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Former Vice President and presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has expressed sorrow over reports that three persons died in a stampede at the Niger State Government House after a crowd gathered amid reports that N10,000 would be distributed.

Reacting on Wednesday through the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku commiserated with the families of the deceased and called for care for the injured persons.

‘Three Nigerians reportedly went to Government House and did not return home. I mourn them with their families. I pray for those who were injured and call for their immediate care,’ Atiku said.

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He said the incident reflects economic pressure on households and called for the distribution of support to be organised with dignity and the safety of people as a priority.

Atiku called on Niger State Government to establish the full circumstances of the deaths, publish account of how gathering was announced and managed, and provide support to bereaved families and injured persons.

‘There must be no attempt to blame victims for seeking help. The question for those in authority is how three lives came to be lost at gates of government, and what will be done to ensure it never happens again,’ he said.

He said tragedy, coming ahead of Independence Day, calls for efforts to make life more affordable and ensure safety in distribution of government support.

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has submitted a N1.2 trillion supplementary and amendment budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval.

The proposal was contained in a correspondence read by the Speaker of the House, Jibril Isma’il Falgore, during plenary in Kano.

Governor Yusuf said the supplementary budget was necessitated by a shortfall in revenue accruing to the state from the Federation Account following the implementation of the new tax law.

He explained that the state had anticipated increased receipts from the Federation Account, including Value Added Tax (VAT), but said some expected revenues, including signature bonuses, exchange differences and NNPC refunds, remained with the Federal Government.

Under the proposal, the state plans to finance the supplementary appropriation with N45 billion from the opening balance, N753.44 billion in recurrent revenue and N402.82 billion in capital receipts, bringing the total proposed supplementary budget to N1.201 trillion.

The proposed expenditure comprises N390.31 billion for recurrent expenditure and N810.95 billion for capital expenditure.

A breakdown of the recurrent expenditure shows that N169.96 billion is earmarked for personnel costs, N195.21 billion for overheads and N24.62 billion for debt servicing.

The governor also proposed a new partnership arrangement between the state and local governments aimed at promoting economic growth and development.

According to him, the arrangement would enable jointly generated revenue by the state and local governments to be captured and deployed to finance selected development projects.

Governor Yusuf urged the lawmakers to consider and approve the supplementary budget expeditiously, citing Section 122(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The House subsequently referred the proposed supplementary and amendment budget to the relevant committee for further legislative consideration.

Adolescents who use nicotine are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems than their peers who do not use nicotine, according to three studies from the University of Gothenburg.

The research also suggests that adolescent girls who use nicotine may be particularly vulnerable.

In one study of nearly 3,000 Swedish high school students, almost 80 per cent of girls who used nicotine reported clinically significant symptoms of anxiety. The association was found among users of both traditional tobacco products and newer tobacco-free nicotine products, including nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes.

Researchers also followed about 1,500 adolescents in southern Sweden from lower secondary school through high school. They found that depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts were more common among adolescents who smoked.

Girls whose tobacco use increased over time were also more likely to experience worsening sleep problems, anxiety, low mood and difficulties concentrating.

Johanna Andersson, a physician and PhD student at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, said the differences between boys and girls warranted further investigation.

‘We see clear differences between girls and boys, with girls who smoke appearing to be particularly vulnerable,’ Andersson said.

She said more research was needed to understand how nicotine pouches affect mental health, particularly among adolescent girls, where their use has increased rapidly.

The studies combined questionnaire-based research and long-term follow-up of adolescents with laboratory experiments examining nicotine’s effects on the brain.

In an animal study published in Neuropharmacology, researchers found that nicotine affected the amygdala, a brain region involved in emotional regulation and responses to stress. The effects were particularly pronounced in female rats.

Nicotine also altered communication between neurons and caused lasting changes in brain activity that remained after the substance had left the body.

Professor Louise Adermark of the Sahlgrenska Academy, one of the principal investigators, said similar patterns were observed across the different studies.

‘One of the key findings is that we see similar patterns across several different studies using different types of data,’ Adermark said.

However, she stressed that the research does not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between nicotine use and mental health problems.

‘We still cannot determine cause and effect,’ she said. ‘The animal studies demonstrate biological changes in the brain that could contribute to increased vulnerability to anxiety and stress-related symptoms.’

The researchers noted that multiple factors, including socioeconomic circumstances, stress, alcohol consumption, other substance use, and individual vulnerability, influence mental health and nicotine use.

Nevertheless, they said the findings raise concerns about the effects of nicotine on the developing adolescent brain, particularly as newer products become increasingly available.

