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Lagos has again taken the continental spotlight as it hosts the 2025 International Conference on Sustainable Urban Mobility (SUMConference25), a landmark platform convened by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) to drive Africa’s transition toward cleaner, smarter, and more inclusive transport systems.

The conference with the theme: ‘Harnessing clean urban transport innovation and investment in Africa.’ brings together policymakers, financiers, engineers, and development partners from across the continent to explore sustainable pathways for transforming urban mobility through innovation and strategic investment.

Declaring the summit open, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, described clean transport as ‘a prerequisite for competitiveness and public health, not a luxury.’ He said the conference should not be seen merely as an event but as ‘a foundational movement for continental renaissance’ anchored on sustainable mobility.

‘This conference represents a defining moment for Africa’s cities,’ he said. ‘We must harness innovation and direct investment towards building transport systems that are climate-smart, people-focused, and future-ready. Lagos is leading this charge with policies that promote electric mobility, CNG adoption, and sustainable transport integration.’

Sanwo-Olu noted that the rapid urbanisation confronting African cities also presents a rare opportunity to lead the global clean-transport revolution. He cited the successes of Dakar’s Electric Bus Rapid Transit and Kigali’s cycling lanes as examples of African ingenuity that prove sustainable mobility is achievable on the continent.

‘Our goal,’ he said, ‘is to create an African Platform for Sustainable Mobility that will harmonize standards, pool resources, and advocate fair financing for clean transport development.’

The Managing Director of LAMATA, Engr. (Mrs.) Abimbola Akinajo, underscored the significance of the gathering, describing it as a shift ‘from dialogue to concrete action.’ She said the conference was conceived to turn shared ideas into measurable outcomes that advance Africa’s clean mobility agenda.

‘This platform is not just about talk,’ she said. ‘It is about collaboration, innovation, and investment that can make clean transport achievable and profitable across the continent. Our responsibility is to forge a future defined by efficiency, equity, and sustainability.’

Akinajo outlined LAMATA’s commitment to scaling up clean transport technologies, including compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric buses, and to promoting initiatives such as SHE-CAN, which prioritizes safety and inclusiveness in urban mobility.

She noted that the summit, which evolved from the Africa Sustainable Mobility Course hosted in 2022 and 2023, has grown into a full-scale international dialogue aligning with the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026-2035). ‘We are creating a continental network of actors committed to low-carbon transport systems that support social inclusion and economic resilience,’ she said.

In his remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to policies that align with global sustainability standards. ‘Our goal is to ensure that transport in Lagos evolves with technology and environmental responsibility at its core,’ he said. ‘Through strategic planning, we are integrating electric vehicles, expanding CNG infrastructure, and modernising traffic management to make Lagos a clean, efficient, and resilient megacity.’

The high-level attendance reflected the growing momentum behind the clean mobility agenda. Dignitaries present included the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Transport, Hon. Temitope Adewale; Commissioner for Transport, Ogun State, Hon. Gbenga Dairo; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Olawale Musa; General Manager, LASPARK, Mrs. Adetoun Ibilola; and General Manager, LASPA, Mrs. Adebisi Adelabu.

Delegates from more than 12 African countries, including Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa, and Ethiopia, joined representatives from the African Development Bank (AfDB), UN-Habitat, and C40 Cities. Discussions centred on financing frameworks, alternative fuels, carbon markets, intelligent transport systems, and air quality management, which are all key to positioning African cities for sustainable economic growth.

Akinajo said Lagos’s growing reputation as a hub for clean transport reform and knowledge exchange places it at the forefront of Africa’s sustainable mobility movement. ‘From our waterways to our roads, Lagos is embracing innovation not as an experiment, but as a necessity,’ she said.

The three-day conference continues with technical sessions, exhibitions, and investment forums showcasing innovations in electric vehicles, smart mobility, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Six-time champions Argentina eliminated Nigeria from the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Chile on Wednesday evening, winning their Round of 16 tie in Santiago 4-0 to avenge the Flying Eagles’ own triumph over them at the same stage when the Argies hosted the tournament two years ago.

