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A member of the House of Representatives representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rewarded Kano State with more than 40 key political appointments in the Federal Government.

The lawmaker stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday.

Jibrin said the appointments demonstrated the president’s commitment to Kano and should encourage residents of the state to support his administration.

‘He has done excellently well, and you know what, he has given Kano over 40, underline the word, 40 – political appointments, key appointments in the Federal Government. Why will Kano people not vote for him?’ Jibrin said.

Several prominent Kano indigenes have been appointed to federal positions under the Tinubu administration, including Mariya Bunkure as Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje as Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria board, and former Kano State Deputy Governor Nasiru Gawuna as Chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

However, the claim that the administration has made more than 40 such key appointments could not be independently confirmed from publicly available records.

Addressing concerns over the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians, particularly the talakawa, Jibrin argued that inadequate communication had made it difficult for citizens to appreciate some of the Federal Government’s achievements.

He cited the completion of the Bichi railway station and activities at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital as examples of projects and services that he said residents were only beginning to appreciate.

‘I told you the last time when I was having a gathering, that people were shocked to hear that the Bichi station has been completed. They were shocked to hear the volume of occupants that were in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital,’ he said.

According to him, some beneficiaries of government services were unaware of the source of the interventions because adequate information had not reached them.

Jibrin also commended the Kano State Government for its infrastructure projects, particularly the construction of rural roads, schools and healthcare facilities across the state.

‘They are seeing the roads, and particularly the governor in Kano, he’s also doing a lot of rural roads. Every local government is completing about five kilometres of road. He’s building classes, he’s renovating classes, he’s building health centres, he’s renovating existing health centres. He’s turned Kano to a construction site,’ he said.

On persistent concerns about poverty and hunger, Jibrin acknowledged that the challenges remained serious but argued that they had affected Nigerians under successive administrations.

He said governments should be assessed based on their efforts to address the challenges rather than solely on whether poverty and hunger had been completely eliminated.

‘Yesterday it was Buhari, people are hungry. The day before yesterday it was Jonathan, people are hungry. Before then it was Yar’Adua, people are hungry. Before then it was Obasanjo, people are hungry. Before then it was Abacha, people are hungry,’ Jibrin said.

He maintained that successive governments had faced similar economic and social challenges, stressing the need to assess the current administration based on the measures it was taking to address them.

No fewer than three shops were destroyed by an early morning fire at the Nigerian Railway shopping complex along Aleshinloye Market Road in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday.

The fire, which started at about 4am, spread from one shop to another before firefighters arrived and contained the blaze.

One of the affected shop owners, Busari Olayemi, told Tribune Online that people living around Quarters 4 alerted them about the fire at about 6am.

Olayemi, who runs an interior decoration business with his partner, Adebola Sunday Adeniyi, said the fire destroyed window blinds, curtain fabrics, industrial sewing machines and other equipment.

He estimated the value of the items destroyed in their shop at about N21 million.

‘What happened here destroyed a lot of things. Our customers’ fabrics were burnt-you can see them over there. Our industrial sewing machines and tools were burnt right there,’ Olayemi said.

‘All the items we brought in for the past two years, or a year, that were stored there are gone. Everything destroyed in our shop is worth up to 21 million Naira.’

Olayemi said the shop owners could not immediately determine the cause of the fire.

‘We can’t say a particular thing caused it because it had already happened before we arrived. We haven’t been able to trace where it started from,’ he said.

CFS Akinleye of the Aleshinloye Fire Station, Ibadan said carelessness and ignorance remained major causes of fire outbreaks.

He urged traders to disconnect electrical appliances before leaving their shops, particularly given the irregular power supply and sudden restoration of electricity.

‘So, let us be careful with what we plug into electricity. Some leave freezers on overnight to keep items cold, and then when power returns, a surge occurs, causing a spark and then a fire,’ Akinleye said.

He also advised shop owners to keep fire extinguishers within easy reach, noting that they could help contain a fire at its early stage.

