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Traditional rulers from the South-West, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, are set to hold a security meeting with Yoruba nation activist and founder of the Iru Ekun Security Network, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.

The meeting is scheduled to hold in Ijero Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Friday and will be hosted by the Owa Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole.

According to a statement issued by Igboho’s media office, the meeting will focus on security in Yorubaland and measures to sustain peace and communal stability across the South-West.

The statement said monarchs from Oyo, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun and parts of Kwara states are expected to attend the meeting.

It said the meeting would be presided over by Ogunwusi, who is Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) and Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC).

The stakeholders are expected to discuss ways of strengthening security across the region and improving cooperation between traditional institutions and local security initiatives such as the Iru Ekun Security Network.

The statement said particular attention would be given to protecting rural communities and strengthening the role of traditional rulers in local security, given their proximity to communities and their roles in preventing and resolving conflicts.

The organisers commended the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies for their support for the Iru Ekun Security Network.

They also pledged continued cooperation with security stakeholders to sustain peace and safety across the South-West.

The statement specifically commended the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Musa (retd.); Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu; Director-General of the DSS, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi; and heads of other paramilitary agencies for their efforts in combating insecurity and criminality.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria National League (NNL), scheduled for Friday, August 21 at the Rockview Hotel in Owerri, has received a boost with confirmation that Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, will attend.

Dare, a former Minister of Youth and Sports who has continued to lend his weight behind sports, confirmed on Wednesday that he would be in Owerri to support the league.

‘I will be in Owerri to support the NNL where George Aluo and his team are doing a great job,’ Dare said.

Dare, a Chief from Ogbomosho and a communications expert, also praised Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma for his investment in sports.

‘My friend and brother, His Excellency Hope Uzodimma, is doing well on all fronts. He is giving good attention to every sector including sports. I was recently in Imo State and whoever visits the state cannot but give kudos to the governor,’ Dare said.

Two persons lost their lives, while two others sustained varying degrees of injuries, in a tanker fire explosion along the Agu-Awka axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Awka.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday night in front of a fuel station, involved a fully loaded diesel tanker belonging to Shafa Filling Station and a 911 truck loaded with bags of feed.

The diesel truck reportedly suffered brake failure and collided with the 911 truck, resulting in a fire.

Confirming the incident, the Chief Fire Officer of the State Fire Service, Engr. Chiketa Chukwudi, said two people lost their lives, while two others who sustained varying degrees of injuries were rescued and rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

Chiketa, who was personally present at the scene, commended the firefighters for their prompt response and urged motorists and other road users to exercise extreme caution, particularly when approaching sloping areas and when trucks are loaded with petroleum products.

While assuring the public that the situation had been brought under control, the Fire Chief encouraged them to remain calm and go about their normal activities.

He also reiterated a call to motorists to ensure their vehicles were properly maintained and that critical components, especially braking systems, are routinely checked to prevent avoidable accidents.

He said, ‘The Anambra State Fire Service has responded to a serious road traffic accident involving a fully loaded diesel tanker belonging to Shafa Filling Station and a 911 truck loaded with bags of feed along the Agu-Awka axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Awka.

‘The incident occurred in front of Jezco Fuel Station, Agu-Awka, at 2326 hours on Thursday, 20th August, 2026, and was reported to the Anambra State Fire Service, which promptly mobilised its firefighters and firefighting equipment to the scene.

‘Preliminary information indicates that the accident occurred when the diesel truck reportedly suffered brake failure and collided with the 911 truck, resulting in a fire outbreak.

‘Sadly, two people lost their lives in the incident, while two others who sustained varying degrees of injuries were rescued and rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

‘As at the time of this report, firefighters remained at the scene, working to control the situation and prevent further escalation.’

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ending persistent power outages, by setting a target of increasing electricity supply to about 3.5 gigawatts (GW).

He spoke at the Lagos State High-Level Strategic Power town hall meeting held to examine the state’s electricity challenges and develop practical solutions to improve generation, transmission and distribution.

The engagement brought together key stakeholders across the electricity value chain, including regulators, distribution companies, transmission operators, investors, asset managers and representatives of the Federal Government.

Speaking at the event, Special Adviser to the President on Power and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reset and Restoration, Dr Rilwan Babalola, said the challenge facing Lagos and Nigeria was no longer simply about generating more electricity, but building a functional and sustainable electricity market.