Alejo Sarco scored Argentina’s first as early as the second minute, before Maher Carrizo doubled the advantage from a free-kick in the 23rd minute, disrupting Nigeria’s game-plan. Maher Carrizo’s goal came following a challenge by midfielder Nasiru Salihu at the edge of the box.

An appeal for penalty award from Nigeria was waved off by the referee despite Ramirez’s clumsy challenge on Salihu in the vital area. Oseer Achihi was a constant threat from the left wing of play, as his crosses into the box forced the Argentines to defend stoutly, conceding throw-ins and corner-kicks to relieve them of the pressure.

Daniel Daga’s stoppage-time close range effort on goal was denied by goalkeeper Santino Barbi’s superb save to keep the scoreline 2-0 at half time. Carrizo compounded matters for Nigeria with the third goal in the 53rd minute, after the South Americans broke forward once more.

Second half substitute, Matheus Silvetti beat the offside trap to bend his kick to the bottom right of Ebenezer Harcourt for Argentina’s fourth goal in the 66th minute.

Defeat meant elimination from this year’s championship for two-time silver medallists Nigeria while the Young Albiceleste will now take on Mexico in the quarter-finals.

Despite two decades of global decline in tobacco use, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the alarm over a fresh wave of nicotine addiction, this time driven by e-cigarettes and other emerging tobacco products targeting the youth. A new WHO global report reveals that while the number of tobacco users has dropped from 1.38 billion in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024, a significant 27 per cent reduction, one in every five adults worldwide remains addicted.

Even more worrying, over 100 million people are now using e-cigarettes, including 15 million adolescents aged 13-15, who are, on average, nine times more likely to vape than adults. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the situation as a ‘fightback’ by the tobacco industry, which is deploying sleek marketing tactics and new nicotine products, from e-cigarettes to heated tobacco and nicotine pouches, to recruit the next generation of users. ‘Millions are quitting thanks to tobacco control efforts,’ he said. ‘But the tobacco industry is fighting back with new products aggressively targeting young people. Governments must act faster and stronger in implementing proven tobacco control policies.’

For the WHO Director of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention, Dr Etienne Krug, ‘E-cigarettes are fuelling a new wave of nicotine addiction. They are marketed as harm reduction but, in reality, are hooking kids on nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of progress.’ The report shows that women are leading the global quit revolution. Between 2010 and 2024, the number of female tobacco users fell sharply from 277 million to 206 million, reducing global prevalence among women from 11 per cent to 6.6per cent. Women met the global 30 per cent reduction target for 2025 five years early, in 2020.

Men, however, lag behind. With nearly one billion still using tobacco, men account for over 80 per cent of global users. Their prevalence dropped from 41.4per cent in 2010 to 32.5per cent in 2024, but at a pace too slow to meet global targets before 2031. WHO’s analysis presents a mixed picture of global tobacco use. South-East Asia recorded the most progress, with male tobacco use nearly halved, from 70 per cent in 2000 to 37 per cent in 2024, accounting for over half of the global decline. The Americas followed with a 36 per cent relative reduction, bringing prevalence down to 14 per cent.

In contrast, Africa recorded the lowest prevalence globally at 9.5 per cent, but population growth continues to push up the absolute number of users. Europe now stands out as the world’s highest-prevalence region, with 24.1 per cent of adults still using tobacco. European women also have the highest female tobacco use globally, at 17.4 per cent. The Eastern Mediterranean region reported a prevalence rate of 18 per cent, with some countries showing rising trends, while the Western Pacific region showed the slowest progress, 22.9 per cent of adults still use tobacco, with men in the region recording the world’s highest prevalence at 43.3 per cent.