‘A fire extinguisher, that small device used to fight fire, is not a small thing. If you have it handy when a fire starts, your job is to extinguish the fire at its incipient stage,’ he said.

Akinleye urged residents and traders to remain vigilant, particularly as the festive period approaches.

‘Fire is a good servant and a bad master. So we must not play with fire,’ he said.

The Chairman of Ibadan South-West Local Government, Kehinde Adeyemi Akande, commended law enforcement officers and firefighters for responding to the incident.

He said fire officials would investigate the cause of the outbreak after containing the blaze and preventing it from spreading further.

Akande also urged traders to take basic fire safety precautions, including keeping fire extinguishers in their shops and switching off electrical appliances before leaving.

‘We must ensure our refrigerators, freezers, fans, and light points are all turned off before leaving and locking up our shops,’ he said.

The chairman added that the Oyo State Government would take steps to provide relief to those affected by the incident.

‘So, regarding this unexpected incident, the government will certainly take steps to relieve the burden on those affected by the fire disaster, to whatever extent possible,’ Akande said.

The Federal Government has warned motorists and residents against allowing livestock and abandoned vehicles on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, as authorities intensify efforts to prevent activities capable of disrupting traffic and damaging the highway.

The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Engr. Olufemi Dare, gave the warning while representing the Minister of Works, David Umahi, at a joint press briefing with the Lagos State Police Command in Lagos.

Dare said the government had prohibited the rearing of goats, sheep and cattle along the coastal highway, while motorists whose vehicles develop faults are expected to promptly seek assistance instead of leaving them on the road.

He warned that vehicles abandoned after breaking down on the Coastal Road would be towed away, advising affected motorists to contact the police or road safety officials for assistance.

The Federal Government also warned against the use of the Coastal Road for activities unrelated to its purpose as a major highway, including the parking of trailers and the operation of tricycles and bicycles.

The warning came as Dare disclosed that 12 suspects had been arrested over alleged vandalism and other illegal activities on the road.

According to him, nine of the suspects were arrested over alleged vandalism of infrastructure, while three others were apprehended for allegedly creating unauthorised U-turns and demanding money from motorists who used them.

Dare said five suspects had already been charged to court, while investigations were continuing into the others to establish the wider network allegedly involved in receiving and disposing of vandalised government property.

He said the authorities would continue to pursue those allegedly involved in the vandalism of government infrastructure, including individuals who receive stolen materials.

The government also reiterated that the Coastal Road is not a trailer park and warned that unauthorised activities along the highway would not be tolerated.

He said, ‘We have another three, three of them here that created illegal U-turns on the Coastal Road. They were like collecting money. They give U-turns to people and then they collect money from them.

‘All of this is not tolerated on the Coastal Road. And let me use this medium also to announce to Lagosians and Nigerians. We don’t want trailers to park on Coastal Road.

‘Coastal Road is not a trailer park. It is a superhighway. You enter it from Eko Atlantic and you go straight to Calabar.

‘If you are dropping in Ogun State, you stop. You are dropping in Akwa-Ibom, you are dropping in all directions qthe nine states that this road is going to pass. So there’s no keke on the Coastal Road.

‘It’s very, very important. If you drive bicycle, if you drive tricycles, you will be arrested. You will be arrested and it will be confiscated and you will never see it again.

‘Destitutes, we don’t want them on Coastal Road. Rearing of animals, rearing of goats and sheep and cows is banned on Coastal Road. These are all that we don’t want.

‘If your vehicle breaks down, call on the police. They can easily help us. We have road safety there that will help you.

‘But if you leave it there, that vehicle will be towed away.’

Legal practitioners across the country have been advised to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for the implementation of cross-border legal practice.

An international attorney and driver of the Cross-Border Legal Practice Initiative, Lugard Agbomoagan, in a statement made available to newsmen, said its implementation would widen the scope of legal practice on the African continent, as well as strengthen the bond of professionalism among practitioners.

