The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • FUOYE okays 25-year plan

    FUOYE okays 25-year plan

    Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, says the university will transit  into a “digitally driven, entrepreneurially oriented and globally connected university in the next 25 years.”

    FUOYE, it said, will strengthen  its financial sustainability and resilience through “revenue diversification, including endowments, alumni-giving, public-private partnerships, grants and enterprise-based income streams while maintaining affordability and access.”

    These decisions, a statement by Spokesman, Foluso Ogunmodede, said were reached at a two-day retreat in Lagos.

    At the retreat: “FUOYE beyond today: Strategic Alignment, Governance, Partnerships and Financial Sustainability for the next 25 years 2025-2050,” the management  lauded outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, for his raising academic development, research visibility, infrastructural expansion and institutional strengthening.”

    New Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, also got kudos for the seamless, transparent and credible appointment.

    Although both the outgoing and the incoming Vice-Chancellors were actively involved in the initiation and development of FUOYE’s 25-year strategic plan, a factor considered critical for leadership continuity, institutional stability and the smooth and effective implementation, the proposed 25-year strategic plan would provide a realistic, phased and costed roadmap for FUOYE’s future development.

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    However, in a communique, the Council-Management resolved to work collaboratively with a view to ensuring that FUOYE by 2050 would stand amongst world’s leading universities, digitally empowered, financially sustainable, ethically grounded and socially responsive.

    Accordingly, they resolved amongst others, that;

    The Federal University Oye Ekiti would deliberately transition into a digitally driven, entrepreneurially oriented and globally connected university over the next twenty-five years in line with the vision articulated in the strategic plan;

    The university shall strengthen financial sustainability and resilience through the diversification of revenue sources, including endowments, alumni giving, public-private partnerships, grants and enterprise-based income streams while maintaining affordability and access;

    Governance systems and processes shall be reinforced to ensure clear role delineation, transparency, accountability, ethical leadership and performance-based management across all levels of the university; and

    Risk management, campus safety and institutional resilience shall be mainstreamed into strategic planning and operational decision-making to safeguard the university’s stability, reputation and long-term sustainability.

  • Sanwo-Olu promises consolidation of gains

    Sanwo-Olu promises consolidation of gains

    • Governor signs N4.4tr 2026 Appropriation Bill

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday signed this year’s N4.444 trillion ‘Budget of Shared Prosperity’ into law.

    The signing followed its passage by the House of Assembly.

    The governor lauded the Assembly for what he described as a meticulous, independent and constitutionally-compliant review process that strengthened the final budget framework.

    Sanwo-Olu noted that the slight increase from the executive proposal underscored the lawmakers’ belief that Lagosians deserved more and that the state could deliver more.

    “This is a budget you scrutinised, dissected and subjected to due diligence as required by the Constitution. Lagosians will indeed thank you,” he said.

    He described the 2026 fiscal plan as a “Budget of Shared Prosperity,” stressing that it is designed to be inclusive, people-centred and impactful across all sectors and divisions of the state.

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    According to him, the budget prioritises road construction, schools, health care facilities, security, industrial development and targeted social interventions aimed at improving the quality of life of residents.

    He also highlighted ongoing challenges confronting the state, including recent outbreaks of fire on Lagos Island and the fuel tanker accident in Apapa, where residents were seen scooping petroleum product, warning that such actions posed grave risks to public safety.

    On environmental sanitation, the governor condemned indiscriminate dumping of refuse on highways, announcing that the 2026 budget would strengthen the capacity of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Private Sector Participants (PSPs) through additional compactor trucks and enforcement of environmental laws.

    On demolition, particularly around Makoko, Sanwo-Olu clarified that government actions were guided strictly by safety considerations, noting that structures built under high-tension power lines and close to bridges posed serious dangers.

    “We cannot fold our arms and allow calamity to happen. Safety of lives and property remains paramount,” he said, adding that affected residents would receive palliatives and possible relocation support as a show of compassion.

    The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ope George, said the 2026 budget reflects deliberate planning aimed at building a resilient, competitive and people-centred Lagos State.