WHO is calling for urgent action from governments to step up the fight against tobacco and nicotine products. The global health organisation recommends countries adopt and enforce the MPOWER package, a set of proven tobacco control measures under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Key actions include raising tobacco taxes, banning advertising and sponsorships, closing regulatory loopholes for emerging products like e-cigarettes, and expanding cessation services to help millions quit. ‘Nearly 20 per cent of adults still use tobacco and nicotine products. We cannot let up now,’ warned Dr Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. ‘The world has made gains, but stronger, faster action is the only way to beat the tobacco epidemic.’

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has allayed fears in certain quarters on next year’s Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE).

Addressing reporters yesterday in Lagos during the council’s sensitisation campaign on the CB-WASSCE ahead of next year’s examination, the Head of the WAEC National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, said every candidate who registered for the CB-WASSCE 2026 would write the exam seamlessly, whether in Nigeria or abroad.

The sensitisation took place at the national offices in Yaba, Ojo, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Maryland, and Surulere.

The WAEC chief said the sensitisation was imperative to ensure that candidates and schools were fully aware of what to expect.

He said they would also get a chance to practise with the system.

Dangut said the council was poised to ensure the timeliness of examination, credibility of examinations, stressing that the CBT mode will reduce fraud and examination malpractice.

‘Some people are still doubting, some people are still wondering whether this CB-WASSCE is a reality or not. Even though we have started, we have done five examinations.

‘Every candidate who registers for CB-WASSCE 2026 will write their examination. Whether he is offshore or he is onshore, whether he is in the UK or elsewhere, as long as you register for our exam, you will write this exam. And CB-WASSCE is the way to go. It’s the future of exams. And we are here today,’ he said.

According to him, the full deployment of the Computer-Based Examination will not only reduce fraud and malpractice but prevent any form of logistical challenge.

‘We have done it. Records are there. All five examinations were conducted using computer-based examinations. There is a low rate of examination malpractice, and there is higher performance of candidates. So what are we to be afraid of? So, let us take the message to our stakeholders,’ Dangut added.

The WAEC chief also dispelled the rumours that the examination body had removed some subjects on its Continuous Assessment (CASS) portal.

He said WAEC does not act arbitrarily, adding that various stakeholders mandated the council to do away with some trade subjects.

‘For example, auto merchandising. If you leave it in the CASS portal, of what use is it going to be? This is because those trade subjects that the government has removed have ceased to exist. So, if you leave them in the CASS portal and they put scores, what is it going to serve? It’s of no effect at all,’ Dangut said.

He added that the names of some of the subjects have been modified, but the content remains the same.

‘WAEC is responsible, law-abiding and prompt to take action. We are ready to place Nigeria among the comity of people that are promptly utilising technology, in this case, computer technology for education and an advanced assessment,’ he added.

The wife of a Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) officer allegedly kidnapped in Lagos on Monday has regained freedom, The Nation has learnt.

The woman, Mrs. Ladi Abel, 45, was rescued late on Tuesday at 47, Ogunleye Street, a swampy area of Ibereko community, Badagry.

Her rescue occurred barely 24 hours after she was abducted by suspected criminals along the Badagry-Mile 2 expressway.

According to sources, the woman, who was on her way to the International Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, boarded a commercial bus that turned out to be operated by criminals.

Her daughter, Naomi, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), revealed that the abductors whisked 15 persons away that morning at Torikoh Bus Stop, Badagry, adding that they were drugged by the criminals.

‘When they entered the commercial vehicle, the men blew a white substance on them, which made them unconscious. About 15 of them were taken to their hideout in Ibereko area, and they were taking them out one by one after receiving their ransom.

‘My mother said some of the kidnapped victims in the bus were working for them,’ she said.

The suspected kidnappers contacted the family that Monday through her mobile phone and demanded N7 million before reducing the demand to N3 million by Tuesday morning.

But unknown to them, crack detectives of the police command commenced tracking following their call and were able to pinpoint their location.

It was gathered that around 11pm on Tuesday, a team comprising police and NIS operatives stormed the swampy area where the woman was found.

The suspected kidnappers were said to have fled the scene, leaving the woman, they earlier refused to release after allegedly collecting N2.5m from her husband, CSI Abel Mada.

