the ILO’ he said.

He maintained that the TUC could not independently negotiate with labour authorities adding that its proposals had to be submitted through the NLC.

‘TUC sent their negotiation alone ahead of the ILO conference but they returned it back and I had to minute on it.

‘They have to send their list here for me to forward it; that is the position of the ILO. NLC determines how TUC participates’ he said.

Ajaero also cited the Trade Union Amendment Act 2005 and Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution arguing that workers had the right to choose their unions.

‘The 2005 Trade Union Amendment Act made membership of trade unions voluntary. It is the worker that determines the union he belongs to’ he said.

He further argued that only one TUC-affiliated union belonged to the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council while seven of its eight constituent unions were affiliated with the NLC.

On the N70000 transport allowance Ajaero said the NLC secured the intervention after issuing the Federal Government an ultimatum and threatening industrial action.

‘We gave government an ultimatum; we were supposed to start an action. The government asked for four days and to meet with us and we met and they resumed sitting after four days.

‘After the meeting the 70k allowance came up’ he said.

But Osifo described the agreement as an aberration insisting that the TUC was not consulted during the negotiations.

Speaking on the same television programme he challenged Ajaero to produce any ILO regulation authorising one labour centre to negotiate on behalf of another without consultation.

‘He should show me in the ILO regulations where it says one party is going to negotiate without the other one being there or consulted. He should show me! He should show Nigerians!’ Osifo said.

He argued that the existence of separate labour centres meant that neither could claim the right to negotiate for the other without its consent.

‘You cannot negotiate for a body that is represented for a body that has a trade union. You cannot negotiate for them on their behalf! It is not there anywhere!’ he said.

Osifo also faulted Ajaero’s interpretation of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council insisting that the meeting at which the transport allowance was agreed was not a formal council meeting.

‘But that meeting that took place was not the Council meeting. The Minister is not a member of the Council. Ajaero is not a member of the Council. The Council even has a quorum and the number of persons that must be seated to form a quorum. But at the end of the day that meeting was not a JNC meeting. The members of JNC were not there!’ he said.

He further criticised the application of a flat N40000 consequential adjustment across the public service following the increase in the minimum wage from N30000 to N70000.

Osifo said the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council should have determined the consequential adjustments rather than applying the difference uniformly.

The dispute has also drawn three public service trade unions which disowned a press release issued in the name of the JNPSNC on October 30 accusing the council of excluding them from discussions.

The Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) and Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) said they were neither consulted nor invited to the meeting preceding the statement.

In a joint statement signed by their presidents Kayode Alakija John Alli and Kamal Ibrahim the unions said they did not participate in preparing the release or authorise anyone to speak on their behalf.

They also alleged that the JNPSNC Vice-Chairman representing the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria was excluded from the consultation.

The unions aligned with the TUC in rejecting the N70000 transport intervention describing it as inadequate amid rising costs of transportation food and housing.

They said: ‘With transportation food housing and other essentials becoming increasingly unaffordable this intervention is no substitute for decent wages fair remuneration or sustainable improvement in workers’ living standards.’

They also faulted the previous consequential adjustment alleging that the council applied a flat N40000 addition across the board instead of a 133 per cent adjustment to the lowest-paid worker cascaded across the salary structure.

The unions demanded a review of the adjustment inclusive representation in public service negotiating structures and an end to issuing statements in their name without authorisation.

They maintained that the JNPSNC was a public service negotiating platform not a third national labour centre alongside the NLC and TUC.

The unions declared: ‘You cannot speak for workers without their mandate. You cannot claim consensus without consultation. You cannot negotiate workers’ welfare while denying their unions the right to representation.’-

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III as a towering moral authority and bridge-builder whose two decades on the throne have strengthened religious harmony national unity and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.

The President in a tribute marking the monarch’s 20th anniversary on the throne on Monday praised his uncommon wisdom moderation and unwavering commitment to the country’s stability and development.

Tinubu said the Sultan through his leadership transformed the traditional institution into a powerful platform for promoting peace fostering interfaith understanding and advancing the welfare of Nigerians particularly the poor and vulnerable.

According to the President the monarch’s reign has gone beyond preserving the heritage of the Sokoto Caliphate to repositioning the institution as an influential force for national cohesion.

‘Twenty years ago you ascended the throne with humility courage and a profound sense of duty. In the two decades since you have not only preserved the glorious heritage of the Sokoto Caliphate; you have enriched it redefined it and made it a formidable instrument for peace unity and national development’ Tinubu said.