He added that issues related to the implementation of cross-border legal practice would be discussed at a programme organised by Cross-Border Legal Practice Fireside on August 25, 2026, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He noted the challenges facing lawyers whenever they have opportunities to represent their clients outside the shores of their countries.

Agbomoagan said the event would examine the current landscape of African legal practice in an era where trade, investment, technology, finance and commercial relationships increasingly transcend national borders.

According to him, ‘The AfCFTA represents one of the most significant developments in Africa’s economic integration agenda, creating new opportunities for intra-African trade, investment and business expansion.

‘Yet the success of cross-border commerce also depends on the availability of lawyers capable of navigating different legal systems, regulatory frameworks, dispute-resolution mechanisms and international commercial environments.

‘The initiative advocates for a generation of African lawyers who are not confined by traditional jurisdictional thinking, but are equipped with the knowledge, networks, technological competence and international outlook required to support businesses and institutions operating across the continent and beyond.

Group Chief Executive Officer of Kiakia Group, Abisoye Coker, a distinguished cross-border legal expert, will deliver the keynote address.

His participation brings together legal practice, entrepreneurship and cross-border business experience at a time when African enterprises are increasingly seeking opportunities beyond their domestic markets.

The programme will feature a distinguished panel of experts with experience spanning multiple jurisdictions and professional disciplines. Legal Counsel and Director at the New York State Senate Committee on Banks, Onome C. Anakanire, a Nigerian and New York attorney, brings a rare perspective shaped by legal practice and public-sector experience across Nigeria and the United States. He will offer insight into international legal practice, financial regulation and the opportunities available to African lawyers within global legal systems.

‘Africa’s economic integration cannot be achieved without corresponding integration in the way African legal professionals think, collaborate and deliver legal services.

‘The AfCFTA is creating an Africa where businesses, capital, investments and commercial relationships can increasingly move across borders. The legal profession must be prepared for that Africa.’

He further emphasised that African lawyers should not merely respond to continental economic integration after it happens, but should actively participate in shaping the legal architecture and professional ecosystem that will support it.

The Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking an investigation into the alleged N12 trillion discrepancy in the savings realised from the removal of petroleum subsidy by the Federal Government in 2023.

The party also called on the National Assembly to conduct an open inquiry into the alleged missing funds, saying the money, if properly accounted for and deployed, could have financed major infrastructure projects, including a new refinery and a 1,000-kilometre railway line for the country.

The APM made the demands in a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Abubakar Yusuf.

Yusuf said the party’s petition was based on conflicting figures attributed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and his predecessor, Mr Wale Edun, on the exact amount saved from subsidy removal.

According to him, while Oyedele reportedly put the savings at N15.8 trn, government data previously announced by Edun indicated that about $20 billion, estimated at N27 trn, had been saved as of November 2024.

‘The missing N12 trillion further vindicates allegations in the public space that the bulk of the subsidy savings have been stolen by corrupt officials and cronies of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration,’ the party alleged.

It said the N12 trn in question could have been used to build a refinery with a capacity of between 250,000 and 300,000 barrels per day, with significant economic benefits, including job creation, ancillary investments and increased production of petroleum by-products.

The APM further claimed that the funds could finance a standard 1,000-kilometre railway linking Lagos to Abuja and other parts of the country, thereby easing transportation, boosting commerce and industrialisation, reducing pressure on roads and cutting fuel demand.

‘It is therefore disheartening that due to sheer greed, avarice and incurable corruption of the APC, Nigerians have been denied these life-enhancing benefits that ought to have come from the removal of subsidy on petroleum products,’ the party added.

The APM spokesman said the party was disturbed that millions of Nigerians were being subjected to hardship while public resources were allegedly being mismanaged.

He disclosed that the party had asked the EFCC to investigate the alleged N12 trn discrepancy and invite Oyedele, Edun and officials of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources for questioning.

