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Ito Progressive CDA in Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area has lauded Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, for rural development projects reshaping their community.

Speaking during a project inspection, Prince Taiwo Dosunmu, chairman, said the community is witnessing ‘a new dawn’ under Sanwo-Olu.

He noted that Ito, once plagued by infrastructural neglect, is experiencing improvements that directly enhance the standard of living for residents.

Dosunmi said the governor’s interventions is a commitment to ensuring that rural communities are included in the state’s development agenda.

‘What we are seeing in Ito is dividends of democracy reaching the grassroots,’ he said.

‘Sanwo-Olu shows that every community matters.’

Chair of Ito Project Committee, Alhaji Bika Moshuru, also praised the government for a combination of essential and life-enhancing projects delivered in a short period.

He listed key interventions, such as installation of a new transformer, establishment of a water scheme, and installation of solar-powered streetlights.

A notable project is grading and rehabilitation of 3.8-kilometre Ito Road, for long a major concern for residents.

Bika said the road, once nearly impassable during rainy seasons, is being reshaped into a more accessible route that will enhance transportation, encourage business, and connect the community to neighbouring areas.

Dosunmu lauded Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, describing him as a dependable pillar in implementation THEMES Plus Agenda. He said his technical expertise and support have strengthened rural-based projects.

He praised Special Adviser to the governor on Rural Development, Nurudeen Agbaje’s engagement with Ito.

He disclosed that every request submitted by Ito Progressive Community had received the Special Adviser’s attention, following thorough on-the-spot evaluations conducted by his office.

These assessments, he said, ensured that interventions were well-informed, relevant, and timely.

‘Residents of Ito say the projects have begun to yield significant benefits, including improved access to basic services, reduction in community-level hardships, and enhanced local security’.

‘Many community members expressed optimism that the new infrastructure will help attract investment, encourage youth productivity, and stimulate socio-economic growth in the area.’ He added

Other executives of the CDA described the Sanwo-Olu administration as ‘listening, responsive, and inclusive,’ pledging to continue supporting government initiatives aimed at rural transformation

The House of Representatives recently set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the over 11,800 abandoned federal government properties and projects across the nation. The properties are estimated to be worth nothing less than N20trn in market value today. The motion that seemingly set off the alarm was raised by the House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, representing Obio/Akpor federal constituency of Rivers State.

Chinda recalled that in 2000, the Presidential Implementation Committee on Federal Government Properties was set up but sadly, two and a half decades later, the committee is yet to submit its final report. In his opinion, nothing speaks so eloquently about the lack of accountability and transparency when it comes to national assets than this act of non-responsiveness of such a committee.

It is sad that a report by the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors had identified 11,866 abandoned federal projects across the country, representing approximately 63 per cent of all projects initiated since independence. Some of these properties are: the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos; the Federal Secretariat in Ikoyi, Lagos; the Nigerian International Hotel Suleja, Niger State; Millennium Tower, Abuja; the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) building in Abia State; the National Library Headquarters, Abuja; the Nigeria Newsprint Manufacturing Company, Kaduna; the Kaduna Textile Building; the Nigerian Aluminium Smelting Company, Delta State.

We are amazed at the array of iconic and valuable projects that have suffered neglect and abandonment across the country. This says everything negative about the value successive governments in this country have placed on national assets and projects across the nation.

In many countries, the preservation of such iconic assets is taken very seriously because in most cases such historically relevant assets represent not just history. They are preserved as national treasures not just as beautiful edifices but for the value they add to the socio-economic lives of the people.

A place like the National Stadium in Lagos today stands as a national disgrace. The stadium didn’t just represent a great geographic space; it stood as a national rallying point that the citizens have a sense of attachment to. It represented a rallying point for sporting activities in the nation and had in the past been the flagship for national, sub-regional, continental and even global sports competitions. Beyond sports, it provided spaces for other socio-political activities due to its centrality and accessibility. Today, the stadium has become home to street urchins and parts of it have been occupied by some private individuals who are reaping profits from national assets.

Today, the most popular sports, football competitions, are now mainly hosted by Akwa Ibom State’s Godswill Akpabio Stadium built by the present Senate President when he was governor. This puts to shame the successive governments at the federal level that could not renovate the National Stadium for the same function, given the employment and revenue that would definitely accrue from its functionality.

Today, Morocco, a smaller African country, has seemingly overtaken Nigeria with its huge investment in sports infrastructure. They have been hosting several FIFA-organised games. They hosted the FIFA Women World Cup; they would be hosting AFCON this December. They are on their way to co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain.