    He explained that the expenditure framework adopts a balanced structure, with N2.337 trillion allocated to capital expenditure, to sustain strategic infrastructure investment while ensuring efficient delivery of essential public services.

    According to him, the budget prioritises economic affairs with emphasis on infrastructure renewal, transportation expansion, agricultural development and other growth-enhancing initiatives designed to stimulate productivity, support MSMEs, create jobs and drive broad-based economic growth.

    George added that investments in health and education remain central to the shared prosperity agenda, alongside environmental sustainability, climate resilience, housing, public safety, social protection, culture and recreation.

    He said that the state recorded an 81 per cent performance of the 2025 budget as of September 30, 2025, noting that this provides a strong foundation for the effective implementation of the 2026 estimates.

    Also, the House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, said the budget was thoroughly scrutinised by all relevant committees, particularly the Committee on Budget, to ensure it reflects the socio-economic realities of the state.

    Represented by the Majority Leader, Noheem Adams, Obasa described the approved estimates as a true Budget of Shared Prosperity, expressing confidence that it would positively impact residents across the state.

    He conveyed the appreciation of the Speaker and members  to the governor and the executive arm, assuring Lagosians of effective legislative oversight to ensure proper and timely implementation of the budget in line with the law.

  • E-registration: Group lauds Aiyedatiwa for propelling Ondo to second place

    E-registration: Group lauds Aiyedatiwa for propelling Ondo to second place

    All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has recorded over 100,000 digitally-verified members across the state, just two weeks after the beginning of the party’s nationwide membership e-registration.

    Bamidele Oladipo, state coordinator of Ondo Consolidation Group for AsiwajuDatiwa, disclosed this while hailing Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for his proactive leadership and support in ensuring a smooth and seamless e-registration in the state.

    He recalled that Governor Aiyedatiwa recently inaugurated two-day capacity training in Akure for officials involved in the e-registration.

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    He noted the training brought together state coordinators, state senatorial administrators, local government supervisors and ward agents, who are central to the successful implementation of the exercise.

    Oladipo said the governor became the first APC member in the state to revalidate his membership, receive membership slip number 001 at the training, thus underscoring the strategic importance of the exercise for party consolidation, planning and future electoral success.

    “Further demonstrating his resolve to mobilise the good people of Ondo State for active participation in the exercise, Governor Aiyedatiwa has, at different fora, continued to appeal to party members, prospective members and traditional rulers across the state to come out en masse, without compulsion, to be part of the historic exercise aimed at strengthening APC.

    “In fulfilment of his pledge during the capacity training to provide all required equipment, tools and logistics, tablet devices were distributed at the commencement of the exercise to state senatorial administrators and local government supervisors to enhance real-time monitoring and coordination.

    “In addition, all 203 ward agents and their local government supervisors were provided with portable energy storage devices to mitigate the challenges posed by unstable power supply.”

    He added: “All officials engaged for this critical assignment have also received data subscriptions to guarantee uninterrupted internet access, while physical registration forms were distributed across all wards to aid easy collation of biodata of prospective registrants in the state’s 3,933 polling units, thereby ensuring seamless and efficient data capturing.

    “To further ease operations, a specified amount of money was made available to all supervisors and ward agents to facilitate mobility within their wards and local government areas, both for effective registration of prospective members and proper monitoring of the exercise.

    “These timely interventions and strategic support from the governor have boosted the effectiveness of the exercise, with Ondo State ranked second next to Lagos in the South West Zone in the ongoing APC membership e-registration.

    “To ensure smooth operations, the governor provided officials with tablet devices for real-time monitoring, portable energy storage devices to address unstable power supply, data subscriptions for uninterrupted internet access, and physical registration forms for easy collation of biodata in the state’s 3,933 polling units,” he said.

    Oladipo noted that ‘’these timely interventions and strategic support have significantly boosted the exercise, placing Ondo State second in the South West Zone, only behind Lagos, in the ongoing APC membership e-registration.’’

    He commended Aiyedatiwa for prioritising competence through the appointment of Kolawole Babatunde as state coordinator, and for providing necessary materials to ensure a successful exercise.