The party also urged the National Assembly ‘to be on the side of the people and immediately conduct an open inquest into the missing subsidy savings.’

Yusuf said the APM would continue to demand accountability until every naira from the subsidy savings was accounted for.

‘Our party assures Nigerians that it will not rest on its oars until every kobo from the subsidy savings is accounted for,’ he stated.

The APM urged Nigerians to remain united and support the party’s presidential candidate, Engr. Seyi Makinde, in what he described as a collective effort to tackle corruption, improve efficiency and reset the country on the path of productivity, transparency and economic prosperity.

The recommended daily water intake for adults, on average, is two litres. However, in view of your incident of frequent thirst, you also need to check your fasting blood sugar level just to rule out diabetes mellitus.

Last week, we talked about Adedeji – earning well but still broke because of poor money habits.

This week, let me introduce you to someone else.

Her name is Amaka.

Amaka is very disciplined. Unlike Adedeji, she saves regularly. Every month, she puts aside ?100,000 without fail.

Good habit, right?

Yes… but there’s a problem.

After three years of saving, Amaka checked her account balance and smiled. Then she went to the market.

That was when reality hit her.

The same ?100,000 that used to buy bags of rice, foodstuff, and still leave change… now barely covers half of what it used to.

Amaka is not careless with money.

But she is making a mistake many Nigerians make.

She is saving… but not investing.

And in today’s Nigeria, that can be dangerous.

The Hidden Enemy: Inflation

Let’s break it down in simple terms.

*Inflation* means things are getting more expensive over time.

So even if your money is increasing in number, it may be *losing value*.

Think of it like this:

Three years ago, ?100,000 could do plenty.

Today, that same ?100,000 feels like ?50,000.

As our elders would say, *’Money wey sleep go wake up small.’*

Why Saving Alone Is Not Enough

Saving is good. In fact, it is necessary.

But saving alone is like keeping water in a basket – slowly, it leaks value.

If your money is sitting in:

* A regular savings account

* A current account

* Or even under your mattress

It is quietly losing power.

That is why you must move from just *saving money* to *growing money*.

And that is where investing comes in.

So, What Is Investing? (No Big Grammar)

Investing simply means putting your money somewhere it can grow over time.

Instead of your money sitting idle, it starts working for you.

Think of it as sending your money on an errand –

and it comes back with extra money.

Simple Investment Options (You Can Start With)

You don’t need millions to begin. Start small, but start.

1. Government Bonds (FGN Bonds)

This is you lending money to the government, and they pay you interest.

* Relatively safe

* Better returns than a regular savings account

* Good for beginners

2. Treasury Bills

Short-term investments backed by the government.

* Lower risk

* Good for parking money for a few months

* Better than leaving cash idle

3. Mutual Funds

If you don’t understand the stock market, no problem.

A mutual fund pools your money with others and invests on your behalf.

* Managed by professionals

* Good for beginners

* You can start with small amounts

4. Stocks (For Growth)

Buying shares in companies.

* Higher risk

* Higher potential returns

* Best for long-term investors

How to Start (Even If You’re Busy)

Let’s keep it practical.

Step 1: Open an Investment Account

With a licensed stockbroker or investment platform.

Step 2: Start Small

Even ?50,000 or ?100,000 is fine.

Step 3: Be Consistent

Monthly investing beats one-time investing.

Step 4: Think Long-Term

Don’t panic because of short-term changes.

Remember: *’Na small small wey dey full basket.’*

The Balance You Need

Now listen carefully – this is important.

Don’t abandon saving completely.

You need both:

* **Savings** ? for emergencies

* **Investments** ? for growth

A simple guide:

* Keep 3-6 months of expenses as savings

* Invest the rest

That way, you are protected *and* growing.

My Final Thoughts

Adedeji fixed his spending problem.

Amaka must now fix her growth problem.

Because money is not just for keeping –

it is for multiplying.

