Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has highlighted three critical priorities for global aviation safety and operations that Nigeria can also adopt to boost its safety record.

These critical priorities, according to IATA, are: defending and evolving global standards, fostering a strong safety culture through leadership, and using data to enhance performance amid growing operational challenges.

‘The environment in which airlines operate has grown even more complex as conflicts and regulatory fragmentation have proliferated. As a result, we have seen airspace closures, drone incursions and rising global navigation satellite system (GNNS) interference disrupt connectivity, undermine confidence, and threaten safety.

‘Ensuring aviation remains the safest mode of transport requires strong leadership, robust adherence to global standards, and smarter use of data. By focusing on these-industry and government together-we will build a safer, more resilient and increasingly efficient global aviation system that can manage today’s risks and is prepared for those of tomorrow,’ said Mark Searle, Global Director Safety, IATA.

Defending and Advancing Global Standards

Global standards are essential to aviation safety. Current standards must be adhered to and future standards must be developed to continuously improve industry safety performance. Currently, this focus revolves around: Addressing GNSS Interference, Protecting Aviation’s Radio Spectrum and Timely Accident Investigation Reporting.

Using data to enhance performanceData is transforming aviation safety, delivering the insights needed to anticipate risks and enhance performance. Through the Global Aviation Data Management (GADM) program, which integrates the Flight Data eXchange (FDX), Incident Data eXchange (IDX), and Maintenance Cost Data eXchange (MCX), IATA is enabling data-driven decision-making across airlines and regulators.

Areas where data is making a difference include turbulence awareness, predictive safety insights and adopting risk-based IOSA.

Fostering a Strong Safety Culture through Leadership

Leadership is central to a strong aviation safety culture. Strong safety leadership creates an environment where employees are empowered to raise concerns and are confident that issues will be resolved quickly and effectively.

To reinforce this, IATA has developed two key initiatives:

Safety Leadership Charter: Promoting eight core principles of safety leadership, the Charter now covers around 90 percent of global traffic, strengthening a culture built on leadership, global standards, and data.

IATA Connect: Bringing together 5,600 users from over 600 organisations, IATA Connect enables access to IOSA documentation, the Safety Issue Hub, and Safety Connect, and will soon expand to include ISAGO users.

Taxaide Technologies Limited (Taxtech), a Nigerian provider of tax technology and automation solutions, has been licensed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as one of the accredited service providers under Nigeria’s newly introduced National E-Invoicing Regime.

Under the new system, VAT-registered taxpayers, beginning with large corporations with annual turnovers of N5 billion and above, will be required to process qualifying transactions electronically in real time through the FIRS platform.

The initiative aligns Nigeria’s fiscal infrastructure with international best practices in tax digitisation, a move which marks a significant milestone in the country’s digital tax transformation agenda.

The FIRS rolls out its e-Invoicing platform, also known as the Merchant Buyer Solution (MBS), to enhance tax transparency, curb revenue leakages, and modernise tax administration. Taxtech, with its new accreditation, is recognised as a trusted System Integrator and Access Point Provider (APP), authorised to facilitate onboarding, system integration, and compliance for taxpayers across various industries. ‘We are honoured to be among the select technology companies licensed by the FIRS for this groundbreaking e-Invoicing project. At Taxtech, our mission has always been to simplify and transform tax processes through technology,’ said Bidemi Olumide, managing director and CEO of Taxaide Technologies.

‘At Taxtech, our mission has always been to simplify and transform tax processes through technology. With our expertise in automation and compliance solutions, we are fully prepared to support taxpayers in aligning with the new regime and ensuring smooth, efficient, and transparent operations,’ Olumide noted.

As part of its offerings under the e-Invoicing regime, Taxtech will provide onboarding support to help taxpayers register and integrate with the FIRS platform.

It will also provide systems Integration between clients’ ERP or accounting systems and the FIRS infrastructure, compliance monitoring for real-time validation, cryptographic signing, and secure invoice transmission.

Taxtech will also offer advisory and training services to guide businesses through compliance and operational readiness.

Armed officers of the Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday sealed the Lagos headquarters of Nestoil Limited following a Federal High Court order authorising First Bank of Nigeria and its subsidiary, FBNQuest Merchant Bank, to take over the company’s assets over an alleged debt running into billions of dollars.