The investment in sports infrastructure by Morocco has become a huge inspiration for the country’s youths and a huge source of national pride and global relevance. Their national team made history at Qatar 2022 World Cup by reaching the semi-finals, becoming the first African and Arab country to reach the 4th place in a World Cup. Their government has shown understanding of the power of infrastructural development and maintenance. There are no disadvantages to valuing national assets.

We feel that a huge part of the responsibility of governments’ taking care of the security and welfare of citizens comes from the way national assets are handled. This is because most of the abandoned projects like the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI) buildings built by the former military leader, Ibrahim Babangida’s administration across the country have all become enclaves for miscreants and robbers that are a menace to communities. Even if many analysts felt that the buildings were poorly thought out, as long as they had been built, the onus is on every government to improve on the buildings and increase their functionality for the people.

We consider the abandoned assets and keep wondering how successive governments never thought of making those buildings functional: federal secretariat, aluminium smelting plant, national library, hotels, and textile companies etc. in a country that has been in dire financial straits since the end of the oil boom in the 1970s.

It amounts to crass irresponsibility and financial recklessness to keep building new elephant projects that are often abandoned by opposition governments while ignoring solid structures that are of huge economic and social value.

However, while we commend the House of Representatives for pointing a torch at those valued national assets, they must do more than that. They have committees that can collaborate to see that the right things are done. Being in the House should not be all about raising matters of urgent national importance. The real work is in following through and for each member to focus on the assets in their own states and make sure their oversight function covers such projects. They are national legislators for a reason. While they come from specific constituencies, their larger constituency is the nation.

The relevant ministries like those of works, sports, education and housing must work together to track and account for all the thousands of assets across the nation. In cases where some unscrupulous civil servants or politicians have either appropriated or sold some or parts of those assets, the relevant government agencies must not just retrieve them but also prosecute the offenders. National assets always stand in history as generational legacies with a stamp of care for posterity. Nigeria’s case cannot be different.

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has directed commanders in the Niger Delta to prioritise personnel welfare while sustaining pressure on crude oil thieves and other criminal networks in the region.

Abbas gave the directive yesterday at a briefing at the headquarters of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. He commended troops for their ongoing efforts, urging the OPDS Commander to maintain the tempo in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime assets. He also restated the Navy’s support for the joint task force.

The CNS later visited the Central Naval Command (CNC), which he once led as Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), describing the formation as ‘home’.

Abbas said his familiarity with its operations would guide his continued support, commending the developmental projects and the upkeep of its facilities.

Abbas thanked officers, ratings and civilian staff for their commitment and urged them to remain steadfast in their duties.

Dangote Group yesterday said it has entered into a series of strategic technical partnerships to support the next phase of expansion of its fertiliser operations in Nigeria and the development of new fertiliser plants in Ethiopia.

It said the collaborations mark a significant step in its long-term plan to strengthen regional food security, enhance agricultural productivity, and deepen Africa’s position in the global fertiliser market.

Through the strategic partnerships, Dangote Group said it would increase its urea production capacity in Nigeria from the current three million to nine million metric tons annually.

A statement by Head of Media Relations, Esan Sunday, said the existing facility operates two trains with a combined capacity of three million metric tons.

He stated: ‘The expansion will introduce four additional trains, enabling the Group to meet the rising demand for high-quality fertiliser across Africa and global markets.

‘In addition to the Nigerian expansion, the Group recently held the groundbreaking ceremony for a $2.5 billion fertiliser plant in Gode, Ethiopia.

‘The facility is designed to produce three million metric tons of urea annually and represents a significant step in Dangote Group’s commitment to strengthening food security and industrial growth across the continent.

‘To deliver world-class facilities and ensure the highest standards of technology, reliability, and operational efficiency, Dangote Group has entered into the following partnership agreements:

‘Topsoe will provide ammonia technology licensing and complete process design packages for six ammonia plants. Four of these plants will be located in Nigeria and two in Ethiopia.

‘Topsoe is recognised globally for advanced ammonia process technologies that support efficient and environmentally responsible production.

‘Saipem will deliver technology licensing and the full process design package for urea melt units across all six plants. This includes four units in Nigeria and two in Ethiopia.

‘Saipem brings deep engineering expertise and decades of experience in fertiliser production systems.

