The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • APC chieftain celebrates Ondo at 50

    APC chieftain celebrates Ondo at 50

    …says future of Sunshine state is promising

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Dr. Akinola Awodeyi-Akinsehinwa, has congratulated the government and people of Ondo State as the state marks its historic 50th anniversary.

    In a statement on Sunday in Abuja, Dr. Awodeyi-Akinsehinwa paid glowing tribute to the founding fathers of the state created in 1976, and commended their visionary contributions to building a solid foundation for economic growth, infrastructure development, and social progress.

    He emphasized the remarkable achievements recorded since the state’s inception, spanning military and democratic eras, particularly from 1999 to the present day.

    “From its creation in 1976 through to the current democratic dispensation, Ondo State has recorded tremendous progress in both physical and human development achievements that fill every indigene with pride and deep gratitude to Almighty God,” he stated.

    The APC stalwart pointed to key milestones, including the construction of roads linking communities across the state, the establishment of essential social infrastructure to meet citizens’ needs, and the steadfast preservation of unity amid diversity.

    “Through these decades, we have built roads to connect our communities, established vital social infrastructure to serve our people, and most importantly, upheld our rich diversity with pride while safeguarding our unity against all challenges,” he added.

    Dr. Awodeyi-Akinsehinwa underlined the collective role played by every segment of society in the state’s journey

    “I congratulate all indigenes of Ondo State men and women, young and old, rural and urban for the individual and collective contributions each has made to this remarkable progress.

    ”He recognized the efforts of past and present leaders, including all former governors and the incumbent, Governor Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, for their dedication to advancing the state’s development agenda.

    Dr. Awodeyi-Akinsehinwa says a brighter future awaits the state.

    “As we look ahead to this next stage of our march of progress, i urge the good people of Ondo State to uphold the ideals of mutual love, peace, tolerance, and determination, which are preconditions for a modernised state”, the statement reads

  • Chemical materials trigger fire at Lagos industrial facility

    Chemical materials trigger fire at Lagos industrial facility

    Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has revealed in a preliminary assessment that chemical materials stored at an industrial facility were responsible for a major fire at a warehouse in Badagry, Lagos.

    The fire, which broke out at about 7:25 p.m., on Saturday evening, occurred at a warehouse used for chemical blending and storage within a larger industrial cluster.

    LASEMA said the inferno spread rapidly, engulfing an estimated 15,000 square metres of the facility.

    In a statement issued by the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA disclosed that the intensity of the fire was heightened by the nature of the materials stored at the site.

    “The affected facility is a warehouse and chemical blending and storage site. The fire rapidly spread across an estimated 15,000sqm, involving stored chemical materials. The intensity of the incident led to intermittent explosions for several hours,” the statement said.

    The explosions, according to the agency, caused widespread panic and posed a significant threat to nearby facilities and residents in the surrounding community.

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    LASEMA said the fire was eventually contained through a coordinated emergency response involving its Response Unit, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Federal Fire Service, and private fire assets provided by Veepee.

    Damping-down operations have since commenced, with emergency responders maintaining a presence at the scene to prevent re-ignition and protect adjoining facilities.

    The agency explained that firefighting operations were carried out from multiple access points. While the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service led suppression efforts from the main entrance, LASEMA Fire teams provided support from the rear of the facility.

    LASEMA also acknowledged the assistance of beverage company Lacasera, which supplied water to sustain firefighting operations.

    Preliminary assessments by emergency responders identified several risk factors that may have contributed to the scale and severity of the fire.

    “These include a high volume of volatile chemical storage within a confined space, inadequate ventilation within the warehouse facility, and insufficient emergency preparedness measures to manage a fire of this magnitude,” LASEMA said.

    The agency noted that investigations were ongoing to determine the immediate cause of the fire outbreak.

  • Okpebholo returns 2,950 plots to owners at Oke-Oroma community

    Okpebholo returns 2,950 plots to owners at Oke-Oroma community

    Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has returned 2,950 plots of land to individuals whose buildings were demolished and land seized at Oke-Oromo Community in Ikpoba-Okha local government area.

    Former Governor Godwin Obaseki had demolished the affected buildings for the purpose of establishing the Coral City.

    Governor Okpebholo had promised to look into the issue and ensured the victims got justice shortly after he was elected.

    The Edo Governor, in fulfilment of his promise, has begun issuing allocation letters to eligible property owners for the return of 2,950 plots to genuine owners.

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    Commissioner for Land and Housing Hon.Yakubu Musa, who spoke in Benin City at the weekend, said hopes of the victims of Oke-Oroma Community demolition have been restored.

