The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Edo Assembly report indicts Obaseki over MOWAA, Radisson Blu projects

    Edo Assembly report indicts Obaseki over MOWAA, Radisson Blu projects

    The Edo State House of Assembly has submitted the report of its investigation into the ownership and funding of the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) and the Radisson Blu Hotel, with findings that indict former Governor Godwin Obaseki and may expose him to investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2026.

    The report followed weeks of legislative inquiry into what the Assembly described as controversial legacy projects of the former administration, particularly MOWAA and the Radisson Blu Hotel, which allegedly gulped huge sums of public funds.

    Already, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has hinted that the Edo State Government plans to formally petition the EFCC over the projects.

    Tension around the MOWAA project heightened in November when attempts to open the institute to the public were disrupted by hoodlums who reportedly chased away diplomats and tourists.

    The aborted opening followed a request by Governor Monday Okpebholo to the House of Assembly to investigate the ownership and funding of MOWAA and Radisson Blu Hotel, including the state’s alleged N3.8 billion investment in MOWAA and N28 billion in the Radisson Blu project.

    After engaging stakeholders, the Assembly adopted the reports of the committees set up to probe the projects. However, the management of MOWAA and former Governor Obaseki boycotted the legislative hearings. Others who declined to appear included former Commissioner for Finance, Joseph Eboigbe; former Attorney-General of the state, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi; and the Managing Director of Tilbury House Nigeria Limited.

    Obaseki, through his Media Adviser, Crusoe Osagie, dismissed the Assembly’s summons as “offensive and laughable,” arguing that the matter was already before a court. He maintained that it would be sub judice for him to appear before the legislature over issues already undergoing judicial determination.

    In its report to Governor Okpebholo, the Assembly recommended that the state government collaborate with relevant anti-graft agencies to recover N17.5 billion from two escrow agents, Meristen Trustees Limited and Emerging Africa Trustees Limited. The funds, according to the report, represent the balance of the N25 billion raised by the Obaseki administration from the capital market for the Radisson Blu Hotel project.

    The Assembly said the escrow agreement was invalid because the agents allegedly failed to execute it, while the investor did not comply with the payment schedule. It further claimed that the N10 billion reportedly paid by investors never entered the state government’s coffers.

    The report also urged the government to revoke what it described as a fraudulent Certificate of Occupancy issued to Hospitality Investment and Management Company Limited, renovate the hotel, and put it to use for the benefit of Edo residents.

    Read Also: Why I was attacked, by ex-Daar Communications chief Obaseki

    On the MOWAA project, the Assembly said the land on which the institute was built remained registered in the name of the demolished Central Hospital and was never formally revoked. It added that findings showed the Edo State Government solely funded the construction and development of the MOWAA Pavilion with over N3 billion, with no evidence of donations from foreign or local donors.

    The House further stated that MOWAA’s management failed to provide proof of receiving any donations and recommended that the Edo State Government immediately take over possession of the entire premises on which the institute was built.

    “The title of the property, having never been revoked, remained the property of the Central Hospital, Benin City.

    “The Edo State Government should immediately take all necessary steps to put the property to good use in the best interest of the people of Edo State.”

    Receiving the report, Governor Okpebholo promised that the findings and recommendations would be fully implemented and assured that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would be invited to further examine issues raised in the recommendations.

    Okpebholo explained that changes in the structure and nomenclature of the MOWAA project made the investigation unavoidable.

    “Edo State has spent over ₦3.8 billion on the MOWAA project, yet some people are saying the state has no stake in it. That is totally unacceptable. I will work with your recommendations and forward them to the relevant authorities to investigate what truly happened. We will also involve the EFCC

    “Our investment in the Radisson Blu Hotel project is over ₦28 billion. We must invite the EFCC to step in and determine if this is how businesses are conducted in Nigeria,” he said.