The President particularly commended the Sultan’s calming influence during periods of national tension describing him as a dependable voice of reason and an invaluable adviser to successive leaders.

‘Your uncommon wisdom your calm in moments of tension and your unwavering commitment to Nigeria have always struck me. You have been more than a traditional ruler. You have been a moral authority a bridge between faiths a voice of moderation and a steady counsellor to leaders across the country’ he stated.

Tinubu also acknowledged the monarch’s contributions to interreligious understanding in his capacities as President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Co-Chairman of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).

He observed that the Sultan’s commitment to religious tolerance helped Christians and Muslims find common ground showing that Nigeria’s diversity could be a source of national strength rather than division.

The President further highlighted the monarch’s interventions in promoting peace across Northern Nigeria and the Sahel alongside his advocacy for education particularly for the girl-child.

He equally praised the Sultan’s support for farmers public health initiatives and programmes aimed at improving the circumstances of disadvantaged Nigerians.

Tinubu said these contributions reflected a people-centred reign anchored on service compassion and national development.

Reflecting on their longstanding personal relationship the President expressed appreciation for the Sultan’s friendship prayers and constructive counsel which he said had consistently been guided by patriotism and Nigeria’s best interests.

‘Personally I value our friendship deeply. Your counsel has been honest patriotic and always in Nigeria’s best interest. Thank you for your support and your prayers for our nation’ he said.

Joining millions of the monarch’s subjects admirers and friends within and outside Nigeria in celebrating the milestone Tinubu prayed for continued divine guidance good health and longevity for the traditional ruler.

‘As you celebrate this historic milestone I pray that Almighty Allah (SWT) will continue to grant you good health long life and renewed wisdom. May your reign continue to bring peace to Sokoto unity to Nigeria and honour to the Ummah’ the President added.

Sultan Abubakar III who ascended the throne in November 2006 as the 20th Sultan of Sokoto has remained one of Nigeria’s most influential traditional and religious leaders playing prominent roles in national dialogue interfaith relations and peacebuilding efforts.

The Lagos State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat has unveiled a 100-point manifesto promising to establish a Child Protection and Nutrition Agency create a state wealth fund and introduce measures to improve infrastructure healthcare education and security if elected governor in 2027.

Hamzat the state’s deputy governor said 87 of the 100 pledges were firm commitments within the powers of the state government while the remaining 13 would depend on consultations with the Federal Government and other institutions.

He unveiled the manifesto tagged The Lagos Promise and also known as the Hamzat Compact at the launch of his campaign theme Lagos… Forward Together organised by the Lagos APC PBAT-KOH Campaign Council 2027 at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts (National Theatre) Iganmu Lagos on Friday.

The manifesto is structured around seven pillars: People First Renewal Opportunity Machinery of Government Inclusion Security and Resilience and Every Citizen.

Hamzat promised to publish a performance scorecard to enable residents to assess his administration’s delivery of the pledges insisting that accountability would begin within his first 100 days in office.

‘If one of them is not delivered it will be noted and I must own it’ he said.

Among his first 100 days commitments Hamzat promised to send a bill to the Lagos State House of Assembly for the establishment of a Child Protection and Nutrition Agency to ensure that every child below 18 is either in school or learning a trade and has access to adequate food.

He also pledged to establish a Lagos State Service Delivery Office through an executive order. The office to be chaired by the governor would publish baseline figures against which the administration’s performance would be measured.

The APC candidate further proposed a state wealth fund with an independent board and publicly accessible accounts to preserve resources for future generations.

He promised to introduce service charters across government offices specifying the services residents should expect and the standards public institutions must meet. Under the proposed arrangement complaints would be acknowledged within 48 hours answered within seven days and resolved within 30 days.

‘Accountability will not wait for the end of my term. It begins in my first 100 days’ he said.

On healthcare Hamzat promised to increase the number of maternal and child centres from six to 15 complete ongoing hospital projects and construct two new general hospitals at Ogombo and Ibeju-Lekki.

He also pledged to upgrade 100 primary healthcare centres to flagship status and recruit more doctors nurses and midwives.

Among the projects he highlighted were the 150-bed Massey Children’s Hospital the proposed 280-bed general hospital and the 150-bed Shomolu General Hospital project.

On education he promised to strengthen the EkoEXCEL programme in public primary schools improve teaching and learning outcomes and expand technical and vocational training opportunities.