The enforcement came after Justice D. I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, on 22 October 2025, issued a Mareva injunction against Nestoil, its affiliate Neconde Energy Limited, and the firms’ principal promoters, Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi and Nnenna Obiejesi.

The court order, certified by Deputy Chief Registrar Longs G. Longwa, directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) to assist court bailiffs and the appointed receiver-manager in executing the judgment.

According to filings before the court, FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited and First Trustees Limited alleged that the companies and their directors owed a combined $1.01 billion and N430 billion as of 30 September 2025, across multiple credit facilities. Justice Dipeolu’s ruling also froze all bank accounts and shareholdings belonging to Nestoil, Neconde Energy, and their affiliates in more than 20 financial institutions, including Citibank Nigeria, Fidelity Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Standard Chartered Bank, Polaris Bank, and Wema Bank. The court further empowered Abubakar Sulu-Gambari (SAN), the appointed receiver/manager, to assume control of Nestoil and Neconde Energy’s assets, including their interests in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 42, operated jointly with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.

It also directed regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and NNPC to cooperate with the receiver in managing the asset and its revenue flows.

Additionally, security agencies including the Nigerian Navy and the State Security Service (SSS) were instructed to support the takeover process and safeguard the affected assets.

The case has been adjourned to 7 November 2025 for the hearing of the substantive motion.

Three officers of the Ondo State Security Network agency codenamed Amotekun Corps, have been suspended indefinitely over alleged breaching of oaths of allegiance and secrecy.

The suspended officers are; Abu Taiwo, Akinsipe Victor and Ekunjumi Julius.

Adetunji Adeleye, the Commander of the Corps, who disclosed this on Monday in Akure while parading four suspected criminals, however, said the three officers had also been declared wanted for proper investigations.

He said, ‘Every organisation has its own rules, and the Ondo State Security Network Agency is not an exception. The law setting up the Corps specifically says the Corps should give out identity cards and warrant cards for operatives who are full staff of the government as an agency.

‘You will observe that at the time when there are pressing need for the Corps to come together and continue to work assiduously to ensure that the security of the state is not compromised is when our intelligence showed that the three Abu Taiwo, Akinsipe Victor, Ekunjumi Julius have been sponsored not only to undermine and disparage the management of the Corps but totally to distract the attention of the Corps from its core mandate of the provision of security to lives and property. ‘All that you had seen on the social media on the 15 points they raised are all false allegations and disciplinary actions had been put in place by the Corps.

‘And as we stand today, the three of them had been reprimanded. They are also declared wanted and due diligence in handling such in a security environment where oaths of allegiance and secrecy to the state cannot be thrown away. We refused to be dragged into the controversies surrounding each and every one of them.

‘But the fact remains that they are acting in isolation and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corp remains solid as you can see the entire management staff in ensuring that we are not distracted. They are acting in isolation. ‘The three of them had been suspended from the Corps, and we are looking for them to come and answer as a way of giving them free access to criminal justice. If they are innocent, everybody will see. But the Corps as an entity will not be dragged into social media controversy with such people that are acting in isolation. Especially now that we are sure and we have proof to show that they are being sponsored.’

Adeleye, who also spoke on other four suspected criminals during the parade, said; ‘Today we are parading four notorious suspects, in addition to that, we have another six sets of criminals that were arrested in the last two weeks in Ondo State in connection with robbery and kidnapping. For the fact that we had not concluded the investigation on those, so they will not be paraded.

‘For the four that we are parading today, we have Ogungbemi Adebayo who confessed voluntarily that he is an informant to kidnappers in Ademekun power line at Agodada camp.

‘He is aged 29, he said he was recruited a couple of months ago and he thought they wanted him to just plant in their end until when they recruited, they brought him into Ademekun farmland and told him point blank that he has to be trained on the use of AK-47. He successfully went through the training. The Fulani men trained him on the use of the AK-47 and he has been working for them until when the joint patrol team of the civil defense and Amotekun with the assistance of the regent and people of Ademekun village arrested him and he also confessed to them and confessed to us. ‘In the same way, we have a Nasiru Suleiman who over three months, has been dismantling a government caterpillar at moving equipment parked in a government yard along Akure-Ondo road.