    Besides the MOWAA and Radisson Blu Hotel projects, the Okpebholo administration might set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into alleged abuses of land allocations by Obaseki after allegations

    Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, said “the real commission of inquiry will be devoted to the several abuses on land allocations that dominated the previous government as they freely gifted lands to companies to further their pecuniary interest.”

    At the commissioning of newly acquired tractors by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Governor Okpebholo called for the repatriation of Obaseki to the country.

    Governor Okpebholo said the former Edo Governor must be repatriated to answer critical questions concerning MOWAA as well as ensure clarity and responsibility in the management of public funds.

    According to him, “I want Obaseki back home to come and answer some questions. Edo is not met for 419, and nobody can use Edo to commit international fraud. The Edo government has also been defrauded. With the facts I have, the only ground which I will later show you, it is enough to bring him back to this country.”

    Meanwhile, Obaseki has been engaging in a ‘Meet and Greet’ session with Edo indigenes in the diaspora. The Meet and Greet session has moved across the United States of America, Canada, and Europe.

    The session, according to Media Adviser to the former Edo Governor, was to enable him to thank those who supported his administration from the diaspora. It was at the sessions that Obaseki responded to some of the allegations against him, even as he expressed regret over the abandonment of his many legacy projects.

    Obaseki also denied being the owner or having any vested interest in many of the legacy projects.

    “MOWAA is not my own, just like many of the things we invested in are not mine, but as long as it brings investment to Edo State and grow economy of the state, it is incumbent to support MOWAA. Government money cannot develop a state.

    “How many states can attract that kind of investment in MOWAA today. With that investment being there, see how much that would have come to Edo over that weekend. We can have another economy that is not dependent on oil revenue. The money to be received will be local revenue. This is one thing that could lead to tourism revenue. Look at the injection into the economy, and the original capital is not Edo money. We should have advanced beyond where we are now. It is unreasonable for any Edo man to justify what happened

    “Look at the good things about what you met. The ones that are not good to you, you repair them. The projects Ogbemudia didn’t complete. I completed them. The ones with potential, I worked on. I looked at the plans Ali left behind, and it helped us to make progress. I was hoping for my successor to continue from where I stopped. We did our best to get the civil service working again.

    “We know what we met with CDAs in communities. The purpose of the government is to protect lives, and we built a new security architecture. Why not build on it? Look at the initiatives,

    “If you are happy with one, why not build another? You build on what you met. I am not a happy person. I am not happy with what I see.”

  • Eight killed, four missing as suspected Boko Haram attacks hit Adamawa communities

    Eight killed, four missing as suspected Boko Haram attacks hit Adamawa communities

    The bodies of eight residents have been recovered, while four others remain unaccounted for, following fresh attacks by suspected Boko Haram terrorists on three villages in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

    The latest assaults targeted Zah, Kijing, and Mubang villages, marking the third wave of violence in the area during the Christmas season. Earlier attacks had been reported in the nearby Mayo Ladde and Garaha districts.

    Information gathered on Tuesday morning indicated that the attacks occurred on the night of Monday, December 29, during which several houses were destroyed and residents forced to flee their homes.

    While casualty figures initially varied, the Chairman of Hong Local Government Area, Inuwa Usman Wa’aganda, confirmed that eight bodies had so far been recovered from the affected communities.

    “It is true. Boko Haram attacked Mubang, Zah, and Kijing villages in Hong. For now, eight corpses have been recovered from the three villages, and four persons are still missing,” Wa’aganda said.

    He added that numerous residential buildings and business premises were destroyed before security operatives could reach the villages.

    The Adamawa State Police Command declined to comment on the incident, citing its link to terrorism. However, sources said additional security personnel have been deployed to the area to protect residents and restore calm.

  • Aguele identifies three key Infrastructural gaps facing Nigeria’s AI future in 2026

    Aguele identifies three key Infrastructural gaps facing Nigeria’s AI future in 2026

    As the global race for Artificial Intelligence dominance intensifies, tech and media entrepreneur Benedict Aguele has warned that Nigeria’s potential to lead the continent remains fragile.

