Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

On September 26, 25 years ago, Nigeria was shaken by one of the deadliest air disasters in its military history. A C-130H Hercules aircraft, carrying about 158 officers from various arms of the Armed Forces, took off from Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. Within three minutes, the plane crashed into the swamps of Ejigbo, Lagos, ending all lives on board.

For the families left behind, the tragedy was more than a headline. It was a moment when time stood still. One of the families recalls the day vividly: ‘When the news broke on the 9 o’clock Network News, our home fell into sudden silence. Those who understood cried out in anguish. The grief was so heavy it spread like fire, leaving us overwhelmed and broken. At first, we were sad because our mother was sad. But soon, we realised why – the last time we saw our father was the last time we would ever see him again.’

In the days that followed, sympathisers poured into homes across Nigeria. Some sat in silence, offering comfort through presence. Others shared words of encouragement. And there were those whose cries were louder than the bereaved themselves. Eventually, burials were held, sympathisers dispersed, and families were left to face the harsh realities of life without their loved ones.

A quarter of a century later, survivors and families of the fallen reflect not only on their loss but also on their resilience. ‘Grief and sorrow did not win,’ one family member says. ‘We learned to laugh again because we had cried too deeply. We learned to value abundance because we once knew want. We learned to treasure life because we had felt the sting of death.’

The tragedy left scars, but it also forged strength. Many acknowledge that grief has a way of blinding people to the blessings they still possess. Yet, through faith and resilience, families of the fallen officers overcame despair.

Remembering the Fallen The Ejigbo crash remains a national tragedy – not just for the Nigerian Armed Forces but for the nation as a whole. Husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, and friends were lost, leaving behind grieving wives, children, parents, and siblings. ‘In the end, we found victory over grief,’ the family reflects. ‘We lost earthly fathers, but we discovered the presence of a higher Father – ever-sufficient, ever-victorious. RIP Dad, we miss you always.’ As the nation remembers, the story of the Ejigbo crash is not only one of sorrow but also one of resilience, faith, and the power to rise above grief.

For the past 20 years, residents of Abuja have had the opportunity to patronize businesses from across the country and the world through the Abuja International Trade Fair (AITR).

The fair has been an avenue to purchase a variety of products at a cheaper price as well as expose businesses to potential customers from outside of their base.

Even though the economic downturn in the country has affected the purchasing powers of Nigerians, this has not discouraged many residents to buy and feast their eyes with many products on display in open stalls at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce, where the fair often takes place.

From big brands like Dangote to petty traders hawking sachet water, the fair has been a colosseum for entertainment and trade.

A boisterous atmosphere greeted our reporter who visited the fair ground as local music blaring from huge speakers to attract customers filled the air.

To attract more visitors, the organisers made entry to be free against previous years of paying entrance fee.

Vendors were provided with the option of open and indoor stalls to display their wares with products like local perfumes, Adire, kitchen wares, solar devices, dairy products, cosmetics among a host of other products available for purchase.

Government agencies were not left out as their stalls were prominent for visitors to enquire about their services.

Also, states like Plateau and Nasarawa had space to advertise products peculiar to their domain. Nasarawa had its ‘Day’ yesterday and a cultural troupe performed local dances to endear visitors.

Residents also used the holiday to bring their children to the venue with many seen escorting their parents with excitement glaring on their faces.

The high commission of Ghana was also allocated a stall where fabrics and other adornments worn in Ghana sold.

Vendors seek more publicity

Sally Ameh, who sells hair products from the stall, said it would be her first visit to Nigeria to sell her products at the fair.

Sally, while stating that that patronage at the fair is not forthcoming, was optimistic that sales would pick up before the end of the fair on October 6.

‘It is my first time in Nigeria and I am still looking around to understand the system. I will be willing to come back next year.’

She added that the organisers need to do more on the visibility of the fair for more people to get aware of it, saying ‘what they did for me is not enough as I expected people would be trooping in to buy our products.’

Another Ghanaian, Mary Otoo, recalled that the Abuja trade fair used to be booming unlike recent years where few people visit to purchase goods.

Mary, who said she has had over 10 years’ experience bringing fabrics to be sold in the fair although, few people are coming to the fair, she is expecting larger patronage at the last minute.