Babalola said the country must move away from a system in which government continuously acted as buyer, guarantor and absorber of losses across the electricity value chain.

He said the proposed Clean Lagos Electricity Market (CLEM) could provide a model for converting Lagos’ huge electricity demand into a structured and investible market through demand aggregation, bilateral contracting, open access, payment assurance and transparent settlement.

He said the proposed initial 500MW CLEM project must first demonstrate that electricity could be reliably delivered, properly metered and paid for before the model was expanded.

Babalola said stakeholders must establish the location of demand and customers, sources of electricity and gas, the capacity of the network to deliver the power, appropriate tariffs and a transparent payment system for generators, network operators and gas suppliers.

He highlighted the opportunities created by the decentralisation of the electricity sector following constitutional amendments and the Electricity Act, which allow states to establish and regulate their electricity markets.

He, however, cautioned against fragmentation, stressing the need for coordination between state electricity markets, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), interstate electricity trading and national transmission network.

Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, said the town hall was convened to end what he described as the ‘culture of blackout’ in Lagos.

Ogunleye said the state had conducted studies and assembled critical stakeholders to identify the challenges affecting electricity supply and agree on practical solutions.

He disclosed that Lagos currently receives less than one gigawatt from the national grid, despite the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) having the capacity to transmit about 3.5GW.

The commissioner said the state was working to secure an additional 2GW, with the ultimate objective of moving towards 3.5GW of electricity supply.

He said achieving the target would enable more electricity feeders to operate and improve power supply to homes, businesses and industries across the state.

Ogunleye added that newly-inaugurated substations would strengthen the state’s electricity infrastructure, while the government would work with distribution companies to monitor selected feeders and measure improvements in supply.

On electricity tariffs, he said consumers should not be made to ‘pay for darkness’, stressing that improved metering and infrastructure must accompany any tariff increase.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC), Temitope George, identified inadequate generation and transmission capacity, energy theft, vandalism and non-payment of electricity bills as some of the major challenges confronting the sector.

George said electricity demand in Lagos, which had previously exceeded 1,500MW, had recently fallen below 1,000MW.

She urged consumers to pay for electricity consumed, warning that non-payment distorted the electricity market and ultimately affected the ability of other consumers to enjoy reliable supply.

The regulator also disclosed that the state was restructuring its existing Independent Power Projects to make them bankable without placing excessive pressure on government finances.

George said Lagos was also exploring embedded power generation to complement electricity from the national grid and reduce dependence on the national system.

She said the ongoing decentralisation of the electricity sector should lead to a more efficient electricity market in Lagos.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of a suspected promoter of a fictitious Federal Government agency and the suspension of three permanent secretaries following fresh findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The directive followed the discovery by the anti-graft agency of another alleged fake government establishment, the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, which reportedly secured office accommodation within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) without presidential authorisation.

ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed the development on Friday after briefing President Tinubu on the commission’s widening investigation into fictitious government agencies and apparent vulnerabilities in public sector administrative processes.

Aliyu identified the alleged promoter of the purported agency as Prince George Buchi Nwabueze, who, according to the commission, operated under different variations of his name.

He said the names included George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Buchi Nwabueze.

According to the ICPC chairman, President Tinubu, after receiving a comprehensive briefing on the findings, directed the immediate arrest of Nwabueze and the suspension of three permanent secretaries pending further investigation.

Aliyu named the affected permanent secretaries as M. S. Danjuma, Engr. Nadungu Gagare and Richard Pheelangwah.

The ICPC is expected to establish the roles, if any, played by the suspended officials and other individuals in the creation, accommodation and operation of the purported government agency.

The commission is also engaging relevant officials in the OSGF to determine how an unauthorised organisation obtained accommodation within government premises and operated in an environment capable of lending it an appearance of official legitimacy.

‘I have briefed Mr President comprehensively on these new developments. ICPC will continue with its investigation’, Aliyu said.

The fresh discovery emerged from the ICPC’s investigation into the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), which had earlier prompted Tinubu to order a wider probe into how unauthorised bodies could present themselves as agencies of the Federal Government.

The PFIPC controversy broke in July after the Presidency disowned the organisation, warning Nigerians and the international community that it had no connection whatsoever with the Federal Government.

The Presidency had said the body, which presented itself as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and claimed to operate under the Nigerian Presidency, was fictitious and had not been created or authorised by President Tinubu.

The organisation had reportedly paraded individuals as officials of the purported council, using titles and structures designed to create an impression of presidential authority.