Spokesman for the SEME Border Command of the NIS, Isaac Elijah, confirmed the woman’s rescue, adding that the team deployed for the operation engaged in a house-to-house search.

‘It took the efforts of about 20 immigration officers, 25 Police officers and some good people of Ibereko community to rescue the victim. The Divisional Police Officer of Badagry Police Station, CSP Folajimi Akosile was in charge of the operation that burst the syndicate in their hideout.

‘But unfortunately, none of them was arrested because they had fled leaving only the victim in their hideout,’ he said.

Narrating the ordeal, the woman’s husband said he sent N2.5 million to the kidnappers who insisted on getting the balance N500,000 before they will release her.

‘When they were shouting on my wife, we first sent N500,000 and later, N2,000,000 in the evening, but they insisted that we have to balance the remaining N500,000 before they release her.

‘I was still looking for the balance N500,000 when I heard that she had been rescued by the police and Immigration around Ibereko swampy area,’ he said.

Since 2020 when the Biden administration took Nigeria off the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list, Nigeria has once again become the subject of intense international scrutiny. Advocacy groups, global church networks, and foreign policy actors in Washington have amplified one message: that Christians in northern Nigeria are under systematic attack.

The horror of village raids, church burnings, abductions, and killings is cited as evidence, and some in the U.S. Congress now urge that Nigeria be returned to the CPC list- a designation that signals grave violations of religious freedom.

For many Nigerians, this framing is not entirely wrong, but it is incomplete. It reflects real pain but flattens a complex landscape into a single story. Yes, Christians have suffered disproportionately in certain areas. But Muslims too have been massacred, mosques destroyed, and whole communities displaced.

What links these tragedies is not faith alone but a wider crisis of governance: the inability of the state to secure its citizens, resolve local conflicts, or fairly manage the resources on which millions depend. Nigeria at 65 cannot afford to let its story be told only through the lens of persecution. It must reclaim its narrative with honesty, compassion, and resolve.

To walk through Borno or Yobe is to witness the scars of Boko Haram and ISWAP. Churches lie in ruins, pastors abducted, congregations scattered. Yet the same groups have razed mosques, slaughtered imams, and forced Muslim villagers into exile for rejecting extremist rule.

In Plateau and Benue, farming villages, often Christian-majority, have faced repeated militia raids linked to herder-farmer tensions. But in Zamfara and Katsina, Muslim communities are devastated by bandit attacks, their children kidnapped from schools, their livelihoods destroyed.

The numbers tell a bleak story: millions displaced, thousands dead. But behind the statistics are Nigerians of every creed, united in grief if not in narrative.

The insistence, therefore, that ‘Christians are being killed’ is both true and insufficient. The fuller truth is that Nigerians are being failed by a state that cannot consistently secure them, and by political actors who exploit identity fractures rather than mend them.

Faith as battleground, governance as void

Why, then, does the international conversation spotlight only Christians? Partly because global advocacy networks mirror their constituencies. Christian organizations rightly amplify the suffering of Christians. Their reports are often accurate but partial. What they underplay is the governance void in which violence festers.

When local policing is weak, when borders are porous, when land conflicts are unmanaged, religion becomes a shorthand for deeper structural breakdowns. What looks like a holy war is often, at root, a crisis of governance. That does not erase the religious dimension.

Victims targeted at Sunday worship cannot be told it was ‘just politics.’ But it shifts the conversation toward responsibility: who should have prevented it, who must now act, and how justice can be done.

The CPC dilemma: Symbolism without solutions

For Washington, the CPC designation is a powerful lever. It can isolate governments, trigger sanctions, and mobilize pressure. For Abuja, being labelled as failing to protect its Christian citizens would sting deeply, undermining diplomatic standing at a time when Nigeria seeks investment and credibility.

