For the next three years, the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) concluded discussions with leading Chinese Manufacturer Endurance Group to make available 500 CNG refuelling stations across Nigeria.
Briefing the press after the meeting in Abuja, Executive Director of the MDGIF, Mr Oluwole Adama, said the discussion centred on the creation of a government-backed Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) promoted by MDGIF, BOI, Endurance Group, and Séquor Investment Partners.
He said, “The collaboration underscores the parties’ commitment to accelerating Nigeria’s transition to cleaner fuels by addressing infrastructure gaps across the country’s CNG value chain.
“Under this agreement, we will set up the Compressed Natural Gas Auto Mobility Infrastructure Company (CAM InfraCo), which will be used to deploy 500 integrated CNG refuelling stations, develop LCNG gas supply infrastructure, and provide CNG and LNG transportation trucks with truck-mounted cascades, forming a virtual pipeline across all states nationwide.”
According to him, the project will help ease the long queues currently being experienced at existing CNG filling stations by expanding access to refuelling points and ensuring consistent supply through improved logistics and distribution systems.
Similarly, Mr. Oluwatoyin Subair, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties and Domestic Affairs, said the project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of ensuring energy security by deepening the use of auto CNG and reducing overdependence on PMS and AGO, especially in the transportation sector.
He added that the initiative supports the administration’s broader economic reforms aimed at promoting cleaner, more affordable energy alternatives for Nigerians and creating new employment opportunities within the domestic gas value chain.
Also speaking, the CEO, Endurance Group, Mr Eric Lin, explained that the objective of the SPV is to establish a nationwide CNG refuelling, maintenance, and logistics ecosystem by leasing CNG-related equipment to certified operators, while ensuring a consistent and reliable gas supply through a world-class virtual pipeline network.
CAM InfraCo’s leasing and logistics strategy is designed to create a commercially viable and resilient national CNG refuelling network. The strategy focuses on delivering CNG from strategically located mother stations into underserved northern corridors and rapidly growing southern clusters, leveraging existing hubs and planned infrastructure to ensure sustainable and cost-effective market expansion to every nook and cranny nationwide.
Amid intense political drama, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki emerged as the new factional national chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the weekend, promising to prioritise the will of the people, listen to their voices, and deliver on their expectations.
Turaki assured party members and Nigerians that the new National Working Committee under his leadership would operate with fairness, transparency, equity, and justice, working diligently to rebuild and reunite the party.
He made the pledge in his acceptance speech shortly after being sworn in at the PDP’s national convention.
Turaki won decisively, polling 1,516 votes to defeat his closest rival, Senator Yakubu Lado, who received 43 votes. Although Senator Lado had earlier withdrawn from the race citing zoning considerations, some of his supporters still cast votes in his favour.
A total of 3,131 delegates participated in the convention held at the Mainbowl of Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan on Saturday, with 275 votes declared void. Before the election, 2,745 delegates were accredited, and total votes cast stood at 1,834.
Turaki, a prominent PDP figure and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had been adopted as the consensus candidate by Northern PDP stakeholders ahead of the convention.
In the race for Deputy National Organising Secretary, Solarin Sunday Adekunle emerged winner, polling 633 votes to defeat Adelabu Malomo (507 votes) and Olabayiwa Ogundipe (417 votes) from a total of 1,577 votes cast.
The oath of allegiance and office was administered by Barrister Musa Abdulwasil at about 11:50 PM.
Expressing gratitude to the delegates, Turaki acknowledged the weight of their trust and assured that the new National Working Committee would work tirelessly to justify their confidence in rebuilding and strengthening the PDP.
The Chairman highlighted the PDP’s rich history, noting that it is the only party that has maintained its name, label, motto, and texture since its inception. This, he attributed to the party’s commitment to the Nigerian people.
While acknowledging the challenges ahead, the Chairman expressed confidence in the party’s ability to rise to the task and promised that guiding principles and models for achieving party goals will be rolled out soon.
In a bid to heal internal wounds, the Chairman extended an invitation to party members who have been aggrieved or have left the party to return, emphasizing that the party needs everyone’s support to rebuild and save Nigeria’s democracy.