Further research will be needed to determine whether girls are especially sensitive to nicotine’s effects and to clarify the long-term mental health implications of products such as nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes.

The researchers said understanding these relationships could help inform efforts to address nicotine use and mental health among young people.

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Oyo State, will commence the distribution of newly printed Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, across all 33 Local Government Area offices in the state from October 9.

This was contained in a statement by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, (REC), in the state, Professor Adeniran Tella.

According to the release, the distribution exercise will hold from 9:00am to 3:00pm daily, excluding weekends and public holidays.

Professor Tella said the exercise is for newly registered voters, those who transferred their polling units, and those whose PVCs were lost or damaged during the last Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise.

He noted that collection of the PVCs will be strictly personal and not by proxy, adding that the Commission has made adequate arrangements with security agencies to ensure the exercise remains transparent, orderly and peaceful across the state.

The REC enjoined the general public and all relevant stakeholders in the electioneering process to cooperate with the Commission by ensuring prompt collection of the newly printed PVCs.

He also disclosed that the Commission still has a large number of uncollected old PVCs from the 2023 General Election in the state.

Professor Tella, however, urged eligible registrants to take advantage of the exercise ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, on Wednesday called on Nigerians to remain hopeful and committed to nation-building.

It be recalled that Nigeria, a former British colony, gained independence on October 1, 1960.

In his Independence message made available to Parliamentary Correspondents in Abuja, Hon. Kalu congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians at home and abroad on Nigeria’s 66th anniversary.

The Deputy Speaker, who represents Bende Federal Constituency in Abia, said the occasion should renew patriotism and faith in the country.

He said: ‘I warmly congratulate our dear President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and Nigerians at home and abroad on the occasion of our nation’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

‘Today, we celebrate the journey of our great nation, the resilience of our people, and the enduring spirit that continues to bind us together as one indivisible country.

‘As we mark 66 years of independence, let us remain hopeful about Nigeria’s future and committed to building a nation where peace, unity, opportunity and prosperity are accessible to all.’

Hon. Kalu lauded the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration, noting that its bold reforms and transformative initiatives have continued to lay the foundation for a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.

He urged patience and collective responsibility, expressing confidence that current sacrifices will yield a better tomorrow.

‘The bold reforms and transformative initiatives of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda continue to lay the foundation for a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.

‘With patience, perseverance and collective responsibility, I am confident that the sacrifices of today will yield a better tomorrow. Our diversity is our strength. Our resilience is our identity. And our shared love for Nigeria remains the bond that unites us,’ the Abia lawmaker said.

Hon. Kalu prayed that the anniversary would inspire all citizens to play their part in building the Nigeria of their dreams.

‘May this Independence Anniversary renew our patriotism, strengthen our faith in Nigeria and inspire us all to play our part in building the Nigeria of our dreams. May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’ the Deputy Speaker said.

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of 431 mobile phones to the Federal Government after the devices were linked to a cyber-fraud operation involving foreign nationals and local recruits.

Justice Deinde Dipeolu granted the order following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which established that the phones were acquired with proceeds of crime and used to carry out internet fraud.

The application was brought as a civil forfeiture action in rem under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section 44(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution.

According to an affidavit filed by EFCC investigator Christopher Augustine, the devices were recovered as part of a probe into an organised crime hub known as ‘HK,’ situated in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The facility-allegedly established by foreign nationals from China, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Kyrgyzstan-housed hundreds of laptops and mobile phones used to execute romance, cryptocurrency, and fake investment scams targeting victims across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe.

A major crackdown on December 10, 2024, led to the arrest of over 700 suspects, including 148 Chinese nationals and around 500 Nigerian youths who were allegedly recruited online and trained to execute phishing schemes.

Investigations revealed that a registered firm, Genting International Company Limited (GICL), controlled by Chinese national Huang Haoyu (alias Ken), managed the recruitment and operations.

Recruits were assigned foreign WhatsApp accounts and instructed to direct victims to a fraudulent online platform, with accounts linked to Huang receiving over ?3.4 billion in illicit funds.

Huang and GICL were charged on March 7, 2025, with cyber terrorism, money laundering, and illegal foreign exchange transactions. Both pleaded guilty and were convicted.

Following the discovery of the additional 431 mobile phones purchased for the operation, the EFCC obtained an interim forfeiture order on July 8, 2026.

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Thompson Oludare Sunday has reaffirmed that the Agency is working to ensure that the banking system in the country remains safe, sound and resilient.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, Sunday said ‘over three decades, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation has remained a critical pillar of Nigeria’s financial safety-net architecture.