    “I also commend the state coordinator for assembling a highly competent and committed team of state senatorial administrators, local government supervisors and ward agents, whose collective efforts have made this laudable achievement possible.

    “The APC membership e-registration is currently ongoing across all wards in Ondo State. Existing party members are required to revalidate their membership, while prospective members are encouraged to visit designated registration centres in their wards for enrolment.

    “Existing and new members are required to present their National Identification Number (NIN) and Voter’s Identification Number (VIN) to the e-registration officials during the process. The exercise is scheduled to end on January 30,” he added.

  • Police file charges against activist  blogger for ‘cyber bullying’ 

    Police file charges against activist  blogger for ‘cyber bullying’ 

    Ogun State Police Command has filed a six-count charge against Adetoun Onajobi, popularly known across multiple social media platforms as @justadetoun.

    It said the charges are pending at Abeokuta Division of the Federal High Court.

    The command in a statement by its spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, yesterday, alleged that Onajobi, an internet blogger, had in recent times used social media and other internet-enabled computer platforms to publish false accusations against Ogun State Government and bully Governor Dapo Abiodun, in breach of the Cybercrimes Act.

    Read Also: Alleged terror financing: DSS arrests ex-AGF Malami

    The command through a statement by its spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, alleged that Onajobi, an internet blogger, had in recent times used social media and other internet-enabled computer platforms to publish false accusations against Ogun State Government and bully the governor, in breach of the Cybercrimes Act. The command noted that the suspect had remained evasive and rebuffed invitation to clear the allegations against her, assuring the citizens that she would be arrested and arraigned.

    “On January 2, 2026, Ogun State Police Command invited Onajobi for an interview to afford her the opportunity to respond to allegations arising from her online bullying of the Ogun State governor.

    “Rather than honour the police invitation, the suspect, through her lawyer, wrote to the Police, claiming she was medically indisposed and unable to attend the meeting. Attached to the letter was a medical report allegedly issued by a medical doctor, detailing several medical challenges purportedly suffered by the suspect and the efforts made to treat and stabilise her.

    “Discreet investigations by the Police, however, confirmed the falsity of the claims contained in the medical report. This led to the arrest of the doctor, who subsequently admitted that the entire medical report was a ruse, crafted at the direction of the suspect, Onajobi, during a phone conversation between them, facilitated by her lawyer.

    “Consequent upon this revelation, the doctor was arraigned at an Ogun State Magistrates’ Court for conspiracy, uttering a false document and obstructing the course of justice.

    “The suspect, Adetoun Onajobi, has remained evasive and has rebuffed every invitation extended to her by the Police. Her current whereabouts are unknown.

    “The command continues to trail other suspects connected to the false information allegedly deployed by Adetoun Onajobi in an attempt to obstruct police investigations.

     “Furthermore, having reneged on her prior undertaking to honour police invitations, the command will exhaust all lawful means to apprehend and produce her before the court to answer the charges already filed against her,” the command said.

    According to the statement, Ogun State Police Command remains resolute in its duty to tackle all forms of crime brought to its attention, whether violent, white-collar, or digital.

    Assuring residents of full respect for the constitutional rights of all persons, it warned that constitutionally protected activities such as free speech have lawful limits and do not grant immunity from criminal conduct.

  • Ondo magistrates, others suspend strike

    Ondo magistrates, others suspend strike

    Magistrates, Presidents of Grade ‘A’ Customary Courts and Legal Research Officers in Ondo State have suspended their two-week-old industrial action, following agreements reached with the state government.

    The suspension was announced last night in a statement signed by Mrs O. Edwin, Mr Segun Rotiba and Mrs Agbomola.

    Recall that the judicial officers, under the aegis of Coalition of Magistrates, Presidents of Grade ‘A’ Customary Courts and Legal Research Officers in Ondo State Judiciary on January 5 embarked on an indefinite strike in pursuit of judicial autonomy and improved welfare.

    In a notice dated January 2, 2026, and addressed to magistrates, presidents of Grade ‘A’ customary courts and legal research officers, the coalition directed its members to withdraw their services indefinitely.