Yet there is a paradox. CPC status can raise alarm, but it cannot rebuild schools in Borno, resolve herder-farmer disputes in Plateau, or restore trust in Kaduna’s neighbourhoods. Worse, it risks fuelling defensive nationalism: officials dismissing reports as ‘Western bias,’ communities retreating into victimhood, and the political class turning tragedy into talking points.

The danger is that Nigerians become spectators in a story told about them, while the root causes of violence remain unaddressed.

When resources mirror religion

It may seem far afield, but Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) offers a telling parallel. The PIA was designed to address long-standing grievances in the Niger Delta by ensuring host communities benefit directly from oil extraction. The principle is simple: resource justice reduces violence.

Northern Nigeria suffers from the absence of such frameworks. Land use, grazing routes, and local revenue distribution remain poorly managed, feeding resentment that extremists and militias exploit. When communities feel excluded from resources, from security, from dignity, religion becomes an easy rallying cry.

In this sense, just as oil misgovernance once fuelled militancy in the South, land and livelihood mismanagement now fuel identity-driven violence in the North. The lesson is not that religion is irrelevant. It is that religious violence thrives where governance is absent.

Narratives that heal

How Nigerians choose to tell this story matters. If violence is narrated only as ‘Muslims attacking Christians,’ cycles of retaliation deepen. If narrated only as ‘banditry,’ the religious pain of communities is erased. What is needed is a narrative of shared vulnerability and shared responsibility.

Some attempts already exist. Interfaith councils like NIREC, grassroots peace committees in Jos and Kaduna, and civil society projects in conflict-prone areas have built fragile but real bridges. They are underfunded, but they embody a crucial truth: the solution lies not in denying differences but in managing them with fairness and dignity.

Toward a Nigerian response

What, then, should be done? First, Nigeria must own the crisis with honesty. Denials and defensive postures erode credibility both at home and abroad.

Second, it must strengthen local security and justice systems. Community policing, early-warning networks, conflict-resolution mechanisms, and transparent prosecutions. Security is not only about military firepower; it is about trust between citizens and the state.

Third, resource governance must be reimagined. The spirit of the PIA, embedding social obligations in economic activity should extend to land, grazing, and revenue allocation in the North. Communities must see that justice is not abstract, but delivered in schools built, clinics staffed, and farms protected.

Finally, Nigeria must reclaim the narrative. Not by silencing international advocates, but by telling its own story in a way that acknowledges Christian suffering without erasing Muslim loss; that frames the crisis as a national failure of governance, not as an inevitable war of religions.

Dignity as security

At stake is more than reputation or foreign policy. It is the civic dignity of Nigerians – the right of every villager to farm without fear, every child to walk to school, every worshipper to gather without terror. True national security is not only about missiles, budgets, or diplomacy. It is about whether citizens feel safe, seen, and valued.

The CPC debate may rage abroad. But Nigeria’s task is to prove to itself and to the world that it can protect its people regardless of creed, not because Washington demands it, but because its citizens deserve it.

The national leadership of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), accusing two suspended officials of its Lagos State’s chapter of attempting to undermine lawful authority and intimidate members ahead of a planned ‘illegal election’ in Lagos.

In a petition dated October 7, 2025, and signed by SWAN National President, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, and Secretary-General, Ambassador Ikenna Okonkwo, the association called on the DSS to intervene and stop the suspended officials, Ms. Olatutu Oladunni and Mr. Bello Omotunde, from conducting any election under the association’s name.

According to the petition, both individuals who previously served as chairman and secretary of the Lagos chapter remain indefinitely suspended from all SWAN activities for gross misconduct, insubordination, and sabotage of the association’s constitutional order.

The association alleged that the duo plan to stage an unauthorized election on Thursday, October 9, 2025, despite formal notifications to law enforcement agencies about their suspension.

SWAN expressed alarm over reports that the suspended officials have been reaching out to security operatives in Lagos for backing, warning that such actions could lead to a breakdown of order within the state’s sporting media community.

‘It is deeply regrettable that despite prior notifications to security agencies, these individuals continue to parade themselves as officers of the association, issuing threats and attempting to mislead law enforcement into supporting their unlawful activities,’ the petition stated.