Following the discovery, Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the circumstances surrounding the emergence of the PFIPC, identify those behind it and establish whether serving or former public officials facilitated its operations.

The President also ordered a broader examination of the administrative processes through which entities are established within government, as concerns mounted that loopholes in the system could be exploited to create fictitious agencies or confer an appearance of official recognition on unauthorised organisations.

The PFIPC investigation subsequently expanded beyond identifying its promoters to examining institutional and administrative weaknesses that might have enabled the organisation to operate and portray itself as a government body.

It was in the course of that wider investigation that the ICPC uncovered the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, deepening concerns over the possible proliferation of unauthorised entities exploiting government structures and nomenclature.

The significance of the latest discovery, it was gathered, is that the purported office was allegedly able to secure physical accommodation within the OSGF premises despite having no authorisation from the President.

The ICPC is consequently probing the processes through which the office gained access to the government facility, those who approved or facilitated the arrangement and whether other officials were involved.

Aliyu said the development had reinforced the need for tighter administrative controls and closer scrutiny of government institutions and internal processes.

He also commended Tinubu for directing a policy audit of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and internal government procedures, saying the exercise would help expose weaknesses capable of being exploited by individuals seeking to operate outside established government structures.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, must be commended for the proactive step of directing the policy audit of MDAs and internal government processes towards strengthening government governance system’, the ICPC chairman said.

The latest discovery has significantly broadened the anti-graft commission’s investigation from the activities of one fictitious organisation to the processes within the Federal Government that could allow unauthorised entities to acquire the trappings of official agencies.

Investigators are expected to determine not only those behind the two purported bodies but also whether lapses, complicity or abuse of administrative procedures by public officials enabled their operations.

The suspension of the three permanent secretaries is expected to allow the ICPC to investigate their possible roles without interference while the search for Nwabueze and the examination of other individuals linked to the alleged scheme continue.

The commission said its investigation would continue as it seeks to unravel the circumstances surrounding the establishment and operation of the purported agencies and identify any further weaknesses within the public service that may have facilitated them.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has predicted a broader political realignment in the country ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying more politicians will soon join what he described as a ‘larger Rainbow Coalition’ in support of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking on Friday in Abuja during an inspection of major infrastructure projects in the FCT, Wike said the recent visit of Osun State Governor-elect Ademola Adeleke to President Tinubu pointed to the emerging political configuration ahead of the presidential election.

The minister, who has remained one of the most vocal figures in the political camp supporting President Tinubu despite his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the development should not be interpreted simply as an opposition alliance or partisan realignment.

According to him, the political landscape ahead of 2027 is changing rapidly, with politicians from different parties increasingly finding common ground around the Tinubu presidency.

Wike said Adeleke’s engagement with Tinubu showed that political actors can belong to different parties and still work together to secure the President’s victory in 2027.

‘What happened last night is a meeting to rebuild a larger Rainbow Coalition. And he (Adeleke) is supporting Mr President. He’s in a different party; I’m supporting Mr President, and I’m in a different party. So, it’s a larger Rainbow Coalition,’ Wike said.

He predicted the coalition would grow in the coming weeks, urging Nigerians to watch for further political moves ahead of the 2027 elections.

‘And in the next few weeks, watch what is going to happen. You will see a larger Rainbow Coalition in this country supporting Mr President,’ he said.

The FCT Minister’s comments come against the backdrop of growing political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with politicians across party lines positioning themselves for the next electoral battle.

While opposition parties and political groups have continued efforts to build a formidable platform capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Wike argued that the opposition was currently too fragmented and weakened by internal crises to constitute a serious threat to Tinubu.

He dismissed the notion of a clearly defined ‘leading opposition’ party, insisting that the political landscape had changed considerably.

‘When you say opposition, I’ve told you I don’t know what you call opposition, as far as there is no opposition now,’ he said.

The minister also took a swipe at members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who, according to him, have claimed credit for Adeleke’s electoral success in Osun State.

Wike said such claims amounted to an attempt to reap political benefits from work they did not undertake.

‘All those ADC who are talking about ‘they helped Adeleke to win,’ they just wanted to go and harvest where they never planted,’ he said.

He maintained that Adeleke remained a member of the PDP despite securing his governorship ticket on the platform of the Accord Party, adding that the governor-elect’s political engagement with Tinubu was part of the wider realignment taking place across the country.