    Following the action, courts across the state were shut, as magistrates, customary court presidents and members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) embarked on strike.

    The striking judicial officers accused the state government, led by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, of failing to implement financial autonomy for the judiciary and address long-standing welfare concerns.

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    In the statement obtained by The Nation in Akure, the judiciary workers said the decision to suspend the strike followed series of meetings and engagements with the executive arm of government led by Governor Aiyedatiwa and other critical stakeholders.

    The engagements, according to the workers, were led by the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Mr Kayode Ajulo (SAN), and involved the leadership of JUSUN, members of the coalition and government representatives.

    They said key issues raised during the meetings were favourably considered by the government.

    The judicial officers noted that after what they described as a “painstaking but realistic agreement,” the government demonstrated also good faith and commitment towards the immediate implementation of financial autonomy and other demands earlier presented.

    Consequently, the coalition directed its members to resume work from today.

    The statement said: “These include the provision of official vehicles for Magistrates and Presidents of Grade ‘A’ Customary Courts, as well as the introduction of a new salary structure for Magistrates, Customary Court Presidents, and Legal Research Officers.

    “After a painstaking but realistic agreement on all issues, the demonstration of good faith, commitment towards immediate implementation of autonomy for Ondo state Judiciary and other demands raised in our letter, we hereby suspend the withdrawal of services and direct our members to resume work from tomorrow, (Tuesday, the 20th of January, 2026.”

    The judiciary workers commended their colleagues for their commitment throughout the strike and lauded the leadership of JUSUN and Nigerian Bar Association for their support.

    The suspension came barely hours after Ondo State Police Command raised concerns over the lingering strike, warning that it was affecting the prosecution of criminal cases and posing security risks.

    The Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, had told reporters in Akure that the industrial action forced the police to release suspects who should have been charged to court, noting that courts across the state had remained shut for weeks.

  • Media entrepreneur Hamza joins Oyo governorship race

    Media entrepreneur Hamza joins Oyo governorship race

    An Ibadan-based media entrepreneur, Oriyomi Hamzat, has joined the governorship race in Oyo State.

    He plans to actualise his bid on the platform of Accord Party.

    Close to 8,000 people drawn from the 33 local governments were at Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan venue of the event at the weekend.

    Declaring his expression of intent, Hamzat, the executive chairman of Agidigbo FM, described his decision as a response to the call of the people.

    “I have accepted the call of the people to serve Oyo State. This is not a step I have taken lightly. My vision is to implement programmes that will improve the lives of ordinary citizens, provide opportunities for youths and women, and ensure governance in Oyo State goes beyond rhetoric to real, measurable impact.

    “The people deserve leaders who listen, act and deliver. This is the promise I am making today.”

    Addressing circulating rumours that he might hand over his support to another aspirant, Amzat said:  “Let me be clear, the ‘Oyo Npe oo’ Movement has officially merged with Accord, and I am committed to pursuing this governorship dream myself.

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    “This is about giving a voice to the voiceless, standing up for the ordinary people and working tirelessly to bring about a governance system that is accountable, transparent and responsive. We cannot continue with business as usual; Oyo State deserves better, and together, we will make the change a reality,” he said.

    The Accord Party National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, who welcomed and officially presented Hamzat with his party membership card, symbolising his formal induction into the party, said: “Hamzat’s decision to join Accord is a tremendous boost for the party. His dedication to public service and his record of philanthropy make him an ideal candidate for leadership in Oyo State.

    “Today, we take an important step towards ensuring the dividends of democracy reach the people. This is about leadership that listens, leadership that delivers and leadership that puts the welfare of citizens first,” he said.

    Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, represented by his Commissioner for Political Affairs, Biyi Odunlade, expressed support for Hamzat’s candidacy, saying: “We recognise Dr Hamzat as a leader who embodies integrity, vision and a commitment to the people. Osun and Oyo Accord will work together to ensure our ideals reach every corner of the Southwest.

    “We are fully behind Dr Hamzat, not just as a candidate, but also as a symbol of what good governance should represent: fairness, opportunity and tangible development for citizens.”