    The Commissioner said relevant documents were verified before issuing allocation letters to eligible property owners marking the commencement of reclaiming back their land.

    He said the Ministry earlier authenticated true owners of properties in the community.

    According to him, “Based on the approval of Gov Okpebholo to return the land seized by the previous administration at Oke-Oroma to developers, and property owners. We commenced a one week exercise to authenticate true owners of the land and return the same.

    “We have commenced giving out the offer letters as we have about 1,550 beneficiaries that will be given letters to cover 2,950 plots of land.

    “While distributing offer letters to beneficiaries, surveyors have started working on the land to physically demarcate the plots while bulldozers are already cleaning the plots and by next week plots will be given back to the genuine owners.

    “We commended the governor for showing that governance has a human face. Gov Okpebholo has brought joy to the hearts of the people of Oke-Oroma Community who thought they had lost all their investments. He promised during the campaign that he would return the land to genuine owners and that process has already commenced. This exercise has shown that governor Okpebholo truly loves Edo people as he ensured justice is served for the people of the community.”

    One of the victims, Adebayo Benjamin Ogenelkheme, thanked Governor Okpebholo for restoring their hope, and keeping the promises made during his campaign to the area.

    “I am here at the Ministry of land and Housing regarding our landed property forcefully taken by the previous administration. We are here to go through the process of reclaiming our land. The process is very smooth and orderly despite the large numbers of people here.

    “I want to thank the governor who is a promise keeper, he said he will do it and today he has done it, I have received my allocation letter. I have lost hope of getting back my land after the land was taken. I thought all hope was lost but Gov Okpebholo restored that hope.”

  • Gunmen ambush, abduct Ondo residents at worksite, police rescue two

    Gunmen ambush, abduct Ondo residents at worksite, police rescue two

    Suspected gunmen at the weekend abducted four residents working at a site located in the Eleyewo area of Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    The victims identified as Adesola Emiloye (45), Jimoh Akinlolu (35), Ebenezer Oloro (43), and another individual whose identity is yet to be ascertained, were ambushed and attacked while on duty at the site.

    DSP Jimoh Abayomi, spokesman for the Ondo State Police Command, confirmed this in a statement released to journalists in Akure on Sunday.

    Abayomi said the kidnapping incident occurred around 9:45 a.m., and the police received a distress call at the Control Room alerting the command of the abduction case.

    “Upon receipt of the report, operatives of the Command’s Tactical Teams were immediately deployed to the scene,” he stated in the copy of the statement.

    DSP Abayomi further explained that the prompt response of the police tactical team led to the successful rescue of two of the abducted victims, as well as the recovery of their motorcycles.

    He added that the remaining two victims reportedly escaped into the bush during the operation.

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    According to him, concerted efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue the remaining victims and apprehend the perpetrators.

    Reiterating the command’s commitment to public safety, DSP Abayomi stated that the state has never been and will never be a safe haven for criminal elements.

    He stressed that those involved in criminal activities in the state would be identified, tracked, and brought to justice.

    Meanwhile, the commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, has applauded the effective inter-agency collaboration between the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state.

    CP Lawal said the relationship between the two security agencies had significantly enhanced crime prevention efforts in the state.

    He also appreciated the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, for his leadership and ongoing strategic policing reforms, which he said have improved intelligence sharing and operational efficiency nationwide.

    The police boss, however, urged residents to continue cooperating with security agencies by providing timely and credible information to aid crime prevention and detection.

  • Olu of Warri declares divine turnaround for Iwereland, foresees brighter future

    Olu of Warri declares divine turnaround for Iwereland, foresees brighter future

    …Oborevwori assures kingdom of more developments

    The Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, has proclaimed that Iwereland is on the brink of a positive transformation, declaring that God is in the process of rewriting the story of the Warri Kingdom.

    The monarch made the declaration on Sunday during the Annual Thanksgiving Service of Warri Kingdom held at the Palace Chapel in Ajamimogha, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

    Accompanied by the queen consort, chiefs, and other dignitaries as he presented his special thanksgiving offering, the traditional ruler expressed deep gratitude to God for the blessings bestowed upon the kingdom.

    “Blessed is Iwere, who trusts in the Lord, for Iwere shall be like a tree planted by the waters,” he said. “God is about to rewrite the Iwere story. The Lord is going to make our story beautiful. Because it is the Lord rewriting our story, it will not come with pride or arrogance, but with grace and humility.”

    Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu, assured the kingdom of increased development under the state administration.

    Ashibogwu commended the monarch’s spirit of appreciation, recalling his public show of gratitude when he rode a royal scooter along the Trans-Warri–Ode Itsekiri Road in acknowledgment of the state government’s infrastructural efforts.