The Chairman concluded by thanking the delegates and assuring them that the party will deliver under the new committee’s leadership, ending with a call to action and a commitment to democracy and the people.
Turaki said, “This is the day that the Lord has made for us. On behalf of myself and other members of the newly elected National Working Committee of our party, the People’s Democratic Party, I stand before you today, and indeed, for Nigerians, to thank you so much for putting this confidence in us.
“I assure you, that the confidence you put in us will not be taken for granted. It is a very big and wondrous responsibility that you have trusted in us. For myself and my colleagues, I want to assure you that we shall do whatever it takes to carry out this assignment that has been placed on our shoulders.
“In 1998, INEG registered three political parties. The People’s Democratic Party, the Alliance for Democracy (AD), and the All People’s Party. The All People’s Party became ANPP and then got divided into ANPP and CPC and found its way into what is now called APC.
“AD became AC, became ACN, and was submerged in APC. Today, as I talk to you, the only political party that has continued and maintained its name, its label, its motto, its texture, its density, is the People’s Democratic Party. This has been possible only because this is the party for Nigerian people.
“I want to say to you members of PDP, and indeed to you Nigerians outside there, that make no mistake about it, we are returning the party to you, the people. There will be no more impunity, there will be no more suppression of the will of Nigerian people. We shall open our ears wide open to listen to you, to determine what you want.
“And what you want is what we shall give you. Gone are the days when monkey will walk and baboon will eat. If baboon wants to eat, then baboon must be seen to be working like monkey.”
He said further, “Number two, on behalf of myself and my colleagues, I want to assure our teaming members, and indeed you Nigerians outside there, that from this moment on, whatever we do, there is fairness, there is transparency, there is equity, and there is justice. Because he who comes to equity, comes with clean hands. What you have done to us, the trust you have given us, means that you want us also to take it up to the great people.
“And that we shall do. We are not under any illusion that the task that has been placed on us is a simple one. Our party is at crossroads now, but we are up to the task, we are up to the challenge.
“Very soon, we shall be rolling out what our guiding principles will be, and models of lending for achieving the same. And when we do that, we shall be hitting the ground running from day one. But in all this thing, we want to assure our teaming members outside there, those that feel they have been aggrieved, and we don’t care whether those grievances are genuine or not.
“Those that have now engaged in ‘siddon look’, and those who have left the party, again, for whatever reason, we have enough time, we will bring you back. Because the process of rebuilding, re-creating, re-uniting, re-extending this party needs every one of us. So we will ensure that no one is left there.
“We will go around, we will come to you, we will come to your homes, we will come to your cities, we will come to your towns, we will appeal to you to come back. Because the task ahead of us, and that task is saving Nigeria’s democracy. That task is saving Nigeria from imminent precipice.”
He also urged the judiciary to respect the constitution and the principles of stare decisis, cautioning against getting involved in purely political matters.
“We need support and cooperation of every leader in this task. As a very senior member of the bar, let me say this to my constituency. Sometimes the heart bleeds to see the heart of judgement that comes up.
“The most important institution in Nigeria is judicial. We will therefore be urging our judges, just as you are asking Nigerian politicians to respect their rules and respect the provisions of their constitution, we Nigerian politicians will also be pleading with you to respect your rules and respect the principles of stare decisis. We feel that it is not necessary for any judge that has been sworn to uphold the constitution to refuse to be guided by the decisions of the apex court.
“Nigerian judiciary and indeed Nigerian judges have no business getting involved in matters that are exclusively or intrinsically political. Please save the judiciary. Don’t get involved in matters that are purely political.
“Whatever that belongs to God, give it to God. Whatever that belongs to Caesar, give it to Caesar. When we do that, this democracy that a lot of our founding fathers had fought hard, even at great tasks, some of them have lost their lives.
“Please do not either directly or indirectly or whether wittingly or unwittingly put yourselves in a situation where rightly or wrongly it may be assumed again whether correctly or incorrectly that you are part and parcel of the process to truncate Nigerian democracy.