He also proposed the establishment of a University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Lagos and pledged to review teachers’ compensation packages.

‘We will review your compensation package so that your pay matches the work we demand from you’ he said.

On employment and economic opportunities Hamzat said businesses would play a major role in creating jobs and that government must remove obstacles to their growth.

He proposed a single schedule of local government charges easier business permits improved access to credit and a defined share of state procurement for qualifying small businesses.

He also promised a vocational placement scheme under which students in technical schools would spend between six and 12 months with employers with the state paying 40 per cent of their stipends.

For artisans he proposed free skills certification at their workplaces and in languages they understand.

Hamzat said the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund had provided more than N15 billion to over 21000 businesses while businesses supported through the scheme had created more than 300000 jobs.

On transportation the APC candidate promised to increase the state’s bus fleet from 1000 to 4000 with a target of transporting one million passengers daily.

He also pledged to expand the rail network extend the Blue Line to Ogbebe-Mindene and connect the Blue and Red lines through an interchange at the National Theatre Station.

He said he would work with the Federal Government to advance the Green Line from Marina towards the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

The candidate projected that the Blue Line would transport 250000 passengers daily when it reaches Trade Fair Station early next year.

On road infrastructure he promised to activate the Fourth Mainland Bridge through partnerships accelerate the coastal road along the Lekki-Epe axis and prioritise inner roads in collaboration with local governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

He also pledged to expand water transportation through an additional 140-kilometre water corridor optimise 15 ferry routes rehabilitate 27 of the state’s 47 ferry terminals and procure 75 electric ferries.

Hamzat said his administration would integrate road rail and water transportation through a unified ticketing and timetable system.

‘Lagos is a water state. The lagoon must therefore be our third highway. One ticket one timetable one integrated service across rail road and water’ he said.

On housing he promised to complete ongoing projects including Egbo Igodo Clusters 2 and 3 Lagos Homes Shongotedo Phase Two Lagos Homes Ipeche Phases Two and Three the Workers’ Village at Ipaja and Beacon Apartments at Ipaja.

He also pledged to expand affordable homeownership through partnerships with private developers with mortgage facilities requiring a 10 per cent initial deposit single-digit interest rates and longer repayment periods.

On security Hamzat promised to strengthen the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency and extend its operations to all wards across the state’s 20 local government areas and 37 LCDAs.

He said his administration would expand street lighting and CCTV surveillance in residential communities establish a state intelligence centre to tackle cybercrime financial crimes and organised criminal activities and improve the welfare of security personnel.

He also pledged to recruit and train more personnel provide better accommodation and review their welfare packages in line with the prevailing cost of living.

To promote accountability he promised to establish an independent body to review complaints against security officers and the agency.

On water supply Hamzat disclosed that a 17-million-gallon water treatment facility was under construction and had been funded. He said its completion would provide clean water to an additional six million residents.

He also promised to rehabilitate 24 micro and mini waterworks repair water mains and expand the public water distribution network.

On waste management the APC candidate set a target of 95 per cent collection coverage through improved community-based collection systems and optimisation of Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators.

He promised to complete the transfer loading stations at Olusosun and Solous III alongside a waste recovery facility and a waste-to-energy plant at Agbowa.

Hamzat also pledged to integrate about 30000 residents engaged in waste collection and sorting into the formal waste management system through training equipment and improved remuneration.

The proposal comes amid persistent waste collection and disposal challenges in parts of Lagos where irregular collection and pressure on existing disposal infrastructure remain concerns for residents.

Speaking at the event Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu urged residents to support the APC candidate describing him as an experienced public administrator who had been involved in the state’s governance and development process for more than two decades.

The governor said his seven years of working closely with Hamzat had demonstrated the deputy governor’s loyalty capacity and commitment to public service.

He recalled that Hamzat had sought the governorship ticket in 2018 but stepped aside following consultations with party leaders and subsequently accepted to serve as his running mate.

Sanwo-Olu said Hamzat had played an active role in policy formulation project implementation and the day-to-day administration of the state.

He cited the COVID-19 response the development of the Blue and Red rail lines and the arrival of the first ship at the Lekki Deep Sea Port among major developments in which the deputy governor had been involved.

The governor said Lagos needed continuity to complete ongoing projects rather than experiment with a new governance structure.

‘This is not the time to experiment with Lagos. This is the time to consolidate. And consolidation is not standing still. Continuity does not mean repeating ourselves. It means finishing what was started fixing what is not working and starting what comes next in that order with a plan’ he said.