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    He also praised the Olu of Warri for his support and contributions to the Delta State Security Trust Fund, describing his leadership as exemplary and impactful.

    “You rode a royal scooter where you congratulated the state government for the Trans-Warri/Ode Itsekiri road. Our governor appreciates you for many things, your contribution to peace and development. You shone like a thousand stars with your contributions to the security fund of the state.

    “You know the governor belongs to you and you belong to him. You do know that 19 bridges and critical access roads have been completed. Let us also get the multimillion naira electrification scheme in communities done. Many more are coming,” he said.

    The governor further urged the monarch and the people of Warri Kingdom to support continuity in governance, noting that it would guarantee more development.

    “We want you to translate this appreciation in the next election. It is in continuity, we can deliver more dividends of democracy. I am not campaigning. God will grant you grace in all you do,” he added.

    Earlier delivering the sermon, Bishop Bawo Atone of the Itsekiri Christian Assembly, while reading from Romans 9 verses 15–16, harped on God’s mercy on mankind, just as he noted that the mercy of God had been sustaining the kingdom.

    The service culminated in an intensive prayer session led by Pastors Chris Akpere, Timothy Ayomike and Emily Adorokanren, who prayed respectively for the Olu of Warri, Warri Kingdom, Delta State and Nigeria at large.

    The first day of the event featured intense praise and worship by guest artistes, including the Iwere Praise Choir, Joy Praiz Band, Taiwo Atikpekpe, among others.

    The ceremony was graced by commissioners, lawmakers among other dignitaries and sons and daughters of Itsekiri nation.

  • Enugu APC leaders endorse Tinubu, Mbah for re-election ahead of 2027

    Enugu APC leaders endorse Tinubu, Mbah for re-election ahead of 2027

    Prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, including the party’s State Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dr Ben Nwoye; Senator Kelvin Chukwu of Enugu East Senatorial District; and the Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emma Enukwu, have declared support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The APC stalwarts said President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at economic revitalisation, improved governance, and national stability, has begun to yield measurable and positive outcomes for Nigerians.

    Speaking with journalists at his Amurri political ward in Nkanu West Local Government Area after revalidating his APC membership electronically, Senator Chukwu, who recently defected from the Labour Party, said he had no regrets joining the ruling party.

    The lawmaker explained that his decision to align with the APC was influenced by President Tinubu’s people-oriented policies and programmes, as well as the performance of Governor Mbah, whom he described as one of the best-performing governors in Nigeria.

    He added that the most meaningful way for the people of Enugu State and Nigerians at large to acknowledge the achievements of both leaders is by supporting their re-election in 2027.

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    “For this to happen, our people must fully embrace the ongoing APC e-registration exercise. They must obtain their party membership cards and also ensure they have their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the general elections,” Chukwu said.

    In his remarks, Dr. Nwoye, who also hails from the Amurri community, noted that the convergence of political heavyweights in the area under the APC umbrella had fundamentally altered the political landscape.

    “With all the leading political figures in this community now in APC, it will be extremely difficult for anybody outside the party to contest and win any election here in 2027. It will be an uphill task,” he stated.

    Nwoye added that Senator Chukwu’s revalidation had laid to rest lingering speculations about his defection from the Labour Party to the APC.

    He urged existing party members to revalidate their membership, while calling on new entrants to seize the opportunity of the ongoing exercise to become bona fide members of the APC.

    The APC chairman insisted that both President Tinubu and Governor Mbah deserve a second term to enable them consolidate on the achievements recorded during their first tenure in office.

    Meanwhile, Chief Enukwu, during his membership revalidation at Obinagu Ward in Udi Local Government Area of the state, emphasised the need for the electorate to equip themselves with valid APC membership cards and Permanent Voter Cards.

    He explained that the newly introduced electronic registration and revalidation process was designed to modernise the party and align it with global best practices.

    “Obinagu, this is the time for our people to register and obtain their membership cards so we can vote for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah in 2027,” Enukwu said.

    The Deputy National Chairman assured President Tinubu that Enugu State would deliver no fewer than two million votes for the APC in the 2027 elections, a sharp contrast to the about 4,000 votes recorded in the state during the 2023 presidential poll.

    Our correspondent reports that the Chief of Staff to Governor Peter Mbah, Barrister Victor Udeh, was also formally admitted into the APC on Saturday at his Umuabi community in Udi Local Government Area amid fanfare.

    President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda focuses on critical sectors including economic reforms, security, infrastructure development, agriculture, and healthcare and youth empowerment.