    Secretary of Oyo Npe Oo Movement, Dr.Olanrewaju Oladejo, described Hamzat’s entry into the race as a statement of principle.

    “Dr Hamzat’s decision is more than politics. It is a moral declaration that governance can still be decent, humane and people-centred. In joining Accord, he is signalling that leadership should prioritise service over self-interest, compassion over politics and integrity over expediency,” he said.

    The declaration was marked by a mass defection of political leaders from 33 local governments and 351 wards across Oyo State to Accord, signalling a surge of support for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

  • ‘Tinubu taking Nigeria out of the woods’

    ‘Tinubu taking Nigeria out of the woods’

    A don, Dr. Akinola Awodeyi-Akinsehinwa, has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his strategic and meticulous handling of Nigeria’s multifaceted challenges.

    He praised the President’s bold leadership, vision and commitment to steering the nation toward a brighter future.

    Awodeyi-Akinsehinwa said President Tinubu was navigating Nigeria out of the woods through a careful, deliberate and well-calculated approach.

    He added: ‘’This strategy is steadily steering the country away from deep-rooted economic difficulties, inherited structural impediments and long-standing fiscal imbalances toward genuine recovery, macroeconomic stability and lasting prosperity for citizens.

    ‘’The key reforms earning widespread praise include the bold removal of fuel subsidies, which has freed up resources for more productive investments, unification of foreign exchange rates to eliminate distortions and boost investor confidence, intensified security efforts to restore peace and enable economic activities, accelerated infrastructure development across critical sectors such as roads, power, ports and railways, and targeted initiatives to attract domestic and foreign investments, as evidenced by the recent surge in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and positive endorsements from global credit rating agencies.

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    ‘’These transformative reforms are designed not only to address immediate core issues, but also to lay a solid, enduring foundation for sustainable economic growth and inclusive development.

    ‘’Ultimately, they aim to translate macroeconomic gains—such as GDP growth exceeding four per cent in recent periods, declining inflation below 15 per cent, rising foreign reserves, and a booming Nigerian Stock Exchange into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians, including better access to jobs, affordable goods, and essential services.’’

    Awodeyi-Akinsehinwa urged Nigerians to rally behind the President ‘’and sustain their support during this critical phase of consolidation.’’

    He said continued unity and patience were essential so that detractors and those who did not have the nation’s best interests at heart would not exploit momentary challenges to undermine the progress being achieved under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    With these reforms gaining momentum in 2026, the don expressed optimism that Nigeria is on a clear path to emerging stronger, more resilient and more prosperous.

  • Agency warns against unsafe water practices

    Agency warns against unsafe water practices

    Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) has warned residents and water service providers against the dangers of consuming untreated water and engaging in indiscriminate groundwater abstraction.

    He said unsafe water practices posed serious public health and environmental risks.

    Executive Secretary, Mrs. Oluwabukola Adeyemo, gave the warning yesterday during a one-day community sensitisation and public engagement with water service stakeholders, at Epe Local Government Secretariat.

    Addressing community leaders, borehole drillers, sachet and bottled water producers, tanker operators and other stakeholders, Adeyemo described water as “life”, but cautioned that untreated or poorly handled water could become a “silent threat” capable of triggering waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever and diarrhoea.

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    She noted that although Lagos was surrounded by water, much of it was unsafe for direct consumption due to salt content, contaminants, heavy metals and other minerals, making proper treatment imperative.

    “Because of limited access to pipe-borne water, many residents rely on alternative sources such as boreholes and shallow wells, often sited dangerously close to septic tanks and soakaways. These practices expose communities to serious health risks,” she said.

    The executive secretary said the state government, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources led by Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab, was making investments to expand access to pipe-borne water across the state.

    She cited the recent inauguration of Akilo Water Works in Ogba, with a production capacity of one million gallons per day, ongoing rehabilitation of Adiyan Phase 1, and the nearing completion of Adiyan Phase 2, expected to produce 70 million gallons daily.