If you work hard for money, your money should also work hard for you.

Otherwise, you will always feel like you are running… but not moving forward.

Eight days ago, the Osun State electorate used their votes to address the choice they had among three Deens – Nurudeen, Munirudeen and Najemdeen. And the people spoke loudly and eloquently. Osun State citizens, the true owners of democracy in that land who are also the victims of all that democracy as a concept embowels, were unambiguous in their speech. They might have had a gamut of governorship candidates to choose from, considering the fifteen men that jostled for their votes, but they knew exactly who they wanted. They went to the polls and boldly picked the Deen of their choice. This has got to be this narrow because of the fifteen candidates on the last Osun governorship ballot, only three men could be said to be truly in that contest.

This write-up is not about the personal beliefs of these men. It is also not about their religious leanings, nor is it in any way intended to tug at any of those. Rather, it is about the soft side of their performance in the governorship contest as seen by the musing eyes of a distant but curious observer. So, come along let us hyponymically contemplate a post-mortem of the highly touted election.

The Osun people had the lively and effervescent (if not boisterous) Governor Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke of Accord. He is their governor and had decided to seek a second term of office. So, my first Deen was both a governor and a candidate and a jolly good fellow. They also had the amiable-looking Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC). My second Deen is a cool guy from most of the optics – of course these cool optics were mostly before the election. Some people in the state were even wary of him because by their shared experiences and optical standard, he looked rather too smooth and urbane for their liking. But who would blame my second Deen? Bola Oyebamiji came from Lagos and therefore, he is a Lagos guy!

Also, before the Osun people as a governorship choice was the wealthy-looking Najemdeen Bamidele Salaam. The political party of my third Deen is the beleaguered African Democratic Congress (ADC). To me, Salaam ran the race from the outer lane, like an outsider. However, he didn’t just post the image of the wealthiest among the governorship options available to the people of Osun State, he proved wealth because he has tribal marks. Yes, I think he is rich. My reason? It is because the Yoruba are of the belief that only the rich can afford tribal marks.

A lot went into that election – emotionally, economically/financially and physically. We have heard Ayodele Fayose and David Adeleke, better known as Davido, dish out figures in Naira specifying the amount Accord and the APC spent, respectively. We all know that elections are capital-intensive, but is it the place of the two men to tell how much was spent by each of the political parties on the election? What is their locus standi? Fayose and Davido, two men with completely contrasting professions, talked in billions… billions of Naira in also contrasting sizes. While they are conflicting in nearly all ways, they, however, spoke like they were both the accountants or treasurers of Accord and APC, respectively. I want to believe that neither of my two Deens and their respective political parties would be licking their varying degrees of pecuniary wounds in the public square, like Fayose and Davido chose to do on their behalf.

One wonders the kind of capital Ayo Fayose and Davido wanted to make of the Osun election by their spending claims. Even one outsider like me called Segun Showumi shot from the hip about the Osun election in relation to the 2027 general election in the country. Voluble Showumi can, however, be excused because he appears to have spoken from the stomach. Otherwise, we should just assume that he is positioning himself for the time President Bola Tinubu will make that expected political capital of the Osun State governorship election. Or, could it be that it is Showumi who wants to make the most of the election, because we knew that wherever the pendulum had swung, Tinubu would still have been the beneficiary.

However, last Saturday’s outing was an accomplished performance by Osun’s preferred Deen, Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke. If it was a dancing competition, he had no competition at all. In a field of fifteen contestants, a Deen’s score of 511,067 votes out of a total 985,075 valid votes, is significant indeed. It was a massive statement by the supporters of Nurudeen and the Osun electorate. The victory came at a cost, but it is sweet when your victory aligns with your thoughts.