“I want to once again thank our people, our delegates, for reposing this confidence in us. No doubt the task is arduous, but I want to assure you that you have not made a mistake in choosing us and giving this responsibility to us. We will deliver and we are going to deliver by the special grace of God.”
Also, a former deputy national chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja emerge as the party’s national Secretary, unopposed.
Alh. Hamza Akuyan Koshe (Dep. Nat’l Chairman (North)), Dr. Daniel Ambrose W. (Dep. Nat’l Chairman (South)), Arapaja Taofeek Gbola-Oladejo (National Secretary), Ihediwa Richard Nnabugwu (Dep. Nat’l Secretary), Isa Abubakar (National Treasurer), Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel (National Financial Sec) and Hon. Theophilus Daka Shan (National Organising Sec)
Others are: Ini Ememobong Essien (Nat’l Publicity Secretary), Aribisala Adewale Idowu (National Auditor), Bara’u Shafi’i (National Legal Adviser), Ogbu Anthonia Chinenyenwa (National Women’s Leader), Solarin Sunday Adekunle (Dep. National Organising Sec), Farida Umar Hamid (Dep. National Publicity Sec), Aigbokhaevbo Harrison O. (Dep. National Treasurer), Hamsatu Adamu (Dep. Nat. Women Leader), Hon Tina Puna Musa (Dep. National Financial Sec), Usamatu Maharazu (Dep. National Auditor) and Elec-Njaka Chikere (Dep. Nat’l Youth Leader)
According to the Secretary, National Convention Organising Committee, Senator Ben Obi, who announced the list, the position of the National Youth Leader was stepped down.
The federal government is projecting an output value of about N160 billion from wheat production in the 2025/2026 dry season, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen food sovereignty and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this on Saturday during the flag-off of the Subsidised Agricultural Inputs Distribution for the 2025/2026 dry season wheat production programme under the National Agricultural Growth and Agro Pocket Project (NAGS-AP), held in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.
Kyari said the Ministry has earmarked 40,000 hectares and registered 80,000 farmers for the new production cycle, with an expected output value of approximately N160 billion.
He added that Borno State alone received 3,000 hectares, with 6,000 registered wheat farmers participating this season.
Recalling previous seasons, the minister stated: “Under the 2023/2024 dry season wheat production programme, a total of 107,429 registered farmers were supported with critical subsidised inputs, resulting in an output valued at ₦474,628,000 billion. During the 2024/2025 dry season, 279,297 registered farmers received support, with an output valued at ₦893,750,004 billion.”
He further noted that for the current 2025/2026 season, the programme is targeting 80,000 registered farmers with an expected output value of approximately N160 billion.
Kyari explained that the NAGS-AP programme will deploy Agricultural Extension Agents to guide farmers on modern agronomic practices and provide continuous field-level advisory services.
He added that Fertiliser and Seed Quality Control Officers will be mobilised to ensure that all inputs delivered to farmers meet the required standards, thereby guaranteeing higher productivity and improved yields.
According to him, the wheat component of NAGS-AP covers 16 states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.
He noted that the inclusion of Cross River last year marked the first expansion of wheat production into the southern region, strengthening national efforts to diversify production across ecological zones.
He said, “NAGS-AP is deliberately designed to leave no one behind. The programme ensures that farmers across communities, including women and young people, who play vital roles in our agricultural workforce, have equitable access to inputs, training, and opportunities.
“The success of any agricultural season depends on the quality of inputs that reach our farmers. This is why NAGS-AP places strong emphasis on input quality, traceability, and transparent delivery systems, ensuring that every farmer receives the right inputs at the right time to achieve higher productivity and better returns.”
In his remarks, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, commended the federal government for its consistent support for irrigation development.
He stated that President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to food security and national productivity provides the foundation upon which programmes like this are built.
Zulum highlighted Borno’s agricultural potential, especially within the Lake Chad Basin, describing the state as one of Nigeria’s most promising agricultural frontiers.