Wike’s remarks are significant coming from a senior PDP figure who has consistently supported Tinubu since the 2023 presidential election, despite the PDP being one of the major political platforms expected to challenge the President in 2027.

The minister has repeatedly justified his support for Tinubu on the grounds of political principles and national interest, while remaining critical of elements within his own party whom he blames for the PDP’s continuing crisis.

On Friday, he again argued that the PDP, which ordinarily should provide the strongest opposition to the ruling party, had been weakened by internal disagreements.

‘Ordinarily, it should have been PDP, but because of the crisis we’ve had, you can’t see a formidable party that you will call the leading opposition party,’ Wike said.

His comments appeared to be a direct response to questions about how opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, would interpret his interaction with Adeleke and the growing support for Tinubu.

Wike said he was not concerned about how political opponents viewed the emerging alliance.

He said, ‘I have told you when you say ‘leading opposition,’ I’ve told you that there’s no opposition.

‘What you have are people who are just trying to see whether they can be relevant’.

The minister further suggested that the political contest ahead of 2027 would be more favourable to Tinubu than some opposition figures might expect, given the fluidity of political alliances and the opposition’s inability to present a united front.

For Wike, the priority is victory, not political accommodation with opponents.

He said politicians should not expect him to make decisions based on whether such actions would be convenient for their political interests.

The minister’s position reinforces his increasingly prominent role in the political coalition backing Tinubu, despite his continued association with the PDP.

Wike was one of the five PDP governors who formed the G5 during the 2023 election cycle, demanding equity and internal reforms within the party.

The dispute eventually deepened divisions within the PDP, with Wike and his allies refusing to support the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Since Tinubu assumed office, Wike has maintained a working relationship with the Federal Government and has repeatedly expressed support for the President’s administration.

His latest comments suggest he expects more opposition politicians to cross party lines in support of Tinubu as 2027 draws closer.

While opposition groups have been exploring possible alliances, Wike argued that the absence of a dominant opposition platform has created room for the President to consolidate support across party lines.

One of the projects inspected was the N5 Extension in Life Camp, being constructed by Julius Berger.

The minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of the work and said the road was expected to be completed and handed over in December.

He also inspected the N1 Road project being executed by Arab Contractors.

Wike praised the quality of work on the project and confirmed that it was also scheduled for completion and handover in December.

The minister subsequently inspected the IBB International Golf Club, which is undergoing rehabilitation following intervention by President Tinubu.

He said the rehabilitation had become necessary, particularly because of complaints from members of the diplomatic community over its prolonged closure.

Wike directed that the facility must be reopened before the end of the year.

‘This golf course must be ready and be reopened by December. So we are giving it to Julius Berger to ensure that everything is done. And by December this year, the golf course will be reopened,’ he said.

According to him, Julius Berger was re-engaged for the rehabilitation because the company originally constructed the facility and therefore possessed the necessary technical knowledge of its design and standards.

He said physical work was expected to be completed by November, paving the way for the official reopening of the golf club in December.

Wike explained that the golf club was shut following an internal crisis, which eventually led to the appointment of a caretaker committee headed by the President of the Court of Appeal.

He commended the committee for its role in resolving the crisis and creating the conditions for the facility’s rehabilitation.

The minister, however, warned that the government would not continue to fund the club’s operations after its reopening.

He said the management must develop a sustainable revenue model capable of funding maintenance and other operational expenses.

‘I would believe, this time around, that when this is done, they should be able to raise funds by themselves to run this place. The government should not use public funds to come back to do it,’ he said.

Wike assured that the FCT Administration would continue to facilitate payments to contractors to ensure that the rehabilitation programme remained on schedule.

He stressed that the December reopening deadline for the IBB International Golf Club was sacrosanct.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government and regulatory agencies to ensure policy stability, faster approvals and predictable regulations to attract more investment into the oil and gas sector.

PENGASSAN also urged the government to submit recent executive orders on the petroleum industry to the National Assembly as an executive bill seeking amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act, stressing that the process should be transparent and involve all stakeholders.

The union made the demands in a communiqué signed by PENGASSAN President, Comrade Festus Osifo, and its General Secretary, Comrade Jerry Amah, at the end of its three-day 5th PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit in Abuja, from August 19 to 21, 2026.

The summit, with the theme, ‘Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks as a Catalyst for Stability and Growth in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry,’ brought together government representatives, regulators, oil and gas companies, investors, organised labour, industry professionals and other stakeholders.