‘He said they usually dismantle these caterpillar parts, and they’ve completely ravaged a number of caterpillars to carcass and I think according to him they are on the third one when Amotekun officers arrested them. We have a Saliu Nureni, 57 that was arrested around NEPA market for robbery and setting ablaze in a place the property of the victim and threatened to kill the victim.

‘We equally have one Ahmed Oladimeji, arrested with the generator and alternator he stole around Igoba in Akure.

‘Across the board, there has been a drastic reduction in criminal activities in Ondo state in the last few weeks. Those that are against the law and order and apprehended on parade today are just three while the kidnapping suspect is one. With this, I want to reassure the good people of Ondo state that Ondo state remains very safe for your business to thrive and for the socio-economic growth of the state.’

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, says the Federal Government will fully support Dangote Refinery in achieving its 1.4 million barrels-per-day refined products target.

Lokpobiri said this on Monday in Lagos during his welcome address at the 19th Africa Downstream Energy Week.

The theme of the event is ‘Energy Sustainability: Growth Beyond Boundaries and Competition’.

‘I received the good news that the Dangote Refinery is expanding its capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day.

‘That will not just save Nigeria or West Africa, it will save Africa and, indeed, make an impact globally.

‘The Federal Government will support him all the way to accomplishing that goal,’ he saidThe minister described the refinery’s expansion plan as a major milestone for Africa’s energy independence and a validation of the government’s policy direction under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Lokpobiri explained that the removal of fuel subsidy and the liberalisation of the downstream petroleum sector were key policy decisions aimed at creating a viable environment for private sector investment.

‘The main reason President Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy on his first day in office was because, with subsidies, the private sector could not grow.

‘The downstream can only thrive when the right business environment allows private capital to flow in, invest, and maximise opportunities.

He noted that while some Nigerians initially misunderstood the policy, it has now led to a more stable and competitive petroleum products market.

‘With deregulation and liberalisation, there is now healthy competition. Prices are stable, availability has improved, and products are more accessible and affordable despite challenges,’ he said.

Lokpobiri stressed that if the government had not removed subsidies, Nigeria’s energy sector would be facing severe difficulties today.

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to deepening investment in the oil and gas sector, saying the global conversation on energy transition is gradually shifting to a more balanced perspective that recognises the continued importance of hydrocarbons.

‘The world has realised that energy transition cannot happen in a vacuum.

‘Even as we pursue cleaner sources, the global economy still depends on oil and gas.

‘Without substantial investment in these resources, there will be no financial capacity to fund the energy mix we all desire,’ Lokpobiri noted.

Citing recent United Nations reports, Lokpobiri said the world needs to invest about $540 billion annually in oil and gas recovery and related infrastructure to meet growing energy demand and ensure global energy security.

He added that discussions on climate change and net-zero emissions remain relevant, but the realities of global population growth and consumption patterns make it clear that hydrocarbons would continue to play a central role for decades to come.

‘Africa, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion people, cannot afford to ignore investment in oil and gas.

‘Expanding exploration, production, and refining capacity is crucial not only for self-sufficiency but also for the continent’s economic stability,’ he said.

Lokpobiri noted that Nigeria’s downstream sector is gradually stabilising following the removal of subsidies, with improved product availability and increased investor confidence.

The minister said, ‘Subsidy was not sustainable; it discouraged private investment and placed a heavy burden on government finances.

‘What we are seeing today is a more competitive environment that promotes efficiency and private participation.’

He commended President Tinubu for taking decisive policy actions that have repositioned the downstream sector for long-term growth and sustainability. ‘It takes a courageous leader to make decisions that may be unpopular today but are necessary for the country’s future,’ he added.

The minister also reaffirmed that ongoing reforms in the oil and gas industry aim to ensure energy security, encourage domestic refining, and foster private sector participation across the value chain.

‘We are no longer just talking about transition; we are building an energy mix that guarantees security for Africa,’ Lokpobiri said.

‘Every stakeholder must align with this vision to create the Africa we want.’

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Advisory Board of OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week, Mr Adetunji Oyebanji, called for renewed collaboration, policy consistency, and innovation to drive Africa’s energy sustainability and competitiveness in a rapidly changing global landscape.