“Today is more than a ceremony; it is a celebration of hope, resilience, and our unwavering commitment to ensuring that no family in Borno State goes hungry and no farmer is left behind”, he said.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to all-season farming, noting that the state continues to provide modern machinery, improved seeds, fertilisers, agrochemicals, logistics, and other critical inputs to boost productivity.
He said the state’s input support programmes have reached tens of thousands of smallholder farmers, resettled households, women, and youth, providing improved seeds, agrochemicals, and agronomic guidance.
Responding on behalf of smallholder farmers, Alhaji Haruna Umaru pledged the farmers’ commitment to boosting production in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the agricultural sector.
The undergraduate programmes are B.Sc. Film and Multimedia Studies; B.Sc. Industrial Physics; BSc Data Science; B.Sc. Public Relations; B.Sc. Psychology; B.Sc. Journalism and Media Studies; Bsc Public Administration, and Bsc Interior Architecture and Design.
The postgraduate programmes are PhD Architecture; MSc & PhD Architecture; PGD, MSc & PhD Mathematics; PGD, MSc & PhD Physics; PGD, MSc & PhD Political Science; PGD, MSc & PhD Sociology; PGD, MSc. Entrepreneurship, Master’s in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and PGD Environmental Chemistry.
“This has raised our total undergraduate programmes from 40 to 48 and our PG programmes from 40 to 59,” Vice-Chancellor of Bingham University, Prof Haruna Ayuba, said during the 6th convocation ceremony and 20th anniversary of the university at the weekend.
The event featured the award of first degrees and postgraduate degrees to 1,574 graduands from the 2024/2025 academic session, alongside the unveiling of a commemorative book, “Bingham University @ 20,” chronicling the university’s journey.
During the event, the vice-chancellor also announced the approval for a first joint postgraduate degree programme between Bingham University and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
He stated, “The National Universities Commission has approved the first joint postgraduate degree programme between Bingham University and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, under the Twining and Articulation Model of NUC’s Transnational Education programme.
“The collaboration provides an opportunity for both institutions to strengthen and enrich the academic and professional tutelage in the field of public health.
“At the end of the study, successful graduates will be issued a Master of Science (MSc) in Public Health of Bingham University, articulated with a Master of Public Health (MPH) professional of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom. We thank God that Bingham University is the first University in Nigeria to secure this approval.”
The vice-chancellor also said the university, through its Zankli Research Centre, won research grants totaling N1.06 billion.
“Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant worth USD 708, 933 (equivalent of N1.06 billion) to support data and evidence gathering in Nigeria to shape TB vaccines launch scenarios across Africa; and, to develop vaccine introduction knowledge to support implementation guidance based on location preference for TB vaccine program roll out.
“Research grant of USD598, 593 (equivalent of N897, 889, 500) from the Gates Foundation for clinical validation for viral load and CDA in Nigeria. The validity period is from October 2025 to September 30, 2027.
i. Supplementary Grant of USD 25, 000 for TB Vax study by the Gates Foundation
ii. Grant of USD928, 508 (N1.3 billion) for clinical validation for novel TB diagnostics in Nigeria by the Gates Foundation
iii. The Policy Thematic team won a small grant of £1000 (one thousand pounds from the European Lung Foundation (ELF) to support lung health research.
iv. The Nutrition Thematic Team won a supplementary grant of USD 2000 from the International Foundation for Science (IFS) for evaluation of compounds of Mucuna flagelipes against pancreatic lipase and alpha-amylase activities in tro and against obesity-related genes in silico
“These are in addition to the ongoing research grants won by the Zankli Research Centre in 2024:
i. Glasgow Centre for International Development (GCD) Grant worth £19, 232 (Pounds) funded by the University of Glasgow on scaling responses to TB in urban informal settlements: Gender-sensitive understanding of TB exposure surveillance methods.
ii. The Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Grant worth USD 480, 698 (US Dollars) funded by a joint Consortium of Stop TB partnership, Fujifilm, LSTM amongst others on multi-country evaluation of FUJIfilm Silvamp TB Lam including the diagnostic accuracy of a urine-concentration devise; Dr Tayo Famojuro of the Department of Pharmacognosy won the 2024 Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) United Kingdom Grant worth £5000 (five thousand pounds) for a project on characterisation of anticancer lead compounds from selected Nigerian medicinal plants.”