‘People believe that when they come on the last day, they will get cheap things to buy but now it is not going to be all that cheap because of the exchange rate, still we have unique things here that will be relatively cheap but the truth is that it is not booming like before.’

She urged the organisers to bring down the price of the stalls as they are expensive, adding that more publicity needs to be done as a lot of people do not know the fair is going on.

‘They should do more advertising for people to know we are around. This time around they tried as they are not collecting entrance fees which is also very good.’

Samuel Ayew said sales have been picking up since the slow start of the fair.

‘Today we expect a lot of people due to the independence holiday. It has been a wonderful experience and the organisers have done a good job and I think there is room for improvement. What I feel they can do is to make sure the first day things pick up faster than they usually do as most times, on the first day people are still constructing their space.’

Also, Joseph Terry who came from Lagos and operates Sunny Kitchen Made in Japan, also confirmed that sales are a bit slow, attributing it to the situation of the country. He said the company has been using advertisements through TV stations and social media to make its customers in Abuja know they are in the fair.

He also urged the organisers to do more advertising because a lot of people don’t know that the trade fair is ongoing.

‘Also, they should cut down the prices of stands because we understand that this land was given to them for free. The rate we are paying is expensive, for instance, 72 square meters costs close to N2m so our advice is for them to look into the price.’ He lauded the initiative for free entrance, stating it has been encouraging for customers to come free and buy.

On whether the kitchen wares he is selling are cheaper, he said there is a 30 per cent discount on them as the purpose of the trade fair is to sell at lower price.

A food vendor, Tolu Williams, said she chose to participate in the trade fair because it brings together different people and goods.

‘If you walk around, you will see different companies that bring a variety of different businesses into one place where you can view. It also serves as a place to make long term connections as your products are exposed to people you might not meet on a regular basis.’

Okechuwu Christian, who sells solar powered devices, however said he has experienced large sales since the fair started.

While disclosing that he has participated in the fair for over six years, he praised the organisers for fixing the event at the month where visitors still have their salary to purchase goods for their families.

Eme Paul, a civil servant who came to the fair with her family, said it provided her the time to have fun and explore the products available.

‘My excitement about the trade fair is that it gives us an opportunity to encourage locally made products. So, I came here to patronize Nigerian made products and create jobs for Nigerians. Also, people can negotiate great deals and it is a great way to stimulate economic activities.’

On his part, Chris Akamiran said he used the opportunity of the holiday to see if he could get some products he needed.

He said the fair is a good initiative to bring hard to reach products nearer, he, however, said the high cost of living is bringing it to a halt with fewer vendors in the fair.

Aspira Nigeria Limited, one of Nigeria’s foremost manufacturers and distributors of trusted household cleaning and personal care brands for over 15 years, is proud to unveil Viva Matic, its latest innovation designed to transform laundry routines nationwide for families and individuals. Building on the success of beloved brands like Viva Plus Detergent, Aspira continues to demonstrate its dedication to delivering practical solutions that meet the evolving needs of Nigerian families.

Viva Matic is a high-performance detergent, specifically formulated for use in washing machines, offering a more innovative and efficient way to handle laundry. With washing machines becoming a household essential across Nigeria, Viva Matic is positioned as an indispensable laundry companion, ensuring clothes come out cleaner, fresher, and protected wash after wash.

Unlike traditional powder detergents designed for hand washing, Viva Matic’s advanced formula is engineered to dissolve quickly and work seamlessly in both front-load and top-load washing machines. It penetrates fabrics deeply, tackles tough stains, preserves colours, and extends the life of both clothes and washing machines, giving families the confidence of a superior clean every time.

‘At Aspira, we listen to our customers and understand that efficiency and convenience are top priorities for modern households,’ said Lynda Aguocha, Head of Advertising at Aspira. ‘With Viva Matic, we’re introducing an innovative solution that makes laundry faster, easier, and more cost-effective, redefining what laundry care should look like for today’s Nigerian families.’

Speaking on the company’s vision for innovation, Santhosh Kumar Nair, Head of Marketing at Aspira, added: ‘Viva Matic embodies our commitment to practical innovation and quality. It’s more than just a washing product; it’s a solution that helps families care for their clothes and appliances better, while saving time and resources.’