    The programme, according to party leaders, has begun yielding promising results, with inflation reportedly dropping to 14.45 per cent in November from 24.23 per cent recorded in March, among other key economic indicators.

  • Student Christian Movement seeks compulsory, free education for Nigerians

    Student Christian Movement seeks compulsory, free education for Nigerians

    Student Christian Movement (SCM) Nigeria has called on the federal government to make education across the nation free and compulsory so as to give room for all Nigerians to have access to quality education.

    The group stated that education remains one of the most powerful tools for personal development, social transformation and national growth.

    Speaking in Ibadan at a press conference to marked this year’s International Day of Education, tagged: “Students Against Corruption Drive (SACD)”, SCM National President, Dr. Adebayo Kolade said education is not mere a privilege but fundamental human rights and foundation upon which peaceful, productive and prosperous societies are built.

    The SCM President, who said government must confront the realities facing education in Nigeria, lamented that over time, cost of enrolling new student in public schools has become increasingly high and alarming which continue to exclude children from low income households and undermined principle of equal access to education

    He urged the government at all levels to take deliberate steps to make education truly free, accessible and inclusive for every Nigerian child.

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    He said, “We urged relevant ministries, agencies and stakeholders to review the existing policies, address systematic barriers and do the needful to ensure that no child is denied education due to financial constraints.

    “We urged the government to go beyond making basic education free to in addition make it compulsory. We are aware that in some parts of Nigeria, parents still refuse to send their children to school despite the fact that education is free.

    “We urged the government to make denying children basic education an offense against the state. Parents who refuse to enroll their children in school should be arrested and prosecuted.”

    Reacting to recent uproar by some parents who are against posting their children to security prone areas across the country for their NYSC, Kolade said the government should not post Corps members to where security of their life’s can’t not be guaranteed.

    He maintained that safety of the youth should be paramount to the government and not endanger their life with insecurity.

    He said, “In as much as we recognize the role NYSC played, no lives of Nigerians is worthy to be lost.

    “Many parents have placed their hope on the children, they have invested a lot in them and expecting to eat the fruit of their labour, Nigeria should not expose them to danger.

    “The mission of NYSC is not superior to the needs of families of these children, the expectations of parents from the children is very high.”

  • Osun ALGON chair defends continued stay of reinstated LG executives

    Osun ALGON chair defends continued stay of reinstated LG executives

    The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun State, Hon. Abiodun Idowu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has explained why reinstated local government council executives remain in office despite the statutory expiration of their tenure in October 2025.

    Speaking with The Nation on Sunday, Idowu insisted that their continued occupancy of office is supported by law and ongoing legal proceedings at the Federal High Court in Osogbo, where they have sought judicial clarification on the status and duration of their tenure.

    The APC council executives were elected in October 2022 but were later removed following a Federal High Court ruling.

    Governor Ademola Adeleke subsequently sacked them through an Executive Order in November, citing the court’s verdict.

    However, the Court of Appeal reportedly reinstated the executives on February 10, 2025, after which they resumed control of the councils. The appellate court’s decision, Idowu noted, has not been challenged at the Supreme Court.

    He explained that although their tenure would ordinarily expire in October 2025, it was interrupted for more than two years by the governor’s action, and that the reinstatement effectively reset the tenure timeline.

    According to Idowu, who also serves as Chairman of Ifedayo Local Government Council, the executives are not seeking tenure extension but a legal determination of when their term should properly end.

    “We are currently in court. We are not asking for tenure elongation; we have been correcting that impression. What we want is tenure determination. We are not begging for any extension but for the court to determine whether our tenure ends in October or not, since we effectively resumed office on February 10, 2025,” he said.

    “Adeleke used executive order to sack us from office, instead of waiting for us to exhaust all legal means to determine the matter.”

    He averred that, “When he (Adeleke) was elected as the governor but later sacked by the Tribunal, was he forcefully removed from office? He was given the free hands to exhaust all the legal means till the Supreme Court. But he denied us that privilege.”

    Responding to a question about a pending court matter, he said, “Our case is still in court to determine our tenure, the matter is coming up on February 3rd 2026. If the matter went otherwise, we are still going to exhaust all our legal avenues to the Supreme Court.”

  • APC chieftain hails Gov Yusuf’s defection as turning point for Kano politics

    APC chieftain hails Gov Yusuf’s defection as turning point for Kano politics

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Ahmed Dankabo, has described the reported defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the APC as a defining moment in the state’s political history.

    In a statement issued to journalists in Abuja, Dankabo said the long-anticipated move marks a watershed in Kano politics and a significant milestone in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

    He stressed that the people of Kano State stand to gain the most from the governor’s defection, citing prospects of improved governance and stronger alignment with federal policies.