Special Guest of Honour and retired Supreme Court Justice, Hon. Justice James Ogebe, commended the University for its Consistent Advancement and reiterated his pride in having served as a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
He applauded successive administrations for providing the stability and strategic guidance that have positioned Bingham University among the country’s leading faith-based institutions.
Justice Ogebe also paid tribute to the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Prof. W. B. Qurix, acknowledging his foundational contributions that significantly propelled the university’s growth.
He further praised the incumbent Vice-Chancellor for building on that legacy through improved infrastructure, broader academic programmes, strengthened research capacity, and the creation of a supportive academic atmosphere that fosters innovation and excellence.
Justice Ogebe underscored the university’s strong moral and spiritual grounding, noting that its culture—rooted in Christian values, integrity, critical inquiry, and lifelong learning—remains one of its most enduring assets.
He also expressed appreciation to the NUC for its role in guiding the university through key developmental stages and facilitating growth at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and President of ECWA, Rev. (Dr.) Job Ayuba Bagat Mallam offered profound thanks to God for the remarkable progress the institution has made over the last 20 years.
He applauded the university community for its commitment to sustaining a dynamic academic and administrative environment.
The BOT chairman also acknowledged the contributions of the Chancellor, His Royal Highness Pharmacist Luka Baba Panya, along with the Pro-Chancellor, Council members, and management team, for collectively steering the university toward continued excellence.
He noted that the uninterrupted hosting of consecutive convocation ceremonies is a clear indicator of the institution’s maturity, stability, and effective governance.
He reaffirmed the Board’s determination to back the university’s mission, especially as it increases academic offerings, strengthens research, and broadens opportunities for staff and students.
He described the certification as a powerful validation of the university’s integrity and leadership within Africa’s higher education sector.
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has said that President Bola Tinubu is strategically addressing development, economic growth, and sustainable peace in the Niger Delta.
Otuaro made the remarks on Saturday during a town hall meeting with PAP stakeholders and Niger Deltans living in Lagos, hosted by prominent Niger Delta activist and founder of the Ijaw Monitoring Group, Chief Joseph Eva.
Notable attendees included Prince Tonye Harry, Chairman of Ijaw National Congress, Lagos chapter; Prof. Dauphin Moro; Titus Posibi; Chief Amarian Benedicta; Chief Ogbogbo; Evangelist Agboro; Chief Emmanuel Fiawe; Robert Fiawe; Elder Regent Youmor; Mrs. RoseMary Aluko; and Owen Naphatin, Chairman of the IYC, Lagos chapter.
In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Igoniko Oduma, Otuaro said President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is yielding results in the Niger Delta, particularly in addressing development challenges, security, and sustainable peace.
He added that the President had restored stability in the region while fulfilling his campaign promises on human capacity development and infrastructural projects for the Niger Delta.
Otuaro insisted that the solid support of the President and the National Security Adviser for the PAP was responsible for the expansion of the scholarship scheme and other milestone achievements the programme recorded in vocational training, peacebuilding, and stakeholder engagement.
He told the stakeholders that while in-country scholarship deployment was 3800 in the 2024/2025 academic year, the figure increased to 3900 in 2025/2026, as well as foreign scholarships, which he said were about 200.
He assured them that the PAP under his leadership would continue to do its best to ensure that more indigent youths were provided access to higher educational attainments with the requisite skills and knowledge for self-reliance and nation building.
The PAP boss stressed that human resource development was pivotal to the socio-economic advancement and development of the region’s people as well as sustainable peace and security.
While thanking the President for not holding back support for the PAP, he reassured the stakeholders that Tinubu would do much more for the region after his re-election in 2027, and urged them to reciprocate his large-heartedness.
Otuaro further said, “One of the things you must know about His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, is that he is very strategic and systematic in his approach to resolving issues of development, socio-economic growth, security, and sustainable peace in our region- the Niger Delta.