The association further reminded the DSS of a previous confrontation during the Lagos SWAN Congress held on September 17, 2025, where Ms. Oladunni allegedly mobilized over 11 police vehicles and operatives to disrupt a peaceful gathering of sports journalists.

That incident, SWAN said, amounted to ‘an act of intimidation and gross abuse of privilege,’ describing it as a brazen show of force that violated the spirit of civility and press freedom.

In the petition, SWAN urged the DSS and the Nigeria Police Force to call the suspended individuals to order and ensure that law enforcement neutrality is maintained in the internal affairs of professional associations.

The association demanded that security agencies: restrain the suspended officers from using state apparatus to intimidate members; instruct all DSS formations in Lagos to desist from providing any form of cover or endorsement for their planned activities; safeguard the peace and integrity of the sporting and journalistic community in Lagos.

Reaffirming its commitment to due process, the association described itself as a law-abiding, non-political professional body recognized by the National Sports Commission and registered under Nigerian laws.

‘We urge the esteemed offices of the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of DSS to ensure that the rule of law and organizational integrity are not subverted by desperate individuals acting in bad faith,’ the petition added.

Copies of the petition were also sent to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Director of DSS, Lagos State Command, SWAN South West Vice President, SWAN South West Secretary, Acting Chairman of SWAN Lagos, and the Chairman of the SWAN Electoral Committee (SWANECO).

Head Coach Eric Sekou Chelle had a total of 20 players for the Super Eagles’ second training session yesterday in Polokwane, ahead of tomorrow’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against the Crocodiles of Lesotho.

A total of 18 players were in the team’s The Ranch Hotel as at Tuesday night while Portugal-based defender Zaidu Sanusi and Spain-based forward Jerome Akor Adams joined the group in time for yesterday’s second training. United States of America-based midfielder Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi is expected to land in South Africa today .

Chelle has had to tinker the team following injuries to defender Bright Osayi-Samuel and forward Cyriel Dessers, bringing in Sanusi and Crystal Palace of England’s Christantus Uche. Injury to wing-back Felix Agu had cut the squad from 23 to 22.

Russia-based former junior international Olakunle Olusegun is yet to be issued with an entry visa into South Africa, meaning Nigeria could probably prosecute the encounter with 21 players.

The Matchday 9 encounter is billed for the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa on Friday, 10th October 2025 and will kick off at 6pm South African time (5pm Nigerian time).

21 SUPER EAGLES TO BATTLE LESOTHO IN POLOKWANE

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium)

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Christantus Uche (Crystal Palace, England)

Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain).

The Police have suspended the enforcement of the tinted glass permit after being served a court order.

Spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Josephine Adeh, stated this during an interview on a national television.

She said: ‘Information reaching me from the office of the PRO is that the order has been received and the enforcement of the tinted permit is now on hold pending the court’s verdict.

‘We are waiting for the verdict. We are not against the courts, and we will continue to wait until we get a verdict.’

Adeh said some criminal activities had been carried out using vehicles with darkened windows.

The Police have suspended the enforcement of the tinted glass permit after being served a court order.

Spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Josephine Adeh, stated this during an interview on a national television.

She said: ‘Information reaching me from the office of the PRO is that the order has been received and the enforcement of the tinted permit is now on hold pending the court’s verdict.

‘We are waiting for the verdict. We are not against the courts, and we will continue to wait until we get a verdict.’

Adeh said some criminal activities had been carried out using vehicles with darkened windows.

Adeh also dismissed claims that the enforcement of the old law was designed for revenue generation, especially as payments are directed into a private account belonging to Parkway Projects rather than into a government account.

There has been outcry among Nigerians following the police decision to enforce the 1992 Decree, which became an Act in 2004.

A car owner with tinted glass is expected to pay N14,200 for the permit, which must be renewed annually.

Thousands of Nigerians have been complying while thousands of vehicles have been impounded on the roads by the police for failing to register.