     While national ambition is high, Aguele points to three specific physical bottlenecks that will determine whether Nigeria builds its own future or merely consumes technology developed elsewhere.

    Speaking during a meeting with tech entrepreneurs and journalists in Abuja, Aguele highlighted the practical, physical requirements for building a robust AI ecosystem in Nigeria amid intensifying global competition.

    Aguele noted that AI is an industrial process rather than a digital miracle. He stresses that a digital revolution cannot succeed while the physical foundations required to run it are ignored. By 2026, the gap between nations that own technology and those that pay to use it will widen based on how these infrastructure challenges are addressed.

    AI models require massive banks of servers that consume immense amounts of electricity. Nigeria’s current energy instability acts as a ceiling for growth in this sector. Without a dedicated power strategy specifically for data centers, local startups will be forced to host their innovations on foreign servers. This dependency drains the economy of revenue and significantly increases the cost of doing business for Nigerian innovators.

    For AI to serve as a tool for national growth, its reach must extend beyond the tech hubs of Lagos and Abuja. High-speed, reliable internet in rural areas has shifted from a luxury to a basic requirement for development. Aguele warns that if the “last mile” of connectivity is not solved by 2026, AI will likely deepen existing inequality rather than bridge it.

    Many global AI models lack an understanding of the nuances of Nigerian life. Aguele emphasised the urgent need for local data sovereignty. To be effective and accurate, AI systems must be trained on Nigerian accents, local languages, and specific cultural customs. 

    Without an intentional effort to own and curate local data, the country risks being misinterpreted by the very technology meant to serve its citizens.

  • Yemen declares state of emergency, orders withdrawal of UAE troops

    Yemen declares state of emergency, orders withdrawal of UAE troops

     The head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, on Tuesday declared a state of emergency as tensions escalated in the south of the country.

    He also ordered the withdrawal of troops from the United Arab Emirates within 24 hours.

    According to Yemen’s state news agency SABA, the decree also cancels the Joint Defence Agreement between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates.

    The national state of emergency would last for 90 days, al-Alimi said in a televised address. He also announced a shutdown of all ports and border crossings across Yemen for 72 hours.

    The Saudi-backed council led by al-Alimi holds the reins of power in government-controlled areas of Yemen, which has been divided for years by a civil war with Houthi rebels.

    Recently, tensions have increased between Yemen’s Saudi-backed government coalition and the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group backed by the UAE.

    The coalition on Tuesday conducted a “limited airstrike” on two vessels in the southern Yemeni port city of Mukalla, saying they were delivering weapons to the STC.

    The STC has repeatedly defied its partners as it seeks to control larger areas of Yemen and demands secession of the country’s southern region.

    However, the Saudi Foreign Ministry urged the UAE to withdraw its military forces from Yemen and halt all forms of military and financial support to what it called local actors.

    (dpa/NAN) 

  • Police apprehend 14 suspected traffic robbers in Lagos

    Police apprehend 14 suspected traffic robbers in Lagos

    The Police Command in Lagos State has apprehended 14 suspected traffic robbers at different locations on the Lekki–Epe Expressway within the last two weeks.

    The command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed this in a post shared on her X handle @AbimbolaShotayo on Tuesday.

    She said that the command Tactical Squad, Elemoro, apprehended the suspects.

    “The arrests, which were carried out during sustained patrols and intelligence-led operations, are part of ongoing efforts by the command to curb traffic-related crimes and enhance the safety of motorists and other road users along the busy corridor, ” she said.

    According to her, the development underscores the command’s strong commitment to improving security and maintaining law and order on the Lekki–Epe axis.

    The spokesperson said that the Tactical Squad remains proactive in identifying crime hotspots and responding swiftly to threats posed by criminal elements.