“You all can see how Mr President’s deliberate approach is producing positive results in our region. There is no doubt that Mr President’s strategy is working for the Niger Delta.
“This applies to the huge support that he has been giving to the Presidential Amnesty Programme under my leadership, for which we are very grateful.
“Because of His Excellency’s massive backing, we have been able to expand the programme’s scholarship scheme, and it is our strong hope that more students from indigent backgrounds from impacted communities will benefit from the initiative. We will also continue to strengthen our policy of inclusivity.
“I want to, again, thank His Excellency for finding me worthy of appointment; to take up the baton of leadership at the PAP with the help of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who has been very supportive of our initiatives since I assumed office.
“I urge you and all the people of the Niger Delta to continue to support the administration of Mr President because we are confident that, judging from the many good things he is doing in our region, he will do even more for us after his reelection in 2027.”
In his remarks, the host, Chief Joseph Eva, expressed confidence in the PAP Administrator’s leadership ability and commended him for the remarkable achievements the agency has recorded under him.
“I am not surprised because I have known Dr Dennis Otuaro very closely for many years, and the values he stands for. He is a very focused person.
“Indeed, Dr Otuaro has achieved a lot in human capital development, vocational skills, and the peacebuilding process for our region. We have confidence in his leadership, vision, and dedication to regional development,” Eva said.
The high point of the town hall meeting was the conferment of the ‘Best Iconic Administrator Award’ on Otuaro by the stakeholders.
As the world marks the World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims, the World Health Organization and the United Nations have called on countries to prioritise and commit to reducing road deaths by 2030.
This was stated in different statements by the Director, Department of Health determinants, promotion and prevention, Dr Etienne Krug, and the United Nations Secretary-General Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt.
According to Krug, there is a need for the government to make road safety a political priority and ensure sustained funding and advance action to achieve the goal of halving road deaths by 2030.
He stated that everyone has a role to play in prioritizing safety and calling for urgent action: “Road safety is a crisis that has gone on for far too long, and no road death can ever be acceptable.”
The Director, who applauded the advocacies by families and survivors of road traffic crashes across the world, said that this has led to changed hearts, minds, and decisions, declaring that victims and their loved ones deserve nothing less than the best.
“You inspire us by transforming trauma into action. Your stories bring more people to our cause, your advocacy changes hearts, minds, and decisions, and you are leaders in our world to build safe streets for people all over the world. Thank you for all you do to make our roads safer and avoid further tragedies.”
Krug noted that the world is already at the midpoint of the decade of action for Road Safety 2021-2030, adding that if more efforts are put into policies and political will, the goal of halving road deaths by 2030 can still be achieved.
In his statement, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, said that the number of road deaths annually is equal to the population of Canada every year, stressing that this cannot be accepted as the world cannot continue to measure progress in premises where lives are being lost every hour.
“In 2025, road crashes are still the number one killer for ages 5 – 29. These are children; how can we let it happen, and yet the lives lost and changed forever remain invisible? This is the cost of using the world’s roads, and it is unacceptable.”
Todt lamented that, based on how things are going regarding road safety in countries, the goal to reduce road deaths by 50 per cent by 2030 may not be achieved, asking all hands to be on deck to make the goal to be.
“We must respect laws, build safe infrastructure, and enforce safe road user behaviour as if the lives of our children depend on it because they do. Government must act, industries must innovate responsibly, and citizens must hold them to account.
“On this World Day of Remembrance, we mourn those we have lost, but mourning is not enough. The greatest tribute we can offer is to finally address this silent pandemic.
On November 16 every year, the world comes together to remember those who lost their lives in road crashes. The global tagline for the day until 2030 is Remember, Support and Act while the 2025 theme is “Lost talents”.
For each life lost or forever changed in a road crash, it takes away dreams, creativity, and potential, which are talents that the world will never see again.
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is commemorated in more than 100 countries around the globe. Activities include candlelight vigils, art exhibitions, community walks, and remembrance ceremonies.
In Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) collaborated with Kwapda’as Road Safety Demand (KRSD) to hold a symbolic walking and jogging exercise to mark the 2025 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims and the International Road Crash Victims African Conference.
The event brought together stakeholders, advocates, survivors, and community members in a united call for safer roads and stronger preventive measures across the nation.
The FRSC also held a solemn Juma’a prayer session at Labadidi Muslim community Juma’a mosque, where the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, represented by the Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of the Corps Transport Standardization Office, Hafiz Muhammed, reaffirmed its commitment to honouring victims, supporting survivors, and strengthening the national resolve to prevent avoidable tragedies on our roads.
With a charge to use the knowledge and skills gained for national growth and innovation, the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) Oshodi has graduated 41 mid-level and senior-level officers from its coveted entrepreneurship and management courses.
The officers drawn from the three military services were exposed to a four-week executive training organised in partnership with EMPRETEC Nigeria Foundation to equip officers with managerial and entrepreneurial knowledge for productive post-service life.
Addressing the participants at the graduation ceremony held weekend, NAFRC Commandant, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Bashir Mamman said the Entrepreneurship and Management Course is designed to prepare senior and mid-level officers for a seamless transition into productive civilian life.
“The 4–5 week course equips participants with practical tools to establish and manage businesses while in service and in retirement. I am confident that you are now better prepared to excel in management, entrepreneurship, and leadership, particularly in agriculture.
“As entrepreneurs and managers, you are catalysts of growth, innovation, and national development. You have demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and a commendable commitment to excellence,” he said.
He praised the dedication of the facilitators who conduct the programme quarterly with remarkable consistency, trusting that the participants would return to their respective services and agencies to apply the knowledge gained for enhanced performance, productivity, and post-service success.
“As you graduate, I leave you with these guiding principles: Lead with purpose and passion; innovate and adapt to change; empower others and build strong teams, and focus on productivity over activity.
“Remember that the only true source of wealth is the customer. Drive change, achieve greatness, and make a lasting impact in your organisations, communities, and our nation at large,” AVM Mamman added.
In her remark, Chief Executive of EMPRETEC Nigeria, Mrs. Onari Duke, said the programme, which was inaugurated on October 27, has been a resounding success. She noted that the mid-level course commenced on October 13, while the senior-level course started a week later.
Commending the participants for their dedication and enthusiasm throughout the programme, Mrs Duke highlighted the exposure and learning opportunities afforded to them through their visits to various organizations.
Among organisations visited, according to her, were the Nigeria Conservation Centre, where they gained valuable insights into conservation efforts and sustainable practices; Commint Buka, where they learned about innovative business models and entrepreneurship, as well as the Songhai Farm, where they experienced cutting-edge agricultural practices and innovative farming techniques.
“These experiences, coupled with the comprehensive curriculum of the Entrepreneurship and Management Courses, have equipped our graduates with the skills, knowledge, and mindset necessary to thrive in today’s dynamic business landscape.
“To our graduates, I say: you are now part of a global community of Empretec entrepreneurs, equipped with the tools and expertise to drive innovation, create jobs, and contribute to the growth and development of our nation.
“You are empowered to lead with purpose, innovate with passion, and excel with integrity.
I congratulate all of you on this achievement and wish you all the best in your future endeavours. May you continue to shine as beacons of hope, integrity, and excellence, inspiring generations to come,” she added.
The story of St. Moses Orimolade Tunolase, the revered founder of the Cherubim & Seraphim Church, came alive in Lagos on November 8, as “Baba Aladura: Moses Orimolade Odyssey” premiered at Terra Kulture to an enthusiastic audience.
The stage play-musical retraces Orimolade’s remarkable spiritual journey, leadership influence, and lasting legacy within Nigeria’s religious landscape. Directed by Makinde Adeniran, the production blended energetic performances, traditional music, and immersive storytelling to capture key moments from Orimolade’s life.
Executive producer and convener, Samuel Ogunyooye, said the project was inspired by the need to document and celebrate the origins of the C&S Church in a way no other denomination has attempted.