    According to her, water works serving the Epe axis, including facilities at Agric T-Junction and Jakande with combined installed capacity of five million gallons per day, are also under consideration for rehabilitation.

  • 39 dead in Spain after two high-speed trains collide

    39 dead in Spain after two high-speed trains collide

    No fewer than 39 people died in southern Spain after a high-speed train derailed and collided with an oncoming one on Sunday night in one of the worst railway accidents in Europe in the past 80 years.

    Twelve were in intensive care after the accident near Adamuz in the province of Cordoba, about 360 km (223 miles) south of Madrid, according to emergency services. Experts studying the crash site say a faulty rail joint may be key to determining the cause of the crash.

    “The train tipped to one side… then everything went dark, and all I heard was screams,” said Ana Garcia Aranda, 26, who was travelling back to Madrid and was being treated at a Red Cross centre in Adamuz.

    Limping and wrapped in a blanket, her face covered with plasters, she described how fellow passengers dragged her out of the train covered in blood. Firefighters rescued her pregnant sister from the wreckage and an ambulance took them both to hospital.

    “There were people who were fine and others who were very, very badly injured. You had them right in front of you and you knew they were going to die, and you couldn’t do anything,” she said.

    The collision occurred in a hilly, olive-growing region, which could only be accessed by a single-track road, making it difficult for ambulances to enter and exit, Iñigo Vila, national emergency director at the Spanish Red Cross, told Reuters.

    Emergency teams were struggling to bring in heavy machinery that could lift the wreckage to get access to more of the dead, the Andalusia region’s President Juan Manuel Moreno said.

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    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez cancelled his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and Transport Minister Oscar Puente visited the crash site  yesterday.

    Police drone footage showed how the trains came to a standstill 500 metres apart. One train’s carriage was split in two, and the locomotive was crushed like a tin can.

    Experts studying the crash site found a broken joint on the rails, which created a gap between the rail sections that widened as trains continued to travel on the track, according to a source briefed on initial investigations into the disaster.

    The technicians believe the faulty joint could prove important in identifying the precise cause of the accident, the source said.

    Spain’s Commission of Investigation of Rail Accidents (CIAF), which has been tasked with the overall investigation into the causes of the disaster, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

    Paqui, an Adamuz resident who with her husband rushed to help rescue survivors, described seeing body parts along the tracks between the two crash sites.

    “(My husband) found a dead child inside, another child calling for his mother. You’re never ready to see something like this,” she said.

    Police said they had opened an office in Cordoba for relatives to provide DNA samples to help identify the dead.

    The Iryo train was travelling at 110 kph from Malaga to Madrid when it derailed, Renfe President Álvaro Fernandez Heredia said on radio station Cadena Ser.

    Twenty seconds later, the second train, heading to Huelva at 200 kph, either collided with the final two carriages of the Iryo train or with debris on the line, he said. The Iryo train lost a wheel that has not yet been located.

    It was too early to talk about the cause, but it happened in “strange conditions”, Fernandez Heredia said, adding that human error was virtually ruled out.

    The death toll is among the top 20 highest from a train crash in Europe in 80 years, according to Eurostat data, and the highest in Spain since 2013, when a train derailed in the northwestern city of Santiago de Compostela, killing 80 people and injuring 145.

    Spanish train drivers had warned state-owned rail infrastructure administrator Adif of “severe wear and tear” on the Madrid-Andalusia line and others, according to a letter seen by Reuters sent to Adif by train drivers union Semaf in August.

    They had notified the operator daily of their concerns, calling for stricter speed restrictions until the issues were addressed.

    Adif had no immediate comment.

    The Iryo train, a Frecciarossa 1000, was under four years old and the railway line near Adamuz had been completely renovated last May as part of an investment of 700 million euros ($813.5 million), Puente said. Iryo said the train was last inspected on January 15.

    Spain’s high-speed railway network is the largest in Europe and second-largest in the world after China with 3,622 km of tracks, according to Adif.

    Around 10 million people used the high-speed railway connection between Madrid and Andalusia in 2024, according to competition authority CNMC.