‘Thyssenkrupp’s UFT division will supply the granulation technology license and complete process design package for granulation units in the six fertiliser plants.

‘This will support the production of premium-quality urea granules suited for domestic and international markets.

‘Engineers India Limited has been appointed as project management consultant and engineering procurement and construction management consultant for the four fertiliser plants being developed by DFFZE in Lekki, Nigeria.

‘Engineers India brings proven competence in large-scale industrial engineering and project delivery.

‘These partnerships reflect Dangote Group’s commitment to delivering high-quality industrial assets that meet the most rigorous global standards.

‘The planned expansion will significantly increase regional urea and ammonia production capacity, create new jobs, support agricultural value chains, and contribute to sustainable economic growth in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and across the continent.’

Dangote Group said it remained fully dedicated to building resilient industrial capacity, supporting national development priorities, and forging strong global collaborations that advance Africa’s long-term prosperity.

Prominent Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State and former Commissioner of Finance, Olorogun Bernard Okumagba has described the 2026 budget proposals presented by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as bold, promising and designed to unlock the growth potential of Delta State.

In a statement where he reviewed the highlights, Okumagba said he was delighted at the continued dedicated funding of infrastructure in the state, noting that under the Oborevwori administration, capital projects at 70 percent continue to take a huge chunk of budget allocation.

In his words: ‘The allocation of 70 percent of the ?1.664 trillion Appropriation Bill to capital expenditure indicates continued commitment to fund the infrastructure developments currently underway in Delta State. The impact on economic activities in the state will evidently be huge, especially as these projects are delivered from 2026. Governor Oborevwor’s focus on delivering comprehensively on the MORE Agenda will definitely improve on the economy of the state and impact lives.

‘ Also commendable is the allocation to agriculture, a sector where the state has massive potential. The increased allocations to the economic and social sectors will undoubtedly drive more growth and development in Delta State.’

The 2026 budget proposal of ?1.664 trillion is an increase of ?685 billion or 70 percent over that of 2025. Commenting on the ongoing development projects in the state, Okumagba said with the projects including the flyovers in Asaba, Agbor, Ughelli and Effurun; drainage systems in Warri-Uvwie and Asaba; and road rehabilitation across the state; ‘Gov Oborevwori is capturing critical needs in the state at this time.’

Okumagba also commended the allocations to education and health. Other areas that attracted the attention of Olorogun Okumagba include the social intervention program D-Cares under which 307,600 beneficiaries and 10,000 widows will receive monthly stipends and free health insurance.

On security, which had been a knotty issue in recent years, Okumagba commended the launch of a security trust fund and increased allocation to the sector which will provide for drone surveillance, border control, support for security services and strengthening vigilante networks. If followed through, Okumagba says, it should address the pockets of insecurity that need to be taken care of.

Okumagba urged Gov Oborevwori to stay the course which he has charted since his election in 2023, noting that ‘In two years the impact of the administration is unfolding brightly.’ He commended the governor’s vision to ‘build the Delta State of our dreams where no one is left behind.’

The 2025/2026 Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Premiership kicked off with a flurry of goals, dramatic finishes and spirited comebacks as matchday one delivered entertainment across all centres.

In Yenagoa, Bayelsa Queens edged Edo Queens 3-2 in a gripping South-South derby decided by a last-gasp penalty.

Edo Queens struck first through Rebecca Adegbemile (23′), but Bayelsa responded with goals from Kindness Ifeanyi (45′) and Janet Akekoromowei (48′) to flip the contest.

Edo Queens fought back, with Robiat Taofeeq (85′) making it 2-2. Just when the visitors thought they had secured a point, Bayelsa Queens won a stoppage-time penalty, coolly dispatched by Blessing Illvieda (90+7′) to seal a dramatic home victory.

In Owerri, Heartland Queens recovered from an early setback to down Ekiti Queens 2-1 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium.

An early concession rattled the hosts, but they levelled through Chizoba Johnson’s 13th-minute penalty before grabbing the decisive winner in the second half to complete a determined comeback.

In Lagos, Dannaz Ladies claimed a pulsating 3-2 win over Osun Babes. With the match locked at 2-2 deep into stoppage time, Nofisat Ayegbami (90+6′) struck a dramatic winner to ignite celebrations.

In Lafia, Nasarawa Amazons produced a strong performance to beat Delta Queens 2-1. Delta took an early lead through Nora Davies (4′), but the Amazons responded through Imoh Jones (40′) before Hembanfan Ayatse (45′) completed the turnaround just before halftime.