The association said Nigeria needed a stable and competitive fiscal and regulatory environment to attract the long-term capital required to develop its oil and gas resources.

It urged the government and regulatory institutions to minimise abrupt policy changes and ensure adequate consultation with stakeholders before introducing major changes in the industry.

PENGASSAN also called for improved coordination among regulatory and government agencies to eliminate overlapping mandates, repetitive approvals and conflicting directives which, it said, increased the cost of doing business and weakened Nigeria’s competitiveness for global energy capital.

The union said regulation should protect national interests, workers, host communities, investors, safety and the environment while enabling legitimate businesses to operate efficiently.

It urged regulators to embrace digitalisation, set clear approval timelines, and adopt transparent processes, arguing that regulatory effectiveness should be measured by its impact on investment, production, revenue generation, worker protection, and national value creation.

On investment and production, PENGASSAN said Nigeria could not rely solely on its large hydrocarbon reserves to attract investors, noting that the country was competing with other oil-producing jurisdictions for limited global capital.

It therefore urged the government to consolidate recent reforms and incentives that had encouraged fresh investments and Final Investment Decisions in the sector.

The association also identified gas as a key driver of industrialisation, noting that Nigeria had more than 215 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves but had yet to fully convert the resource into reliable energy and economic growth.

It called for an integrated national gas development strategy covering upstream supply, processing, pipelines, storage, LNG, LPG and CNG infrastructure.

PENGASSAN further urged the government to accelerate the use of gas for electricity generation, manufacturing, transportation, fertiliser, petrochemicals and domestic cooking, while reducing routine gas flaring and methane emissions.

The union also called for sustained policies and investments to expand domestic refining capacity and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.

It stressed the need to protect refineries operating within Nigeria, including the Dangote and Waltersmith refineries, saying greater domestic refining and processing would create jobs, conserve foreign exchange and promote industrial development.

On labour issues, PENGASSAN said capital and labour were complementary rather than competing interests, stressing that sustainable investment required skilled, motivated and fairly treated workers.

It called for stronger protection of jobs, accrued benefits, pensions, collective bargaining agreements and other established workers’ rights, particularly during mergers, acquisitions, divestments and asset transfers.

The association also warned that increased production must not come at the expense of workers’ lives and well-being, insisting that occupational health and safety remain non-negotiable.

On Nigerian content, the union called for a shift from procurement targets to developing Nigerian companies and professionals capable of competing globally on competence, quality, governance, and cost.

It also demanded stronger enforcement of expatriate quota requirements to ensure that foreign expertise was deployed only where genuine skills gaps existed and accompanied by measurable knowledge transfer and succession plans for qualified Nigerians.

PENGASSAN urged the government to sustain collaboration with security agencies, operators and host communities to consolidate recent gains in the fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

It also called for effective implementation of the Host Communities Development Trust framework under the PIA, saying host communities must become genuine partners in petroleum development.

The association said Nigeria’s major challenge was no longer a lack of resources, laws, institutions or human capacity but the failure to translate them into bankable projects and measurable outcomes.

It therefore called for stronger execution discipline, measurable targets, clearly assigned responsibilities and transparent monitoring of commitments.

The union said, ‘Policies must translate into implementation; resources into projects; projects into production; production into value; and investment into sustainable jobs and national prosperity.’

PENGASSAN called for deeper collaboration among the Federal Government, regulators, NNPC Limited, operators, investors, organised labour and host communities to resolve bottlenecks and accelerate investment and production.

A milestone medical surgery will be recorded in the country today.

A team of experts on the United States, United Kingdom and Europe are in the country to perform robotic surgery.

This will take place at the newly established Imo Robotics and Oncology Centre located within the revamped Imo Specialist Hospital, Umuguma, Owerri

An elated Governor Hope Uzodimma who announced the historic development during a pre-procedure briefing at the Government House Owerri ,described the achievement as a testament to strategic state investments by the state government to revolutionize local medical care.

He disclosed that the landmark operation will be led by a UK-based consultant robotic and laparoscopic surgeon, Professor Kingsley Ekwueme, an indigene of Imo State.

Uzodimma emphasized that the state-of-the-art facility at the Imo Robotics and Oncology Centre was built not just for advanced patient care but as a hub for continuous skill transfer to local healthcare workers

‘Our plan has never been to acquire sophisticated medical equipment and leave it idle. Equipment must be matched with competence, and technology must be matched with training,’ Uzodimma stated.