I think the three Deens and all the other candidates, regardless of their political leanings, should give kudos to the people of Osun State. The audacity of Osun people last Saturday was remarkable, and their vigilance pristine. Their determination to stand by their choice made the Osun election a model. They lived John Curran’s admonition that ‘the condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance.’ That Irish man’s thought, though usually attributed to Thomas Jefferson, admonishes on vigilance and being intentional. The people stayed aware of all the shenanigans, and were able to sieve the wheat from the chaff; and they spoke up when they ought to – both online and offline. They didn’t just watch like one èko (àgìdi) does while his brother is being eaten. They participated actively by coming out to cast their ballots and thereby overwhelmed those who had intended to buy their votes with cash.

Osun people must have internalised Leo Tolstoy’s position that elections were farcical and were the machinations of tricksters. Tolstoy is of the belief that participating in elections meant engaging in a form of coercion and hypocrisy. But people must decide whose machinations or hypocrisy suits them better, and which they can best live with. In that wise, to be able to get the best deal for themselves, they not only participated, they also activated Joseph Stalin’s post-election theory on ballot handling. The famous Russian politician knew what it meant to be vigilant after ballots had been cast, that’s why he said ‘those who vote decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything.’ That might explain the nearly four-hour hiatus in the uploading of last week’s election results. It was an apprehensive wait, but the people remained resolute.

Our elections need not be a war among the contrasting political parties and candidates. Our elections also need not be at the whims and desires of a president and commander-in-chief. It need not be decided on the orders of a few men – the outcome of a coven of interested entities. The occasions to choose our political leaders should not be the bitter perennial battles among us. One of the most potent ways to take our country from such ideas is by the citizens being determined to do so.

If Nigerians decide to turn out in large numbers to vote, it will be practically impossible to stop the power of a united, determined people. This has worked over history. It still works. It worked in India, it worked in China and in Vietnam when they stood solidly against the almighty United States Armed Forces and prevailed. When, like the Osun electorate, eligible voters turn out in their millions or in hundreds of thousands, to exercise their civic responsibility of electing the leader of their choice, vote-buying will be impracticable. In Osun, more than one million eligible voters turned up.

It is expected that the infrastructure to make things as elections easier should be in place. But if the system cannot help the country to get better, the people of the country must take the system by the scruff and force a legal change. We can make the system work, as against the machinations of rogue politicians and tainted community leaders.

The triumphant Deen, Nurudeen Adeleke owes the people of Osun State more than he owes any political figure. He was in a position where he could have been suckered by the manipulative, powerful lot. But the people showed why their collective might matters and how the ruinous powerful can be brought to their knees. Nurudeen Adeleke owes the Osun people loads of gratitude.

A 23-year-old suspect, Samuel Akoade, who was arrested by the Ondo State Police Command for allegedly macheting his mother, 60-year-old Mrs Olufunke Amoo, to death, has attributed his action to some unseen spiritual forces aiming at destroying his glory.

Saturday Tribune gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, with the victim discovered dead in a pool of blood at her residence, with deep machete cuts.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, following the receipt of the information by the Command, police operatives from Ore Division immediately went to the scene and recovered the machete suspected to have been used to kill the deceased.

It was further learnt that the suspect, who initially fled the scene before the arrival of the police, was subsequently apprehended and taken into custody.

‘The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the mortuary, while the suspect remains in custody.

‘The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Akure, for further investigation,’ the PPRO stated.

In an interview by detectives, Samuel, who gave his other name as Ayomiposi, and aged 23, narrated his side of the incident: ‘What happened was that my sister, Taiye, took my mother’s cloth from Ore to Ado Ekiti, saying that she wanted to use it for comedy. I fought against it, and my mother had to plead that he didn’t want any rift among us as siblings. She gave her cloth to my sister.

‘However, from that time, my mother had not been in her right senses. I was the one taking care of her, with support from a sibling who is just managing to survive. Surprisingly, my sister who took away my mother’s clothes, later demanded all the money she gave as her contribution to the care of our mom, saying that she lent it to us.’