Adamawa Queens opened their campaign with a solid 2-0 win over Pacesetter Queens. Goals from Ifeoma Damian (37′) and Mary Sunday (66′) secured all three points in Makwada.

The only away win of the day came in Akure, where FC Robo Queens defeated Sunshine Queens 1-0, courtesy of Marvellous Oladunni (45′).

Three matches ended with shared spoils: Confluence Queens 2-2 Abia Angels, Naija Ratels 0-0 Ibom Angels and Ahudiyannem Queens 0-0 Remo Stars Ladies.

With late winners, penalties, comebacks, and away successes, the opening day of the NWFL Premiership set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling and unpredictable season.

Giwa Gardens Water Park, West Africa’s family entertainment destination, has announced a Detty December initiative offering 100,000 free tickets between December 13, and January 4, in partnership with Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Other partners are Access Bank, FiberOne, MTN, Zenith Bank, and Awari App (Lost in Lagos).

The initiative aims to strengthen recreational tourism for Nigerians at home and those returning from the diaspora for the festive season, while boosting Lagos’ profile as a destination for domestic and international tourism.

Giwa Gardens will also sponsor 1,000 less-privileged children on December 13, offering them free access, food, drinks, safety gear, and supervised fun experiences. The effort is being conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

According to the organisers, the partnership brings together government and private-sector leaders with a shared goal: expanding Lagos’ tourism economy and enhancing the festive experience for families.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Keji Giwa, described the initiative as a gift to families during the season.

‘Detty December is about joy, family and togetherness. By opening our doors with 100,000 free tickets, we want to give Nigerians-home and abroad-an experience to look forward to. Our partnership with Lagos State and our private-sector partners reflects our commitment to growing tourism in Lagos,’ he said.

Lauding the initiative on behalf of government, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Idris Aregbe, praised the project as a model for effective collaboration.

‘The pact with Giwa Gardens is a boost to Lagos tourism. Offering 100,000 free tickets ensures more families can participate in the festive spirit, and sponsoring 1,000 less-privileged reflects the values we stand for,’ Aregbe noted.

Renowned historian and academic, Prof. Toyin Falola has praised Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State for its unstinting commitment to society’s moral reformation.

The Professor of African Studies described the university as ‘an articulation of conviction, discipline and divine leading’, adding from his research, public perception of the school is positive. Falola,on Tuesday, delivered a valedictory lecture on the institution’s campus in honour of outgoing Vice Chancellor Prof. Ademola Tayo.

The lecture was entitled: ‘The transformation of Babcock’. The event also culminated in the presentation of a book on the university, ‘Babcock University: A history of success’ written by the don.

Falola noted that Babcock is a fusion of morality and academic modernity,adding that it represents a fusion of faith and learning.

While urging the university to tap from its rich Alumni base world wide, the don charged the incoming Vice Chancellor Prof.Afolarin Olutunde Ojewole to intensify efforts to address high energy costs, economic volatility, saying fees can’t keep increasing. Falola, therefore, called for the establishment of a $200 million endowment fund.

He said: ‘The new VC has to build an endowment of $200m,build a digital ecosystem,and a strong alumni network; build a think tank of ethics and innovation. ‘The school should embark on cultural diplomacy; create a wide range of programmes around cultural diplomacy, align with nollywood,music.

‘It should also create a faith and science dialogue for the country, and explore possibilities of a global college. It must remain a university where values will light the path of science.’

Falola said teaching style must change from being authoritarian to being friendly, saying the former has become old.

‘AI is reshaping how knowledge is accessed,’ he said. ‘More than 90 percent of what you want to teach is already available through AI, and the shorter attention spans of Gen Z and Gen Alpha demand a new, proactive, friendship-driven approach to teaching rather than the old authoritarian model.’

The don presented  Tayo with the Thabo Mbeki Award for Leadership Excellence, on behalf of the University of Texas at Austin and with the approval of former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

The award recognises a leader ‘committed to the renaissance of Africa and an unblemished record of excellence in leadership.’

Tayo thanked Falola for the book on the university, saying it would be treasured for ever. He also thanked the historian for delivering the valedictory lecture, among other things.

The event also featured a cultural performance to entertain guests.

Sir: I write with a broken heart. A heart so bruised it feels shattered. For weeks now, it has been one tragedy after another. One kidnapping case replaced by the next. Little girls taken from their schools. Families plunged into fear. We have reached a point where people whisper painful prayers like ‘may Nigeria never happen to me’, because we have watched the nation turn against its own.