‘Through our mandate of deposit guarantee, bank supervision in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, failure resolution and bank liquidation, the NDIC has worked to ensure that the banking system remains safe, sound and resilient.

‘These responsibilities have direct bearing on the resilience of the nation’s economy as every thriving business needs a trusted financial system that can safeguard its working capital, facilitate payments and support access to credit for investment and expansion. This is where the NDIC comes in’.

He explained that to ‘strengthen confidence in the banking system, the Corporation enhanced its deposit insurance coverage in 2024 with the maximum insured limit increased to ?5 million per depositor per Deposit Money Bank (DMB) and Mobile Money Operator (MMO), and ?2 million per depositor per Microfinance Bank (MFB), Primary Mortgage Bank (PMB) and Payment Service Bank (PSB).

‘This significant enhancement provides full coverage for over 98 percent of depositors across the insured institutions, thereby protecting households, small businesses and other vulnerable depositors from the immediate consequences of bank failure.

‘For depositors whose balances exceed the insured limits, the NDIC continues to pay liquidation dividends from recoveries realised through the recovery of debts owed to the failed institutions as well as the disposal of their physical assets. Our objective is straightforward: no depositor should lose confidence in the banking system merely because an insured institution has failed.

‘We are also transforming the way depositors are reimbursed. Through the deployment of technology, including the Bank Verification Number (BVN), Single Customer View (SCV), NIBSS infrastructure and other digital solutions, the Corporation has moved from cumbersome, manual processes towards faster and seamless reimbursement. Today, verified depositors of failed banks receive their insured deposits within days of bank closure’.

The MD reiterated that the NDIC has positioned itself to serve as not merely a payer of claims after bank failure, but as a Risk Minimizer. ‘One that identifies vulnerabilities early, strengthens safeguards and works to prevent institutional problems from escalating into systemic crises.

‘Accordingly, the Corporation has continued to re-set and strengthen its institutional framework in line with global best practices. These initiatives include the deployment of Risk-Based Supervision (RBS), an enhanced Differential Premium Assessment System (DPAS), the Single Customer View (SCV) Framework, a full Distress Resolution suites, and the Bank Liquidation Management System (BLMS), alongside stronger inter-agency collaboration, particularly with the Central Bank of Nigeria and other members of the financial safety net architecture.

‘It is against this backdrop that I wish to seize this opportunity to make a simple but important appeal to Nigerians. Please, keep your money in licensed and regulated financial institutions.

‘There are still Nigerians who keep substantial funds outside the formal banking system or entrust their savings to unlicensed fund managers, attracted by promises of extraordinary and unrealistic returns. Please note that the consequences of this can be devastating.

‘The proliferation and collapse of Ponzi schemes have demonstrated, time and again, the enormous financial and emotional cost of placing hard-earned resources in unregulated schemes. If an investment promise sounds too good to be true, Nigerians should pause, ask questions and verify before committing their money’ he stated.

Sunday therefore encouraged businesses and members of the public to strengthen their financial literacy, embrace digital financial services responsibly, maintain sound financial practices and engage with relevant regulatory institutions whenever they require guidance. ‘The more informed the public becomes, the stronger our collective capacity to build a resilient financial system’.

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, Engr. Emem Coffie, has canvassed industrial training and job opportunities for youths in the state as part of measures to equip them with skills and make them self-reliant.

Coffie, a civil engineer with about 35 years of professional experience, said government must move beyond encouraging young people to acquire education by creating practical pathways for them to translate their knowledge and skills into productive employment.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, he urged Nigerian youths not to abandon education in pursuit of quick success, saying academic knowledge remained important for career development, specialisation and national growth.

He said the growing perception that education was a waste of time could undermine the development of young people, stressing that formal education provides the foundation for professional competence, particularly in technical fields.

Coffie, who said he had sponsored hundreds of students in Akwa Ibom, Enugu and Abuja, said his commitment to education and youth development was driven by the need to provide young people with the foundation and support required to discover their potential.

He said the development of advanced countries was partly built on education and structured systems, adding that the success of individuals who did not attend university should not be used to discourage young people from acquiring formal education.

According to him, education and practical experience should complement each other, particularly in specialised fields such as engineering and robotics.

‘The truth is that engineering is probably 90 percent from scientific theory and 10 percent empirical.

‘The truth is that education has created a system and whether you like it or not, the countries that are developed today worked with those systems and became what they are.

‘If you want to be a robotics engineer, for example, you must have an understanding of physics and chemistry. I don’t know if biology has to do with medical engineering, but for you to go into robotics, you must have those basic understandings and then have mechanical engineering, electronics engineering, electrical engineering by the corner before you now begin to do robotics,’ he said.