    Adebisi urged members of the public to continue supporting the police by providing timely and useful information that can aid crime prevention and detection.

    “Security is a collective responsibility. Members of the public are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station,” she said.

    The image maker reassured residents and commuters of the command’s resolve to sustain aggressive patrols and operations to ensure the safety of lives and property across the area.

    She reiterated the advisory, “See Something, Say Something,” as part of ongoing community policing efforts aimed at strengthening collaboration between the police and the public.

    (NAN)

  • Poorly designed OKRs slowing delivery across Africa’s tech sector — Expert

    Poorly designed OKRs slowing delivery across Africa’s tech sector — Expert

    Qazeem Oladejo, an internationally recognized product management consultant and architect of the Product Ideation Reviewing Tool (PIRT™️), has warned that poorly constructed Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) are quietly fragmenting product organizations and dragging down delivery velocity across Africa’s fastest-growing tech sectors.

    Speaking, Oladejo, whose work spans fintech, healthtech and real estate, said the problem is not the idea of OKRs itself but the way organizations translate strategy into measures. 

    “When objectives are vague and key results read like task lists, you get a dozen teams rowing in different directions and no one accountable for the outcome,” he said. “Misaligned OKRs fragment teams and slow delivery; they turn alignment into theatre rather than a mechanism for decisive learning.”

    Oladejo, whose career has been defined by a disciplined, evidence-driven approach to product leadership, argues that the remedy lies in a simple but profound shift that makes outcomes the unit of work and experiments the unit of learning. His Product Ideation Reviewing Tool, PIRT™️, converts fuzzy ideas into auditable risk maps, surfacing the riskiest assumptions and sequencing Minimum Viable Experiments (MVEs) that prove or disprove those assumptions before large-scale build begins. 

    “Treat every major deliverable as an experiment with a clearly stated hypothesis and success condition,” he told reporters. “If you don’t build a plan to test the thing that matters, you’re just building noise.”

    Oladejo’s method has gained traction among founders and corporate innovation teams precisely because it reframes planning as a measurable pathway rather than a list of features. Proponents say PIRT™️ reduces wasted engineering hours, shortens feedback loops, and forces leadership to allocate attention and capital toward verifiable risk reduction instead of relying on gut instinct. Industry observers point to growing adoption of the framework in startup accelerators and product workshops across the continent.

    The consultant’s credentials give weight to his prescriptions. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants and has been honoured by professional bodies for his contributions to productivity and business innovation. In recent years, Oladejo has received awards recognising his innovation and impact, and his work continues to be widely featured in major outlets where he speaks on topics ranging from data mesh architectures to zero-trust SaaS design. “Recognition is humbling,” he reflected in accepting one such honour, “and it fuels my commitment to uphold the highest professional standards and to continue driving meaningful growth through thoughtful, principled consulting.”

    Practical change, Oladejo insists, is organisational rather than technical. He recommends adapting OKR language so that objectives declare the desired shift in user behaviour or business metric, and key results measure leading indicators that predict the outcome, not just the completion of work. “I often leverage adapted OKR structures that prioritise outcome statements over output commitments,” he said. “That subtle tweak redirects every design discussion and engineering task toward the desired end state.” His interviews and workshops repeatedly emphasize cross-team rituals, shared glossaries, demo sessions and automated data governance, that prevent divergent implementations from sabotaging impact.

    For many leaders wrestling with competing priorities, Oladejo’s message is a call to discipline as reducing ambiguity, instrument experiments rigorously, and elevating validated learning above feature velocity. “When teams can point to an experiment, a hypothesis and a measured learning, you stop arguing about who finished what and start arguing about what we now know,” he said. “That is how organizations become faster, not by shipping more, but by learning more quickly.”

    As African product ecosystems scale, the stakes of this transition are rising. Investors, customers and regulators increasingly demand tangible outcomes. Oladejo’s interventions, from PIRT™️ to his public advocacy for outcome-driven OKRs, are shaping how the region’s product leaders design more resilient, accountable and effective roadmaps.