Available at major supermarkets, neighbourhood retail outlets, and leading online stores nationwide, Viva Matic is set to become an indispensable part of every home that values convenience and smart laundry care. With this launch, Aspira Nigeria reaffirms its position as a brand that cares, listens, and continuously raises the bar for innovative household solutions.

The police command in Edo State says it has begun strict enforcement of tinted glass permits across the state from Thursday in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police.

Mr. Monday Agbonika, the Commissioner of Police in Edo, disclosed this via a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Moses Yamu.

Agbonika said the move was part of measures to enhance public safety and curb crimes perpetrated with unregistered or unauthorized vehicles.

‘From Thursday, our officers will stop and impound vehicles with factory-fitted and non-factory-fitted tinted glasses without a valid permit issued by the Nigeria Police Force,’ the commissioner said.

The police chief stressed that motorists must obtain the required permits through the official online portal.

The leadership of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), on Thursday, provided more insight into what transpired during a marathon peace meeting that was held to resolve the rift between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery.

The union specifically revealed that it refused to sign the communique issued at the end of the meeting because there are ‘grey areas’ in the document, saying the strike was only suspended based on the respect and regards it has for the government and institutions.

Daily Trust reports that both PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery have been at loggerheads following the unionisation of some employees working with the refinery.

The company had sacked 800 of its employees and replaced them with foreign nationals from India, according to PENGASSAN – the development both unions in the oil sector frowned at.

While the company premised its decision upon alleged sabotage, the union maintained that Dangote Refinery flouted Labour laws, International Labour Organizations (ILO) conventions and the Nigerian constitution.

Specifically, the development triggered a rapid response from PENGASSAN, whose members shut down export terminals, blocked vessel loading, and locked offices across oil and gas facilities.

After marathon negotiations involving the federal government, labour leaders, and security agencies, a communique was signed on Wednesday morning at about 2.30am as Dangote Group agreed to re-fix sacked employees.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment, in a statement on the outcome of the reconciliation meetings, said the parties agreed that the disengaged workers will be absorbed by other subsidiaries in Dangote Group without loss of pay.

However, reacting to what was contained in the document on Thursday when he appeared on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Osifo stressed that there were ‘grey areas’ in the communiqué but stressed that the union suspended the action in good faith.

‘If you see that communiqué, we did not sign it. Normally, it is supposed to be signed by three parties. We did not sign because we felt that some things in it were not okay with us,’ he said.

He further noted that the communiqué was merely a statement from the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, who acted as the chief conciliator.

‘When we submitted it to our NEC, we had to decide on priorities. Some media houses claimed we were only interested in check-off dues. That is false. What we prioritised was how our members would return to work and provide for their families.’

Osifo said PENGASSAN’s position remains that the refinery management should immediately reinstate the sacked workers.

He disclosed that Dangote initially refused to reabsorb the disengaged workers until the government intervened and pushed for a compromise, dismissing the refinery’s claims of sabotage by the affected employees.

Critical assessments of Nigeria’s democratic trajectory at 65 have continued, with the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) warning of a deepening decline and insisting that the moment is no cause for celebration.

Delivering a state of the nation address in Abuja on Thursday, CHRICED Executive Director, Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, said the country is ‘haemorrhaging politically, economically, and socially.’

‘Ministers and governors have turned to campaigners, ignoring the crises ravaging the land. INEC, constitutionally mandated to enforce electoral laws, has chosen silence. That silence is complicity,’ he added.

Calling for urgent reforms, he demanded an end to premature campaigning, full implementation of electoral laws, protection of civic space, and transparent investigations of corruption allegations ‘without fear or favour’.

The CHRICED leader also renewed calls for Abuja to be recognised as Nigeria’s 37th state to restore dignity and political representation to its indigenous people.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has launched the distribution of the ‘Renewed Hope Mother-Baby Kits Initiative’ and the ‘Abuja Breathe Fresh Air Project’, aimed at improving maternal health and household air quality.

FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, inaugurated the two projects on Wednesday at Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.

Mahmoud explained that the initiatives, tagged ‘Wike Renewing Hope: One Baby at a Time, One Home at a Time,’ were being implemented in collaboration with IHS Nigeria.

She described them as a holistic approach to healthcare and environmental sustainability, protecting mothers and newborns during childbirth while reducing the dangers of household air pollution.