Coffie called for a system that would enable young people to complete their university education early, identify their talents and begin specialising in their chosen careers without unnecessary delays.

He said early identification of talents would also help young people establish themselves professionally and gain access to opportunities earlier in their careers.

However, he stressed that university education should not be the only pathway to success, urging the government to support vocational training, entrepreneurship and other trades.

‘Everybody doesn’t need to go to university; that’s why we get everybody wrong, but whatever level, whatever trade you should apply, the government should support you, train you, and make you relevant,’ he said.

On employment, Coffie called for greater investment in industrialisation in Akwa Ibom, saying young people should be trained in areas relevant to industries that could be established in the state.

He identified oil and gas, refineries, gas processing facilities and steel plants as sectors with potential to create employment opportunities, while advocating apprenticeship programmes to prepare youths for jobs in such industries.

He also proposed financial support for young people undergoing apprenticeship programmes, saying such assistance would encourage participation and enable trainees to remain economically active while acquiring skills.

‘You begin to prepare them, empower them to programme the way they will learn such skills, and within that period pay them, even if they are doing an apprenticeship scheme, pay them during that period so that you can encourage them to participate in such,’ Coffie said.

The PDP candidate also advocated support for small and medium-scale enterprises, including affordable loans to enable traders and entrepreneurs to expand their businesses.

He proposed the establishment of cottage industries across the state’s local government areas to create jobs, utilise locally available raw materials and improve the incomes of residents.

Coffie identified palm oil processing and the production of briquettes from palm kernel waste among areas that could support small-scale industrial development in the state.

He further called for a return to Akwa Ibom’s original development master plan, urging successive administrations to sustain projects initiated by previous governments rather than abandoning them when administrations change.

He identified the deep seaport, science park, airport, road network and power plants among projects associated with the state’s development plans.

Coffie said Akwa Ibom needed to revisit its original development priorities and continue projects capable of improving the livelihoods of residents.

He argued that road construction alone could not address poverty without industries and businesses capable of providing jobs and sustainable incomes.

He said his proposed development agenda, ‘A New Drive Back to the Genesis,’ would focus on human capital development, industrialisation, skills acquisition and support for small businesses.

‘When I say Genesis, let’s go back to that master plan and start to execute it all over again.

‘Road construction is interesting but road construction does not put food on the table of people,’ he said.

Online casino gaming has become more and more sophisticated over recent years. However, nothing comes closer to recreating the classic casino atmosphere than live dealer games. Rather than watching cards or roulette wheels that are generated by computers, players get to join live streams and see real dealers in real time.

For Nigerian players, live casino provides another way to access familiar table games through a phone, tablet or computer. Improvements in streaming technology, mobile internet and purpose-built casino studios have helped turn what was once a relatively specialised format into a major part of online gaming.

How Live Casino Gaming Works

The idea behind live games is simple. A dealer is at a physical table while cameras are positioned to broadcast the action to players online. Bets are placed through the casino interface, and cards, the roulette wheel, or other equipment all remain in view throughout the round.

Behind the stream is more technology than viewers are usually aware of. Multiple cameras are used to provide different angles, while software records bets and displays game information on screen. Optical character recognition technology can also be used to convert physical actions, such as the result of a roulette spin, into digital information displayed within the interface.

The Dealer Remains at the Centre

Dealers have the same control as they do at a land-based casino. It is they who deal the cards, spin the wheel, and announce the results. They keep the game moving while players make their selections through the controls on their screens. Some games also come with chat features so that players can communicate with the dealer.

This human element is one reason the format feels different from conventional digital casino games. Someone entering a live casino WePari table can watch events unfold as they happen rather than waiting for an animated sequence to determine the result. The underlying rules of familiar games remain recognisable.

The Games Driving Live Casino Growth

Roulette, blackjack, and baccarat are the main games found in the live casino format because their traditional table structures translate naturally to streaming. Modern studios have expanded well beyond those three games, creating numerous variations and entertainment-led formats.

Players can expect to come across:

Live blackjack: Real cards are dealt while players decide whether to hit, stand or use other available options.

Live roulette: A dealer spins a physical wheel while bets are submitted through an interactive digital layout.

Live baccarat: Players follow the familiar Player, Banker and Tie structure as cards are dealt on camera.

Game shows: Studio-based games combine casino mechanics with colourful sets, presenters, multipliers and interactive features.

Mobile Technology Has Changed Access

Smartphones have been important when it comes to how accessible live casinos have become. The first live dealer games were all about desktop sites. Modern games are now designed with a mobile-first approach, meaning that they perform well on a smaller screen.