Oyebanji said that the conference underscored the need for Africa and Nigeria to look beyond conventional limits and create an energy future anchored on integration, inclusiveness, and responsible growth.

He described the OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week as a bridge between policy and practice, bringing together regulators, operators, investors, and innovators to shape the future of Africa’s downstream energy industry.

‘Energy sustainability is not merely about preserving resources; it is about ensuring that our growth today does not compromise the prosperity of tomorrow.

‘We must build an industry that is competitive, responsible, and adaptable to a rapidly changing global environment,’ he explained.

Oyebanji, the former Chairman of the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), observed that the global energy sector had been undergoing major shifts, driven by geopolitical tensions, supply uncertainties, and the accelerating march toward energy transition.

He said that the conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East had kept oil markets tight, while the global push toward cleaner fuels and renewables is reshaping investment priorities.

He stressed that the continent, richly endowed with natural resources and human capital, must move beyond being just a supplier of raw hydrocarbons to becoming a hub for innovation, efficiency, and value addition.

‘Africa must position itself not just as a source of energy, but as a source of innovation.

‘Our growth must be sustainable, inclusive, and borderless,’ he added.

The OTL Advisory Board Chairman emphasised that Nigeria remains central to Africa’s energy transformation.

The deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector, renewed focus on gas commercialisation, and expanding infrastructure, he said, have laid a foundation for long-term growth.

He, however, cautioned that sustained progress depends on policy stability, regulatory transparency, and institutional consistency.

He noted, thrive on predictability, and long-term capital inflows will only come with confidence in the regulatory environment.

Reflecting on recent developments in Nigeria’s downstream market, Oyebanji said that while the removal of fuel subsidies and market liberalisation have presented short-term difficulties, they also mark necessary steps toward building a competitive, efficient, and innovation-driven sector. He highlighted ongoing progress in logistics optimisation, storage efficiency, and digital trading platforms as signs of renewal within the industry.

He noted, ‘The downstream market is evolving amid both turbulence and transformation.

‘Success will depend on our ability to combine innovation with policy stability and operational efficiency.’

Oyebanji called for a new mindset where collaboration becomes the new competition, urging industry players to balance innovation with inclusiveness and competition with cooperation.

‘Our capacity to grow beyond boundaries depends not only on how hard we compete but on how well we cooperate,’ he said.

He added that the future of energy lies in integration, bridging hydrocarbons, renewables, and alternative energy sources, to create a system that promotes both growth and environmental responsibility.

The authorities of Ksircomfort Construction Limited have assured that they are building a legacy to shape the future of real estate in Nigeria. Over the years, the company, which opened for business five years ago, has built its identity.

This identity is anchored on trust, quality, and steady progress in an industry that demands resilience and vision.

The authorities recognise that the real estate industry in Nigeria is one of the nation’s most dynamic yet challenging sectors, contributing significantly to economic development, providing housing, infrastructure, and employment opportunities.

In the next few days, the company will be marking a milestone that is straightforward in its purpose of creating exceptional living and working spaces that reflect the dreams, aspirations, and investments of their clients and partners.

Within the five years of its operations, Ksircomfort’s path has been deliberately grounded in practical decisions, frequent problem-solving, and a consistent focus on delivering homes people can trust.

‘Within this period, we have completed four projects, which have been mainly residential and small-scale developments that emphasize careful execution over rapid expansion. We have projects at different levels of completion spread across several locations in Lagos,’ Ademola Idris, the company’s managing director, disclosed.

Among the company’s early projects is Osapa Pearl, located in Cana West Estate, Osapa London, Lekki Jakande. This particular project stands out as an example of the company’s approach to planning and outstanding delivery. Osapa Pearl comprises two housing units, each has four bedrooms, two living rooms, and five toilets, and the site is registered with a Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O).

The construction work on the project began on March 20, 2021, and was completed on December 12, 2021. The price per unit was ?280 million. The surrounding area has developments such as Circle Mall and Supersever Supermarket, which have influenced both local demand and the character of the neighbourhood.

The Senate has initiated legislative action to reduce Nigeria’s annual $2 billion rice import expenditure through the creation of a National Rice Development Council, aimed at boosting local production and strengthening food security.

The proposed law, sponsored by Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), seeks to establish the Rice Development Council of Nigeria to coordinate research, regulate production standards, support farmers, and promote innovation throughout the rice value chain.