‘No woman should face childbirth without the tools and support she needs, and no child should begin life without adequate care,’ she said.

According to her, the free Mother-Baby Kits contain essential medical supplies and consumables to support safe labour, delivery, and neonatal care across the FCT.

Highlighting the environmental aspect, Mahmoud described the Abuja Breathe Fresh Air Project as a ‘bold, forward-looking’ initiative to reduce indoor air pollution in vulnerable households.

Earlier, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary, FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, decried the country’s persistently high maternal and infant mortality rates.

Precious Aroh, a student at Corona School, Gbagada, Lagos, has brought global recognition to Nigeria by being named a Best Finalist in the 18th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest.

Precious was selected from a staggering pool of over 660,000 contestants worldwide and was awarded a prize of $3,000 from Toyota Motor Corporation.

The award was presented to Precious, her parents, and school representatives in Lagos by the Managing Director of Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL), Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo.

A Visionary Masterpiece: The ‘Virus Vacuum’

Precious’s winning submission, titled ‘Virus Vacuum,’ is a powerful concept car designed to create a healthier world.

‘My dream car is called Virus Vacuum, the dream car of clean air,’ Precious explained. ‘It has special suction vents on top that pull harmful viruses out of the air. Once inside the car, the viruses are destroyed, leaving clean, safe, and fresh air for people to breathe. The car is my dream for a healthier world, a car that not only carries people but also cares for people and heals the environment.’

Mr. Ade-Ojo praised the young artist’s ingenuity, stating, ‘Precious’s exceptional artistry and vision have once again placed Nigeria on a global stage. Her winning masterpiece is a powerful concept that imagines a world free of illness and viruses like Covid-19. She has shown profound empathy and a brilliant imagination, turning a compelling idea into an outstanding creation. She has made Nigeria, Toyota Nigeria Limited, and her school incredibly proud.’

Precious will use the $3,000 prize money, which is designated for educational pursuits, to buy books, art materials, and digital learning tools that will help her improve her creativity and knowledge.

In addition to the prize money, Precious received a commemorative shield from Toyota Motor Corporation, along with a certificate and a trophy from Toyota Nigeria Limited.

The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest is a global Corporate Social Responsibility initiative by Toyota Motor Corporation, aimed at inspiring children to imagine a future car and, in doing so, foster a creative and caring mindset towards the planet.

I’m seeing loads of fancy graphics on our Independence all over the internet. 65 years ago, the day the colonial flags came down and ours went up, signalling our independence. But are we truly independent?

With all the American, British, and Chinese curricula used to raise our children, leading to the mass export of our young, are we independent?

With the heavy dependence on Western non-state actors as policy consultants, plugged into our policy development framework, are we independent?

With the constant dependence on Western healthcare systems by the elites who prioritize their health over the citizens who may never know the road to the closest airport, are we independent?

With an economy fully dependent on foreign exchange, are we independent?

With the abandonment of our natural seeds, and an aggressive push for foreign-patented hybrid and GMO seeds that will create a life-long dependency on the West for staple food, are we independent?

With the constant running after international loans, conditioned on the promotion of Western policies and agendas in Nigeria, are we independent?

With the deliberate underfunding of our universities, making foreign schools the inevitable choice for the elite, are we independent?

With local research underfunded and full dependency on international donor funding to advance the trade and policies of the donors – policies that negatively impact our society – are we independent?

With media narratives on Africa largely shaped by Western outlets, while our own journalists are made to echo those same voices, destroying our image home and abroad, are we independent?

With our mineral wealth flowing abroad to power foreign industries, while our youths remain unemployed at home, are we independent?

With our foreign-trained technocrats designing policies to please global institutions rather than serve local realities, are we independent?

With our land turned into experimental fields for Western agribusiness giants, while our farmers lose control of the very seeds of life, are we independent?

With our borders open to import what we can grow, while shutting out what we can create, are we independent?

With a middle class reduced to survival mode through brain drain and economic strangulation, are we independent?

Independent but desiring independence. Sovereign, yet bound by loans and foreign policies injected into our systems ourselves.

Our independence cannot be measured by the lowering of a flag in 1960, but by our ability to stand, to think, to feed, to heal, and to govern ourselves on our own terms. True independence means food sovereignty, policy sovereignty, economic sovereignty, and cultural sovereignty.