Sanwo-Olu added: ‘In seven years there has not been one day not one when I had to wonder whose side my deputy was on.

‘In Lagos there has been one government one direction and one voice. That did not happen by accident. It happened because of who he is.’

He described the proposed transition as an opportunity to sustain the state’s development agenda without a political crisis.

‘Lagos is going to change governors without a quarrel. There is no greater gift a governor can leave his people than a handover that does not break the house’ he said.

The governor urged Hamzat to remain accessible to residents complete ongoing projects and sustain the governance structure that had prepared him for leadership. He also charged the APC deputy governorship candidate Princess Damilola Sonayon-James to build a strong working relationship with Hamzat.

The Lagos APC Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi described the manifesto as a covenant between the party its candidate and the electorate.

He said successive APC administrations had recorded achievements in infrastructure transportation education healthcare housing technology and economic development but acknowledged the need for continuous innovation and improved service delivery.

Ojelabi expressed confidence in Hamzat’s experience in public service and understanding of the state’s governance structure saying these had prepared him for the responsibilities of the governorship.

He said the manifesto provided an opportunity for residents to examine the candidate’s priorities and the practical steps proposed to achieve them.

‘A credible manifesto must go beyond attractive promises. It must offer realistic solutions measurable objectives and a commitment to accountability and effective implementation’ he said.

Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State Princess Sarah Sosan who spoke on behalf of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) also endorsed Hamzat describing him as a cerebral and experienced candidate capable of sustaining the state’s development trajectory.

She traced Lagos’ development to successive administrations including those of President Bola Tinubu former governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode and the incumbent Sanwo-Olu.

Sosan said the state’s progress was the product of careful planning and purposeful leadership adding that Lagos could not afford to abandon its development model.

‘We have chosen right. Our candidate is cerebral and very committed to delivering the job. He is the best man for the job and every member of the GAC attests to this’ she said.

She urged party members and residents to work together to sustain existing achievements and prepare for future challenges.

Also speaking the Director-General of the PBAT-KOH Campaign Council Musiliu Obanikoro called for inclusiveness in the state’s development process stressing that no resident should be excluded on account of ethnic affiliation.

He said the campaign was presenting not just a candidate but a vision anchored on development integrity inclusiveness and sustained progress.

Obanikoro said the 2027 governorship election should be about ideas and the capacity to deliver rather than personalities.

He acknowledged that challenges remained in infrastructure healthcare economic growth and job creation despite the progress recorded by successive administrations.

He urged APC leaders and members to remain united and intensify mobilisation ahead of the election.

The Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has called for the enforcement of a stronger regulatory framework for recycling policies to tackle plastic pollution.

The monarch spoke during the opening of Polysmart Packaging Limited. He praised the firm’s owners for their contributions to the sector. The paramount king said indiscriminate disposal of plastic bottles and other non-biodegradable materials on roads and drainages is a threat to cleanliness and development.

Oba Ogunwusi wondered why Nigerians could not maintain a cleaner environment. He stressed that plastic pollution was a major environmental challenge because discarded plastics were difficult to degrade warning that indiscriminate disposal could continue to undermine sanitation and damage the environment.

Chief Executive Officer Polysmart Packaging Wasiu Balogun said the company’s new $60 million factory would strengthen plastic waste recycling and support the country’s transition to a green economy.

He said the company had grown from a humble beginning in 2013 with an initial capital of N2 million to establish a facility designed to increase plastic waste recovery and recycling.

Balogun recomitted the company to responsible plastic waste management and that the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency’s (NESREA) National Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility and National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulation 2026 would enable the company to track plastic waste and support brand owners in demonstrating regulatory compliance.

He said the company planned to engage collection agents in all the councils in Nigeria to improve the collection and recovery of plastic waste adding that the facility when operating at full capacity would process 100000 tonnes of mixed plastics yearly equivalent to approximately 6.5 billion PET bottles or 15 million bottles daily.

The initiative he noted would help prevent millions of plastic bottles from ending up in landfills being burned or entering the Atlantic Ocean thereby reducing environmental pollution.

Chairman Polysmart Packaging Limited Niyi Yusuf described the company as Africa’s largest food-grade recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) plant saying it would position Nigeria as a recycling hub for West Africa.

Yusuf citing Germany South Korea and The Netherlands said Nigeria could achieve higher recycling rates through stronger producer responsibility systems and sustained investment in infrastructure.