    The government was criticised last year for a series of delays to high speed rail, caused by power outages and the theft of copper cables from the lines.

    Spain opened up the network to private competition in 2020 in a bid to offer low-cost alternatives to Renfe’s Ave trains.

    Iryo is a joint venture between Italian state railway operator Ferrovie dello Stato, airline Air Nostrum and Spanish infrastructure investment fund Globalvia.

  • Trump links Greenland threat to Nobel Peace Prize snub

    Trump links Greenland threat to Nobel Peace Prize snub

    • European Union prepares to retaliate

    United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump has linked his drive to take control of Greenland to his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize, saying he no longer thought “purely of Peace” as the row over the island threatened to reignite a trade war with Europe.

    Asked by NBC News in a brief telephone interview yesterday if he would use force to seize Greenland, Trump said “No comment,” adding he would “100 per cent” follow through on plans to hit European nations with tariffs without a Greenland deal.

    Trump has intensified his push to wrest sovereignty over Greenland from fellow NATO member, Denmark, prompting the European Union to weigh hitting back with its own measures.

    The dispute is threatening to upend the NATO alliance that has underpinned Western security for decades and which was already under strain over the war in Ukraine and Trump’s refusal to protect allies which do not spend enough on defence.

    Trump’s threat has rattled European industry and sent shockwaves through financial markets amid fears of a return to the volatility of 2025’s trade war, which only eased when the sides reached tariff deals in the middle of the year.

    In a text message on Sunday to Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, Trump said: “Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.”

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    Norway’s government released the messages yesterday under the country’s freedom of information act.

    Stoere had sent an initial message on behalf of himself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, calling for de-escalation of tensions and suggesting a call, eliciting a response from Trump less than half an hour later.

    The Norwegian Nobel Committee annoyed Trump by awarding the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize not to him but to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

    In his message, Trump also repeated his accusation that Denmark cannot protect Greenland from Russia or China.

    “… And why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway?” he wrote, adding: “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.”

    Trump vowed on Saturday to implement a wave of increasing tariffs from February 1 on EU members Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, along with Britain and Norway, until the U.S. is allowed to buy Greenland, home to only 57,000 people.

    “We are living in 2026, you can trade with people, but you don’t trade people,” Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said during a visit to London  yesterday.

    In a post on Facebook, Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the territory should be allowed to decide its own fate.

    “We will not let ourselves be pressured. We stand firm on dialogue, on respect and on international law,” he said.

    Denmark’s military told Reuters that planes carrying Danish soldiers and Army Commander Peter Boysen would land in Kangerlussuaq, western Greenland,  yesterday, describing it as a “substantial contribution” to the Arctic Endurance military exercise.

    Norway’s Stoere amended his schedule, announcing that he would attend the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday and Thursday, overlapping with Trump’s planned appearance at the annual gathering of the global political and business elite.

    Trump is expected to deliver a keynote address on Wednesday in his first appearance at the conference in six years.

    German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he too would try to meet Trump on Wednesday, adding that a trade dispute was not wanted. “But if we are confronted with tariffs that we consider unreasonable, then we are capable of responding,” Merz said. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said it would be “very unwise” for European governments to retaliate.

    “I think it’s a complete canard that the president will be doing this because of the Nobel prize. The president is looking at Greenland as a strategic asset for the United States,” he told reporters in Davos.

    EU leaders will discuss their options at an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday. One option is a package of tariffs on 93 billion euros ($108 billion) of U.S. imports that could automatically kick in on February 6 after a six-month suspension.

    Another option is the “Anti-Coercion Instrument” (ACI), which has never yet been used and which could limit access to public tenders, investments or banking activity or restrict trade in services, in which the U.S. has a surplus with the bloc, including in digital services.

    The EU said it was continuing to engage “at all levels” with the U.S. but said the use of its ACI was not off the table.

    British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for calm discussion between the allies, adding that he did not believe Trump was considering military action to seize Greenland.

    Russia declined to comment on whether the U.S. designs on Greenland were good or bad but said it was hard to disagree with experts that Trump would “go down in… world history” if he did take control of the island.