  • Akpoti-Uduaghan condoles Anthony Joshua, demands urgent road safety reforms

    Akpoti-Uduaghan condoles Anthony Joshua, demands urgent road safety reforms

    Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has commiserated with world boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, over a tragic road accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close friends.

    In a condolence message issued on Tuesday, the senator described the incident as painful and unacceptable, lamenting the recurring loss of lives on Nigerian highways due to poor safety enforcement and weak emergency response systems.

    “My heart goes out to Anthony Joshua at this very painful time,” she said. “Losing two close friends in such a tragic manner is devastating. I pray that God grants him strength and comfort, and that the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace.”

    Beyond expressing sympathy, Akpoti-Uduaghan said the tragedy once again exposed the dangerous condition of the nation’s highways, which she described as “corridors of sorrow” where preventable accidents continue to claim innocent lives.

    She stressed that road safety in Nigeria must no longer be treated as optional, noting that the persistent carnage on major highways amounts to a national emergency requiring urgent and decisive action.

    The senator called on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to intensify enforcement of existing safety regulations, adding that weak compliance and lax monitoring have continued to fuel fatal crashes across the country.

    Read Also: Nigerian celebrities who survived car accidents

    “Rules without enforcement are meaningless,” the Senator said, urging authorities to ensure that traffic and safety laws are applied strictly and without compromise.

    Akpoti-Uduaghan also appealed to the Federal Government to provide well-equipped vehicle rest-in stations and lay-bys along major highways to reduce fatigue-related accidents, especially among long-distance drivers.

    “No driver should be forced to drive endlessly without a safe place to rest,” she said, adding that deliberate investment in rest stations would significantly reduce exhaustion-induced crashes.

    In addition, the lawmaker advocated the establishment of a dedicated Highway Emergency Rescue Team, equipped with ambulances, trauma care units and trained rapid-response personnel to attend to accident victims promptly.

    “Many lives are lost not only because accidents occur, but because help does not arrive on time,” she said. “Nigeria urgently needs a functional highway emergency rescue system that can respond within minutes, not hours.”

    The Senator urged policymakers to treat road safety as a matter of national priority, insisting that meaningful reforms would save thousands of lives every year.

    “This tragedy should not be another headline we forget tomorrow,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said. “It must serve as a turning point for serious highway safety reforms in Nigeria.”

    She reaffirmed her commitment to pursuing legislative and policy measures aimed at protecting lives on Nigerian roads, while again extending her condolences to Anthony Joshua and the bereaved families.

  • Stakeholders sign pact to end female genital mutilation in Oyo

    Stakeholders sign pact to end female genital mutilation in Oyo

    Stakeholders including traditional rulers, religious leaders, representatives of government ministries and agencies, civil society organisations, professional bodies, women’s and youth groups, as well as development partners on Monday signed a pact to end the practice of Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM/C) in Oyo State.

    The agreement was reached at a high-level conference for traditional and religious leaders on transforming social norms and eliminating FGM to promote gender equality in the state.

    The conference, held at the Local Government Training School Hall, Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, was convened by the Centre for Comprehensive Promotion of Reproductive Health (CCPRH) with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and in collaboration with relevant Oyo State institutions.

    The stakeholders said the decision was guided by shared cultural, spiritual and moral values that require the protection of the dignity, health and well-being of every child.

    In separate remarks, participants noted that FGM is not prescribed by any holy scripture and is recognised both internationally and nationally as a harmful practice and a violation of the rights of women and girls. They also referenced Nigeria’s commitment under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.3 to eliminate harmful practices, including FGM, as well as existing national and state laws prohibiting the practice.

    In his welcome address, the Executive Director of CCPRH, Prof. Oladosu Ojengbede, said the meeting was convened to acknowledge the encouraging decline in the prevalence of FGM in Oyo State, while also recognising that many girls and women remain at risk or have already been affected.