Only last week, schoolgirls in Kebbi were abducted. And even though news has just broken that they have been freed, the joy of their return cannot erase the trauma of their ordeal or the deeper truth it exposes about our country. In that same week, more than 300 students were taken from a Catholic school. These were girls who simply wanted to learn, to grow, to dream, and to build a life. Their only ‘fault’ was the desire to be educated.

There is no way to describe the agony of sending your child to school and then seeing on the news that she has been taken by ruthless, faceless men. You do not know whether she has eaten, whether she is being harmed, what fears she is battling, what pain she is enduring. Is it a crime to be a girl-child in this country? Why must she carry so much suffering on her small shoulders?

The rate of insecurity in Nigeria today is beyond alarming. Those who lead us, those who hold authority, are meant to use every tool within their reach to protect citizens. Yet what do we see? Is ordering schools to vacate the answer?

Sending students home is not a solution. It strips these girls of their right to education. And then what happens when they resume? Will the cycle of fear, evacuation and abduction continue? What truly is the way forward?

Our leaders must seek real, practical solutions to these recurring horrors. They must rise to their duties and be held accountable. Our girls are suffering. They are far too young to bear this kind of trauma. No girl, no child, no human being deserves this. No parent deserves the torment of knowing that their daughter is in the hands of men who may do only God knows what to her.

We thank God for the safe return of the abducted Kebbi schoolgirls, but we refuse to let that relief distract us from the painful truth that no child should ever have been taken in the first place.

Mary Ojulari Foundation, a not-for-profit committed to development and empowerment, has awarded N50,000,000 to eight young entrepreneurs who participated in the second Vanguard Fellowship Cohort and completed its two-week Ignite Bootcamp in Lagos.

The grant was announced by Mary Ojulari, founder and president at Vanguard Fellowship Ignite Bootcamp Awards and Networking Cocktail Night at J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, Lagos.

The winners are SafayaIkechuckwu, Oluwakemi Olaniyan, Adaeze Akpagbula, Francis Obanijesu, Olatunde Omotayo Olufunke, Victoria Ogwanighie, Ubok Ameh, and Adebayo Olajumoke. Each of them will receive N6, 250,000.

Ojulari reaffirmed the organisation’s mission to empower young Nigerians with tools, networks, and capital to build their businesses:

‘Our work is about unlocking potential because potential is Nigeria’s greatest asset. These entrepreneurs are solving real community problems, creating jobs, and refusing to be limited by circumstance.

She explained that the Ignite Bootcamp was delivered in partnership with Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria and a network of leaders in finance, manufacturing, media, healthcare, government, and development agencies. It exposes fellows to practical case studies, strategic mentorship, and real-world insight.

She added that through this model, the foundation ensures that fellows continue to receive guidance, access to markets, and opportunities after the boot camp ends.

She said 50 promising entrepreneurs representing Agro-Processing, Fashion, Manufacturing, Technology, Health, and the Creative industries participated in the edition of the cohort.

She further revealed that the participants were admitted into the second cohort following a rigorous selection process that prioritised innovation, community impact, and long-term sustainability and underwent hands-on training delivered by industry leaders, seasoned operators, and policy experts.

Ojulari expresses the Foundation’s gratitude to its partners, mentors, and supporters who have generously shared their expertise and resources to shape the next generation of Nigerian business leaders.

In her keynote speech at the event, Mrs Yewande Zaccheaus, the Chairman and Founder of Eventful Nigeria Limited, affirmed that for entrepreneurship to thrive in Nigeria, there is a need to invest in skills and knowledge, access to capital, digital literacy, supporting policies, mentorship ecosystems, and platforms like the Mary Ojulari Foundation.

‘Let us design a future where young people are not just job seekers, but job creators. To the foundation, I say your work is powerful, your impact is undeniable, even just two years on, and your vision is rewriting destinies. To the sponsors, you’re investing in the future leaders of Nigeria, please do not stop’, she said.

It is worth recalling that in the inaugural edition in 2025, the Foundation admitted 50 entrepreneurs into the Vanguard Fellowship Bootcamp, from which 25 were selected and supported with a total of $125,000 in catalytic grants. Together with today’s ?50,000,000 commitment to the new cohort, the Foundation continues to deepen its investment in grassroots enterprise development across Lagos and beyond.