“No religious body in Nigeria has really come out to drive the origin of their church like this. That is why we are the first. We began with a documentary titled Anathema, and instead of going straight to film, we chose live theatre. This is how seriously we take Baba Aladura,” he said.
Actor Toyin Osinaike, who served as the production’s narrator, noted that the story holds relevance beyond entertainment.
“As an actor, I realised Moses Orimolade did far more than many people know. This is not just about celebrating him; it is also about correcting the societal anomalies we see today,” he said.
With its fusion of history, culture, and spiritual reflection, the premiere resonated deeply with the audience. Many left the theatre inspired by the enduring legacy of St. Moses Orimolade and the cultural richness of the C&S Church.
A civil society group, Partners for National Economic Progress (PANEP), has faulted the suspension of 15 percent of the value-added duty on imported Premium Motor Spirit and Diesel by the Federal Government.
The organisation said the decision was a setback for Nigeria’s local refining ambition.
In a statement issued by its co-convener, Comrade Olamide Odumosu, the group argued that the initial tariff was a “wise and courageous” policy aligned with the Petroleum Industry Act, which seeks to free the downstream sector from years of dependence on fuel imports.
PANEP dismissed claims that Nigeria lacks sufficient refining capacity to meet domestic demand, insisting that the Dangote Refinery can not only supply the nation’s needs but also store enough product to sustain the country for 90 days in the event of disruptions.
The group said fears that the tariff could trigger fuel scarcity or price hikes were “false and unfounded.”
The statement accused petroleum importers of resisting reforms that threaten their interests, alleging collusion among players in the oil supply chain, including unions and regulatory agencies.
PANEP maintained that the quality of imported products remains poor because regulators, particularly the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), have failed to enforce standards.
The group further argued that Nigeria should be moving towards banning fuel importation altogether to force import-dependent marketers to invest in refining.
“They should build refineries or form cooperatives to acquire public refineries instead of holding the economy hostage,” the statement said.
PANEP expressed disappointment that the tariff was reversed, saying the decision contradicts President Bola Tinubu’s economic reform agenda.
While acknowledging that the President acted in what he considered the public interest, the organisation insisted that the policy shift was influenced by vested interests determined to frustrate the country’s local refining project.
Although the government has extended the implementation timeline, PANEP urged that the revised date should not go beyond the first week of January 2026.
It cited the cement sector as an example of how local production can thrive once monopolistic import structures are dismantled.
The organisation called on the Federal Government to restore the 15 per cent tariff and ultimately phase out fuel importation before the end of the first quarter of 2026.
According to PANEP, “Nigeria is capable, and the claim of high consumption figures is a fat lie.”
It reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the government’s economic reforms but warned that progress achieved so far must not be reversed.
A woman was confirmed dead, and six others were severely injured on Sunday after a commercial bus crashed into a stationary tipper truck at Majidun, inward Ogolonto, opposite the MRS Filling Station in Ikorodu.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said the crash occurred in the early hours of the day when a Volkswagen commercial bus with registration number EPE 494 XM reportedly suffered sudden brake failure.
The vehicle, chartered to convey passengers to a programme in Ogijo, was said to have been travelling at high speed before the driver lost control and crashed into the truck, which had parked by the roadside to purchase diesel.
LASTMA officials confirmed that the impact killed an adult female passenger on the spot. Five other women and one man sustained severe injuries.
The casualties were immediately taken to Benic Special Hospital, while the deceased was handed over to security personnel and transferred to the General Hospital, Ikorodu, for formal documentation.
According to the LASTMA director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adabayo Taofiq, the operatives had apprehended both the tipper truck driver, who allegedly attempted to flee, and the commercial bus driver. They were subsequently handed over to officers at the Ipakodo Police Division for further investigation.
LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep sorrow over the fatal crash and extended condolences to the family of the deceased.
Bakare-Oki cautioned motorists against excessive speeding, stressing that high speed diminishes a driver’s ability to respond to sudden mechanical faults or unexpected hazards.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to safeguarding lives and promoting safer road habits across the state.