    Speaking on prevalence and trends, the Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology said available data indicate that although FGM is declining in Oyo State, the practice remains significant in some communities and local government areas within the state and beyond.

    He expressed concern that the practice is increasingly carried out at younger ages, often before girls are able to speak for themselves. He attributed the persistence of FGM to entrenched social norms, misconceptions about religion and morality, gender inequality and control over girls’ bodies, as well as economic and status-related factors linked to traditional roles.

    According to him, FGM causes serious health, psychological, social and spiritual harm and is prohibited by law. He added that the practice undermines education, economic opportunities and community development, while also contradicting the core values of faiths and cultural heritage.

    On the role of traditional and religious institutions, Prof. Ojengbede noted that traditional and religious leaders possess unique authority to shape beliefs, social expectations and community practices, stressing that their words and actions are critical to ending FGM within families and communities.

    The highlight of the event was the formal declaration of abandonment of FGM by the stakeholders, particularly traditional and religious leaders.

    A key outcome of the pact was the clear denunciation of the practice and a collective commitment to work with relevant government agencies to ensure the complete eradication of FGM by the 2030 deadline.

    “We agree to treat survivors of FGM with respect and compassion and to work with health and social services to facilitate access to care, counseling and support without stigma.

    “‘The traditional rulers, chiefs, rigorous leaders and custodians of indigenous faith in Oyo state commit to speaking clearly and consistently against FGM in sermons, teachings, Palace meetings, councils, ceremonies and public events.

    “We encourage communities to work toward the development and enforcement of community level rules and afreement that discourage FGM and support the protection of girls. We will actively collaborate with relevant Oyo state ministries, agencies, CCPRH, UNFPA and other partners in ensuring the elimination of FGM in Oyo state.

    “We commit to participating in multisectoral platforms, including state and LGA level taskforces to ensure regular dialigue, coordination and follow up on FGM elimination efforts.We will work with authorities and community structures to encourage safety and confidential reporting and to ensure that responses priotise prevention, protection and justice while avoiding a lions that drive the practice underground.

    “‘We support the integration of information on FGM, bodily integrity and gender equality into school based and community based education and life skills programmes”, the agreement reads in part.

  • BREAKING: Court orders remand of ex-AGF Malami, son, wife in Kuje prison

    BREAKING: Court orders remand of ex-AGF Malami, son, wife in Kuje prison

    The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.

    Justice Emeka Nwite also ordered the remand of Malami’s co-defendants—his son, Abubakar Malami, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe—at the same facility.

    The order followed arguments from the defence team led by Joseph Daudu (SAN) and the prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheneacho (SAN).

    Malami and his co-defendants are facing a 16-count money laundering charge filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Read Also: JUST IN: Malami pleads not guilty to 16-count money laundering charges

    In the charge, the EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired at various times to conceal, retain and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to several billions of naira.

    The commission further alleged that the offences, which span several years, involved the use of companies and bank accounts to launder funds, the retention of cash as collateral for loans, and the acquisition of high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations.

    The EFCC also claimed that some of the alleged offences were committed while Malami was serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

    Details shortly…

  • JUST IN: Malami pleads not guilty to 16-count money laundering charges

    JUST IN: Malami pleads not guilty to 16-count money laundering charges

    Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to a 16-count money laundering charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Malami was arraigned alongside his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his fourth wife, Bashir Asabe, who also pleaded not guilty to all the charges read to them by the court registrar.

    The defendants appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    In the charge, the EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired at different times to conceal, retain and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to several billions of naira.

    The anti-graft agency further alleged that the offences spanned several years and involved the use of companies and bank accounts to launder funds, the retention of large sums of cash as collateral for loans, and the acquisition of high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations.

    The EFCC also claimed that some of the alleged offences were committed while Malami was serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

    Details shortly…