    Dankabo, who served on the APC 2023 Presidential Campaign Council in Kano State, said the development signals renewed confidence in the APC-led Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda.

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    He stated, “The decision of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to defect from the NNPP to the APC is not just a political move; it is a defining moment in the political history of Kano State. This single action has triggered a political tsunami across the state, with citizens from all walks of life embracing the APC. In fact, Kano State is turning 360 degrees to the APC.

    “Kano State has effectively turned in a new direction politically. The momentum on the ground is overwhelming, and it is evident that the people see the APC as the vehicle for stability, development, and meaningful engagement with the centre.

    “I congratulate Governor Abba Gida-Gida, his cabinet, legislators, and grassroots leaders for this bold and strategic move. This is a major political milestone not only for Kano State but for Nigeria’s democratic evolution under the Fourth Republic,” he said.

    According to Dankabo, the defection has repositioned Kano State from the political periphery to the centre of national political and economic decision-making.

    “For too long, Kano operated outside the core of national power dynamics. This alignment with the ruling party has now restored the state to its rightful place at the centre of national discourse and development planning,” he noted.

    He further expressed optimism that the state stands to gain significantly from closer collaboration with the Federal Government.

    “Even while Kano was in the opposition, the state benefitted from several federal appointments and projects under President Tinubu’s administration. Now that Kano is fully aligned with the centre under our great party, the APC, the opportunities and benefits before the state are limitless.

    “This decision is about the future of Kano State. It is about accelerated development, increased federal presence, and a stronger voice at the national level. The people of Kano are the real winners,” he added.

  • Delta police bust criminal networks, nab 12, recover guns, illicit drugs

    Delta police bust criminal networks, nab 12, recover guns, illicit drugs

    The Delta State Police Command has recorded significant operational successes in its sustained crackdown on criminal activities across the state, leading to the arrest of twelve (12) suspects and the recovery of dangerous weapons and large quantities of illicit drugs in two separate, intelligence-led operations.

    Spokesman for the command, Superintendent of Police (SP) Bright Edafe, revealed the feat in a statement yesterday.

    Edafe said on January 22, 2026, at about 4:10 p.m., operatives of the Command’s Buffalo Patrol Team, while on routine stop-and-search duty at the Head Bridge boundary between Anambra and Delta states, intercepted a green Toyota Sienna travelling from Anambra State into Delta State.

    He said the occupants of the vehicle, all dressed in mufti, and claimed they were in Delta State to welcome a visiting religious leader.

    However, the spokesman said a thorough search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a cache of concealed weapons, including three (3) pump-action guns, one (1) locally fabricated dane gun, one (1) battle axe, and twenty-six (26) live cartridges.

    He named the suspects arrested in the operation as Nwanlioba Ikechukwu Dominic (male, 62 years), Agbata Mathew (male, 35 years), Osita Chineye (male, 39 years), Favour Peterson (female, 23 years), Prince Tochukwu (male, 32 years) and Clement Nwakwa (male, 51 years).

    He said the suspects had been taken into custody, and investigation is ongoing.

    In a related development, Edafe said on January 20, 2026, at about 1000 hours, operatives of the Ugborikoko Division, under the supervision of the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Setemi Agbede-Zoukumor, acting on credible and actionable intelligence, carried out a targeted operation that led to the uncovering of an organised drug syndicate within the community.

    The spokesman said: “A suspected dealer was initially arrested during the operation. In a dramatic turn of events, the suspect volunteered vital information, which enabled the Police to swiftly trace and arrest six (6) additional suspects believed to be key actors in the drug supply chain.

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    “The suspects arrested are: Daniel Ojukwu (male), Rose Otofi (female), Osaro Okosu (male), Maro Ibecham (male), Fregene Victory (male) and Kevwe Irimoni (male).

    “Searches conducted at their respective residences yielded a large cache of illicit drugs and paraphernalia, including fifty-two (52) packs of GM Gold Indian hemp, one (1) pack of Canadian loud, forty (40) packs of Kolorado, sixteen (16) sachets of Swinol, thirty (30) tablets of Tramadol, fifty-two (52) packs of loud, and two (2) crushers, believed to have been used for processing and resale. Investigation is ongoing.”

    Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Mr. Aina Adesola, has reiterated that the Command remains resolute in dismantling criminal networks and will continue to deploy proactive and intelligence-led strategies to safeguard lives and property across Delta State.

    He further urged residents to remain law-abiding and to continue supporting the Police with timely and credible information, assuring them that all information received will be treated with strict confidentiality.