He highlighted that robotic-assisted techniques offer superior precision, minimal invasiveness, reduced blood loss, and significantly faster recovery times for patients.

The Robotics and Oncology Centre, he said, is part of a broader upgrade to the Imo Specialist Hospital Complex, which now boasts expanded Intensive Care Units (ICU), advanced diagnostic facilities, modern surgical theatres, neonatal care, and specialized oncology departments.

To ensure equitable access to these high-end medical services, the governor reaffirmed the state’s commitment to expanding coverage through the Imo Health Insurance Scheme.

‘The real measure of success will be in the patients treated, the skills transferred, the specialists developed, the lives improved, and the confidence that our people build in our local healthcare system,’ Uzodimma noted, adding that this milestone is just the beginning of Imo State’s journey toward becoming a premier destination for specialized medical care.

Robotic surgery is an advanced form of minimally invasive operation where a doctor uses a computer console to control robotic arms. The machine does not act on its own; it translates the surgeon’s hand movements into smaller, more precise actions inside tiny cuts.

The Kebbi State Government is to establish a forest reserve in Kalgo Local Government Area for traditional medicine practitioners, as part of efforts to preserve indigenous knowledge and prevent the extinction of medicinal herbs.

Governor Nasir Idris gave the directive when he received leaders of the Coalition of the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), Kebbi State chapter, at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi, yesterday.

‘We do not want our traditional medicine to vanish. I have directed the Ministry of Environment to find a forest reserve for the association in Kalgo Local Government Area,’ he said.

Idris pledged to fulfil earlier commitments to the association, including appointing one Senior Special Assistant from each of the state’s four emirates, and said the government would organise a capacity-building workshop for members. The government had also donated two vehicles to support the association’s activities.

The Governor listed ongoing federal projects in the state, including the Malando-Warra-Ngaski, Koko-Dabai and Koko-Besse-Zaria Kala-Kala-Bagudo road projects, and said more than 2,000 primary and secondary schools had been renovated statewide. He added that 26 of the state’s 30 general hospitals had been renovated, along with 176 of 225 primary healthcare centres, with the remainder to follow.

Idris said his administration’s achievements justified continued support for President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging the association to sustain its cooperation.

NANTMP Kebbi Chairman, Alhaji Rilwanu Wasagu, reaffirmed the association’s loyalty to Idris and pledged to mobilise its more than 40,000 members for the APC in 2027, commending the governor’s record in infrastructure, healthcare, education and agriculture.

He also praised the free fertiliser and farm input distribution, and appealed for land allocation for medicinal plant cultivation as well as a permanent secretariat for the association.

Actor and former WWE superstar Dave Bautista has been cast as Kratos in the upcoming God of War television series, replacing Ryan Hurst, who left the production after sustaining an injury.

Bautista confirmed the long-rumoured casting on Instagram, sharing an image of the iconic video game character, ending weeks of speculation over who would lead the adaptation of Sony’s popular PlayStation franchise.

According to Deadline, which first reported the development, production on the series will restart from scratch when filming begins later this year.

The God of War franchise has been one of Sony’s most successful gaming series since its debut on the PlayStation 2 in 2005. Initially inspired by Greek mythology, the action-adventure game gained a massive following for its cinematic storytelling, intense combat and the journey of its central character, Kratos, a Spartan warrior who rises to become a god.

The franchise underwent a major reboot in 2018 on PlayStation 4, shifting its storyline from Greek mythology to Norse mythology while introducing Kratos’ son, Atreus, as a central character.

Earlier this year, the first official images from the television adaptation featured Hurst as Kratos alongside Atreus before the actor’s departure from the project.

Prime Video said the series will closely follow the storyline of the 2018 game, with Kratos and Atreus embarking on a journey to fulfil the final wish of Kratos’ late wife by spreading her ashes.

‘Through their adventures, Kratos tries to teach his son to be a better god, while Atreus tries to teach his father how to be a better human,’ the streaming platform said.

Bautista, 57, has established himself as a successful Hollywood actor since retiring from professional wrestling in 2019. He is widely recognised for portraying Drax in six Marvel Cinematic Universe films and has also appeared in Dune, Dune: Part Two, Spectre, Army of the Dead and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.

Before transitioning to acting, Bautista spent two decades in professional wrestling, becoming one of WWE’s biggest stars and a multiple-time world champion.