This is more than just a little relevant in mobile-first markets such as Nigeria. Players using WePari can access casino content through a mobile browser, removing the need to be sitting at a computer before joining a table. Modern interfaces are designed to keep the video stream, betting controls and important game information visible within the available screen space.

Streaming Has Become More Sophisticated

Live casino providers have also improved the technology behind delivering the experience. Streaming systems can adjust video quality according to the connection available, and this

Studios are now more elaborate, too. There are some that have many tables all operating at the same time, while others have been built just for a certain game-show title. Professional lighting, presenters, and multiple camera angles mean that it all looks like a first-class TV production, rather than a casino game.

Why Game Shows Have Expanded the Category

One of the biggest changes in live casino has been the arrival of game-show formats. Rather than reproducing an existing table game, these titles are created specifically for live online audiences. Large wheels, bonus rounds and multiplier mechanics are frequently combined with presenters and studio sets.

Their popularity has widened the meaning of live casino. The category is no longer limited to recreating blackjack, roulette and baccarat online. Developers can now build games around the possibilities offered by streaming itself, combining physical equipment with digital overlays and interactive features.

Live Casino as Digital Entertainment

Live casino has developed into one of the clearest examples of physical and digital gaming being combined within the same product. Real dealers and equipment provide the physical element, while streaming, mobile interfaces and interactive controls make the tables accessible online.

For Nigerian players, that combination means classic casino games and newer studio formats can be accessed without visiting a physical gaming venue. As mobile technology and live-streaming systems have improved, the experience has become increasingly polished, interactive and varied.

Cross River State Commissioner for Works, Mr Pius Edet, has disclosed that no fewer than 75 erosion sites have been identified across Calabar metropolis following persistent heavy rainfall.

Edet made the disclosure during an oversight visit by members of the Cross River State House of Assembly to erosion and landslide sites in the metropolis, including the Assembly Residential Quarters, Ekorinim, Calabar.

The Commissioner said the recurrent heavy downpour in the city had continued to worsen erosion and landslide challenges, resulting in extensive damage to roads, buildings and other infrastructure.

According to him, ‘The issue of erosion and landslides in Calabar has become a recurrent decimal due to heavy downpour.’

He assured residents that the state government would take swift measures to address the identified erosion sites, stressing that the extent of damage required urgent intervention.

Edet also called for the intervention of other relevant government agencies, noting that the magnitude of the erosion challenge was massive and could not be tackled by a single agency alone.

The Commissioner spoke during the Assembly’s oversight visit to the Anansa Road landslide site and the erosion site at the Assembly Residential Quarters, Ekorinim.

The oversight followed a Matter of Urgent Public Importance raised on the deplorable state of erosion control infrastructure within the Assembly Residential and Office Complex by Hon. Linus Bassey, member representing Akamkpa II State Constituency.

Presenting the motion before the House, Bassey said the Assembly Residential Quarters, constructed in 1977, had deteriorated considerably, with collapsed erosion-control infrastructure posing serious threats to the lives and property of lawmakers, their families and staff.

He said heavy rainfall, which had become frequent in Calabar, had left members and staff living in fear of flooding and erosion.

Bassey further disclosed that the perimeter fence that previously prevented floodwater from entering the quarters had recently been pulled down by flood, while a duplex behind the quarters and a nearby hospital structure had also been brought down by flooding.

He expressed concern over a ravine around the residential quarters, which he said posed a serious threat to adjoining buildings.

The lawmaker also drew attention to a gutter at the main entrance of the Assembly Office Complex, warning that the deepening channel beneath the road could eventually cause the road to collapse if urgent measures were not taken.

Reacting to the motion, the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Francis Asuquo, and other lawmakers expressed concern over the deteriorating situation and unanimously supported the call for urgent intervention.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, described the motion as timely, stressing that the welfare and safety of lawmakers, staff and other Cross Riverians must be prioritised.

During the oversight visit to the Anansa Road landslide site, Asuquo said that although the incident occurred while the House was on recess, its impact made it a matter of serious concern to the legislature.

He called for immediate action to address the erosion challenge, warning that further delay could result in loss of lives and property.

At the Assembly Residential Quarters, the Leader observed that what started as a small erosion channel had gradually developed into a widening gully.

‘What started as a very small narrow path has developed into a gully erosion site which keeps expanding. If nothing is urgently done, it will develop into something more devastating,’ he said.

The Assembly urged the state government and relevant agencies to urgently commence remedial works at the affected sites to prevent further destruction and avert possible loss of lives and property.