However, a High Court in Delta State last week issued an ex-parte order stopping the enforcement.

The Police initially said they were not aware of the order until the new development.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all residents, announcing the signing of an Executive Order that makes health insurance mandatory across the state. Speaking at the maiden edition of the 2025 Eko Health Convention held on Tuesday in Lekki, the governor-represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat-said the new order aligns with the National Health Insurance Act and underscores Lagos’ determination to build a fair and sustainable healthcare system.

‘When we launched the Ilera Eko Health Insurance Scheme in February 2021, we made it clear that universal health coverage requires a reliable and inclusive system,’ Sanwo-Olu said. ‘In July 2024, I signed an Executive Order making health insurance mandatory for all residents of Lagos State. Without a shared pool of resources, universal coverage is impossible.’

He explained that mandatory health insurance would protect families from catastrophic health expenses, strengthen hospitals, and promote equity in access to care. Sanwo-Olu stressed that effective health insurance must be complemented by a robust emergency response system, adding that the state had continued to strengthen the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) to ensure swift, efficient, and compassionate responses during medical emergencies. ‘Timely and efficient emergency care must be a right, not a privilege. The Lagos Emergency Medical Blueprint is already saving lives,’ he said.

According to the governor, Lagos currently operates 360 public health facilities and over 3,500 private hospitals, forming an integrated ecosystem where both sectors collaborate to expand access and bridge service gaps. He urged health stakeholders to deepen investments in innovation, expand corporate social responsibility, and reimagine the future of healthcare through technology and creativity-‘ensuring a system where access is determined not by income, but by need.’

Sanwo-Olu also emphasised that public health progress is a shared responsibility, calling on citizens to enrol in health insurance schemes, participate in vaccination campaigns, eliminate mosquito breeding sites, report quackery, adopt healthy lifestyles, and demand quality care. He noted that his administration has consistently prioritised Health and Environment under its THEMES agenda, pledging to sustain a healthcare system that is accessible, affordable, innovative, and of the highest quality.

Highlighting key achievements, the governor listed the commissioning of new Maternal and Child Centres (MCCs) in Eti-Osa, Badagry, and Epe, the renovation and expansion of General Hospitals, and the construction of major health facilities, including the New Massey Street Specialist Children’s Hospital, the Ojo General Hospital, the Lagos State Mental Health Institute in Ketu-Ejirin, and the Cardio-Renal Centre in Gbagada.

In his presentation, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, described the new Lagos Health Transformation Blueprint as a bold and data-driven strategy that will position Lagos as Africa’s healthcare powerhouse, reducing mortality rates and boosting economic productivity. He revealed that Lagos loses about $1.5 billion annually to outbound medical tourism-a figure higher than the state’s total health budget. ‘Our goal is clear: Lagos must become the health capital of sub-Saharan Africa-not just for Nigerians, but for the entire continent,’ Abayomi said.

According to him, the blueprint includes climate-resilient hospital designs, modern general hospitals, a 500-bed psychiatric and rehabilitation centre, and the establishment of the Lagos State University of Medicine and Health Science. He also unveiled plans for a Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP)-a digital network linking all public hospitals and primary healthcare centres for real-time data sharing and informed decision-making. Abayomi added that Africa must begin to build health systems that are environmentally sustainable, technologically advanced, and globally competitive, reducing dependence on foreign medical care and positioning Lagos as a hub for medical innovation and tourism.

In her remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to providing quality and affordable healthcare for all residents. She stressed the importance of collaboration and public-private partnerships (PPPs) in achieving lasting transformation. ‘We believe in collaboration because government cannot do it alone,’ Ogunyemi said. ‘Our vision is to educate and empower citizens to take full control of their health and wellness, while ensuring that every resident receives quality healthcare services.’ With the Executive Order now in force, Lagos becomes the first state in Nigeria to legally mandate health insurance coverage for all residents-a move experts say could serve as a blueprint for national health financing reform and bring Nigeria closer to achieving universal health coverage.