The suspect continued: ‘Recently, my sister, Taiye, started threatening me. I don’t know the kind of cult she joined where her mother was demanded. She even threatened me with soldiers. I even have the evidence on WhatsApp. I told my mother, with neighbours aware of the matter, that I would expose her misdeeds. I told my friends that they should hold my sister responsible if I get missing.

‘After that, my sister sent me a message that she dreamt and saw me being pursued with a gun.

‘On the fateful day, I was at home, conversing with my mother in our sitting room, when I suddenly went into the bedroom. I didn’t know the spirit that entered into me. The next thing I knew was when I was told that I had killed someone. I was surprised. A spirit just entered into me; I didn’t know what happened.

‘I believe some people had seen my glorious destiny which they aimed to destroy. That was my mother!’

When asked about how he got the machete used in killing her mother, the suspect disclosed that it was the one he was using as a work tool on a palm tree farm where he was employed by a company.

DSP Jimoh added that Commissioner of Police Felix Ohagwu has directed a thorough investigation of the case to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.

A Professor of Burns and Plastic Surgery at the University of Osun Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Prof. Peter Olaitan, has urged African governments to end their reliance on foreign aid and temporary surgical missions for cleft care and develop sustainable, locally led systems capable of providing comprehensive treatment for children born with cleft lip and palate.

Olaitan, a former chief medical director of the University of Osun Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, made the call while delivering the presidential lecture, ‘Cleft Care in Africa: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’, at the opening of the joint Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (NAPRAS) and the Nigerian Burn Injuries Society (NBIS) in Ibadan.

He said cleft lip and palate remained major congenital conditions with serious medical and social consequences, including feeding difficulties, speech and hearing problems, facial deformity, stigma, psychological trauma and social exclusion.

According to him, children and families affected by cleft conditions in many parts of Africa still face poverty, inadequate awareness, limited access to specialist services, poor healthcare infrastructure and high out-of-pocket treatment costs.

He also identified cultural misconceptions as a major obstacle to treatment, noting that some communities continue to associate cleft conditions with witchcraft, curses, divine punishment, maternal behaviour or other supernatural causes.

Olaitan recalled that his first patient as a consultant was an abandoned child found behind the residence of a local government chairman in Iwo, Osun State, describing the experience as a stark illustration of the devastating impact of stigma and ignorance.

The surgeon traced the transformation of cleft care in Africa to increased collaboration between local specialists and international organisations, particularly following the first Pan-African Congress of Cleft Lip and Palate held in Ibadan in 2006.

He said the interventions of organisations such as Smile Train and Operation Smile had helped expand surgical services, train specialists, improve facilities and introduce comprehensive care involving surgery, nutrition, speech therapy, orthodontics, psychological support and patient follow-up.

Olaitan said Nigeria had recorded remarkable progress, moving from only 149 documented cleft operations up to 2007 to more than 48,000 patients sponsored through Smile Train programmes by July 2026.

However, he warned that the progress could be threatened if African countries failed to develop sustainable systems capable of surviving the withdrawal of international donors.

He therefore challenged governments to incorporate cleft treatment into national and state health insurance schemes, stressing that coverage should include surgery, orthodontics, speech therapy, feeding support and dental care.

He also called for the establishment of dedicated cleft centres for treatment, research, documentation and training, as well as investment in modern equipment and specialist manpower.

Olaitan advocated stronger collaboration among plastic surgeons, dentists, orthodontists, speech therapists, geneticists, nurses and other healthcare professionals, saying comprehensive cleft care required a multidisciplinary approach.

He further urged governments and professional bodies to intensify public awareness campaigns to eliminate misconceptions and stigma, promote early presentation and improve access to specialist services.

The professor said Africa must move from temporary surgical missions to sustainable, African-led comprehensive cleft care, warning that the continent could not afford to lose the gains achieved over the past two decades.

Olaitan said ensuring that every child born with cleft lip and palate could ‘survive, speak, hear, smile and thrive’ was not only an ethical obligation but also a measure of the maturity of Africa’s health system.