During a public hearing on the bill, alongside the Cassava Inclusion and Flour Production Bill and the National Food Reserve Agency Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Chief Whip Tahir Monguno, said the legislative measures complement President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for agricultural and economic revival.

‘The Rice Development Council of Nigeria Bill represents our economic firepower, poised to create millions of jobs, reduce foreign exchange spending on importation, and make Nigeria Africa’s rice powerhouse,’ Akpabio said. ‘By passing this bill, we will drive research, innovation, and value chain development, ensuring our children inherit a prosperous future.’

Akpabio added that the trio of agricultural bills could transform the nation’s food system, noting that while the cassava inclusion bill would boost agro-industrial growth and job creation, the food reserve agency bill would provide a safeguard against food shortages triggered by climate change or global crises.

Salihu Mustapha, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Production Services, and Rural Development, described rice as the mainstay of Nigerian diets but decried inefficiencies that hinder local production despite the country’s potential to produce over seven million metric tonnes annually.

‘This bill heralds a dedicated council to orchestrate research, extension services, and value chain innovations, from flood-resistant seeds to modern milling technologies,’ Mustapha said.

‘It promises to slash our $2 billion import dependence, ignite agro-industrial hubs across the north and south, and elevate our farmers from subsistence to commercial stardom.’

He further noted that the council would ensure inclusivity by engaging women and youth in agribusiness.

‘It is a blueprint for turning paddy fields into prosperity engines and positioning Nigeria as Africa’s rice powerhouse,’ he added. The Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) endorsed the bill, describing it as a timely and strategic intervention to unlock Nigeria’s potential in rice production.

Peter Dama, the RIMAN National Chairman identified major challenges such as insecurity, inadequate irrigation, and poor mechanisation, while urging the deliberate promotion of climate-smart agricultural practices.

‘There should be deliberate promotion of climate-smart agricultural production innovations, including research for high-yield resilient seeds and renewable energy to power irrigation,’ Dama said.

‘Rice is not just a meal on the table; it is a political and economic staple. It plays a role in palliatives for distressed communities, contributes to national GDP, and provides livelihoods for millions.’

Dama recommended that financial institutions such as NIRSAL, Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Bank of Industry (BOI), National Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), and the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) be included on the council’s governing board, noting that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should be replaced since it no longer funds agricultural programmes directly.

He also proposed the establishment of six zonal offices for regional operations and seven technical committees to oversee areas such as research, quality control, marketing, rice fortification, and gender equity.

Dama said the initiative aligns with the National Rice Development Strategy II (2020-2030) and advised that the existing rice desk in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security be upgraded to a full-fledged council for better coordination.

Similarly, the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) expressed strong support for the bill, describing it as a ‘game-changer’ capable of generating millions of jobs for women and youth across the rice value chain.

Speaking for the group, Maryam Lawal urged lawmakers to ensure speedy passage of the legislation, saying it would boost food security and community empowerment.

‘WOFAN worked with CARF, RIMAN, RIPAIN, and other stakeholders on the Rice Council Bill from 2020 to 2023 when it was passed by the 9th Senate,’ she said.

‘However, the president’s assent was delayed until the bill lapsed, and it had to be re-presented in 2024. We are therefore confident that the 10th Senate will pass it again, and this time, it will be signed into law accordingly.’

Nigeria’s Nobel Prize-winning author Wole Soyinka said on Tuesday the United States had revoked his non-immigrant visa issued last year and he was told to re-apply if he wished to try again to visit the U.S.

The 91-year-old writer said in 2016 that he had torn up his U.S. green card and renounced his American residency in protest at the first election of President Donald Trump.

The Nobel laureate has had regular teaching stints at America’s Ivy League universities since the mid-1990s following his Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. On Tuesday, Soyinka showed reporters a copy of a letter from the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos asking him to bring his passport for physical cancellation of the visa.

The letter, dated October 23, said ‘additional information became available’ after the visa was issued.

The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

‘I have no visa, I am banned obviously from the United States and if you want to see me, you know where to find me,’ he said, referring to people who planned to invite him to events in the U.S. The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria said in July that Nigerians seeking to travel to the U.S. on non-immigrant visas would now receive single-entry three-month permits, rolling back the up to five-year, multiple-entry visas they had enjoyed previously.

Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has announced the completion of a life-cycle social protection framework, a comprehensive system designed to provide continuous welfare support from pregnancy through old age, with 5,740 elderly persons set to benefit across the state.

Namadi made this known on Tuesday at the Dutse Local Government Secretariat during the launch of the Cash-Out Phase of the Jigawa State Old Age Social Protection Scheme.

He described the initiative as a milestone in his administration’s drive to build an inclusive and compassionate society, saying it reflects the completion of Jigawa’s life-cycle approach to social protection interventions.

‘This programme represents the completion of our life-cycle approach to social protection interventions in Jigawa State, considering the already ongoing initiatives targeting pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as children under five,’ the governor said.

According to him, the framework ensures that no segment of society is left behind, providing programmes that promote dignity, equity, and access to essential services, particularly for the vulnerable and disadvantaged.

‘Across the entire life-cycle, we now have programmes that provide continuous support from pregnancy, childhood, adolescence, youth, and now, old age,’ he said. ‘Moreover, these interventions are implemented in an inclusive manner, in addition to our flagship monthly social security scheme for persons with disabilities. This aligns with the Jigawa State Social Protection Policy and Law, both of which emphasise equity, dignity, and access to essential services for vulnerable groups.’

The newly launched Old Age Support Scheme offers monthly cash transfers, free healthcare services, and long-term social care for elderly citizens across the state. Each of the 287 political wards will have 20 beneficiaries, making a total of 5,740 elderly persons in the first phase.

Under the arrangement, the Jigawa State Rehabilitation Board will oversee the cash transfer component, while healthcare services will be managed by the Jigawa State Contributory Health Insurance Management Agency (JICHMA). The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development will coordinate long-term care, including home visits, counselling, and psychosocial support to promote healthy and active ageing. Namadi noted that the intervention builds on existing welfare programmes, including the Maternal Cash Transfer Scheme, which was recently expanded from ?5,000 to ?7,000 monthly and from 20 to 30 beneficiaries per ward. He also announced the relaunch of the Monthly Social Security Scheme for Persons with Disabilities, following an amendment to its enabling law. The update increases the number of beneficiaries per local government from 150 to 200 and raises the monthly payment from ?7,000 to ?10,000. Enrollment of new beneficiaries is ongoing to meet the new target of 5,200 people across the state.

‘All these interventions are directly aligned with our 12-Point Agenda, particularly the pillar on Social Welfare and Inclusive Development, which focuses on improving the lives of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities,’ the governor said.

He further disclosed that the government has completed data collection on orphans and orphanages in preparation for a new Orphans Welfare Programme aimed at supporting children in vulnerable conditions.

Namadi urged community leaders and families to show greater care and respect for the elderly, describing them as ‘the pillars upon which our society was built.’

‘Together, we will continue to make Jigawa a model for inclusive, people-centred governance in Nigeria,’ he added.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that striker Liam Delap will be available for selection ahead of the EFL Cup fourth-round clash against Wolves on Wednesday, marking a potential return after two months out with a hamstring injury.

The Blues will be aiming to bounce back from their 2-1 Premier League defeat to Sunderland as they travel to Molineux, and Maresca hinted that Delap could make his comeback in the fixture. ‘Liam completed the whole session with us yesterday with no problems, and he is available for tomorrow,’ Maresca said.

‘We have to be careful with Liam; he has been out for two months, so he won’t play 90 minutes. He needs to be gradually brought back up to 100 per cent.’

Delap, who joined Chelsea from relegated Ipswich Town, has been sidelined since August after a strong start to the campaign. His return offers a timely boost to Maresca, who continues to manage a packed fixture schedule across four competitions.

The Italian tactician also stressed the need for rotation as Chelsea prepare for demanding fixtures.

‘We need to rotate. We need to protect the players because if we go with the same XI, we are going to struggle during the season,’ Maresca said.

‘We’ll make some changes against Wolves, I don’t know how many, but rotation is important to keep everyone fresh.’

Chelsea, five-time winners of the League Cup and last champions in 2015, face a Wolves side currently rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and without a League Cup title since 1980.

The Blues will look to replicate their 6-0 victory over Wolves in their last meeting in the competition back in 2012.