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  • Radda chairs PPP capacity workshop for Katsina executive council

    Radda chairs PPP capacity workshop for Katsina executive council

    Governor Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina State on Saturday chaired a one-day capacity-building workshop on Public–Private Partnerships (PPP) for members of the State Executive Council.

    The workshop, organised by the Katsina State Investment Promotion Agency (KIPA), was aimed at strengthening policy-level understanding and leadership oversight of PPPs as a strategic tool for infrastructure development, improved service delivery and sustainable economic growth in the state.

    Declaring the workshop open, Radda said PPPs have become an essential instrument for governments seeking to bridge infrastructure gaps while ensuring fiscal discipline and value for money.

    He urged members of the Executive Council to fully understand and internalise the principles, processes and governance requirements of PPP arrangements in order to deliver tangible benefits to the people of the state.

    According to him, the workshop builds on reforms already undertaken by the state government to institutionalise PPPs.

    The governor highlighted the creation of a dedicated PPP portal to enhance transparency and investor engagement, as well as provisions in the current state budget for PPP project preparation and facilitation. He said the measures demonstrate the government’s commitment to moving from policy formulation to implementation.

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    In his welcome address, the Director-General of KIPA, Alhaji Ibrahim Jikamshi, said the workshop forms part of a structured capacity-building programme designed to deepen knowledge of PPP frameworks among top government officials.

    Jikamshi recalled that the agency organised both an appreciation workshop and an intermediary-level workshop in the previous year for officers of key ministries, departments and agencies across the state. He said the sessions were aimed at building foundational understanding of PPP concepts and processes.

    He added that members of the State Executive Council–led PPP Project Facilitation Committee would participate in a follow-up workshop focused on the governance and management structure of the Project Facilitation Fund.

    According to him, the next phase is expected to strengthen coordination, oversight and leadership in managing resources for PPP project development in the state.

  • Adeboye urges Nigerians to rely on God’s ‘divine insurance’ amid insecurity

    Adeboye urges Nigerians to rely on God’s ‘divine insurance’ amid insecurity

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has urged Nigerians to place their trust in what he described as a “Divine Insurance Policy” with God, particularly in the face of rising insecurity across the country.

    Adeboye made the appeal during a sermon at the church’s monthly Thanksgiving and special prayer service for the transportation sector and their families, held at the RCCG national headquarters in Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

    Drawing from Psalm 91, he described the scripture as a covenant of protection, security and longevity for believers, stressing that genuine safety is not rooted in human policies or assurances.

    The service, themed “Divine Insurance,” was attended by leaders in the transportation industry, church members and students of Redeemer’s College of Technology and Management (RECTEM).

    “A human insurance policy has limits, but the divine insurance from God provides a complete, heavenly shield,” Adeboye said, adding that true security is found in God’s presence, which offers refuge from danger and calamity.

    He explained that God’s protection extends beyond the scope of human institutions, providing peace of mind, restful sleep and inner satisfaction.

    “You cannot call an insurance company and ask, ‘How much should I pay to sleep well at night?’ They will tell you they don’t cover that. But my God does,” he said.

    Adeboye, however, noted that access to what he described as divine protection is conditional, stating that it is reserved for God’s children and requires a life of holiness, obedience and faithful service.

    “There is a premium for this divine insurance. If you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God and follow His commands, you have no reason to worry. God promises not only to cover you but to bless you abundantly,” he said.

    He urged believers to turn away from sin and remain committed to God’s will in order to remain under what he described as heavenly protection.

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    Speaking to journalists after the service, the General Overseer’s Special Assistant on Administration, Pastor Oladele Balogun, said insecurity is often viewed solely as a governance issue, but added that safety also has a spiritual dimension.

    He illustrated his point with the account of a woman who avoided travelling by road due to fear of accidents, only to be struck by a vehicle outside her home.

    “The concept of divine insurance addresses the fear that affects daily life,” Balogun said. “Many people hesitate to travel, but under God’s cover, it does not matter whether you move by day or night—you will be secure.”

    Balogun also linked national security to societal values, noting that vices such as bloodshed, deceit and corruption undermine spiritual protection.

    “That is why I call on Nigerians to return to God. Let us reject evil, wickedness and sin. When we turn to God and obey His will, we remain under His divine protection,” he said.

  • Pipeline surveillance: End ethnic campaign against Tantita, N’ Delta activist cautions

    Pipeline surveillance: End ethnic campaign against Tantita, N’ Delta activist cautions

    Niger Delta activist, Comrade Preye Tambou, has warned ethnic groups in Delta State calling for the cancellation of the Federal Government’s pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), to desist forthwith.

    He described the agitation as dangerous and divisive.

    Tambou, speaking to reporters in Warri, said the campaign against Tantita on ethnic grounds threatens peaceful coexistence and undermines national security, stressing that the gains recorded in the oil and gas sector since the company took over surveillance duties are evident.

    He noted that Nigeria’s crude oil production had been at a historic low before the engagement of private surveillance firms, adding that output improved only after Tantita commenced operations.

    Tambou argued that pipeline surveillance is a Federal security contract, not an ethnic entitlement, and must be awarded strictly on merit and competence.

    “Those agitating for cancellation of the pipeline surveillance job awarded to Tantita over ethnic grounds should discontinue such a puerile position,” Tambou said, warning that it could set “dangerous trends among ethnic groups in Delta State and beyond.”

    He added, “When agitation shifts from ‘fix the system’ to ‘cancel it if I am not in charge,’ it stops being just and becomes elite competition by protest.

    “Pipeline surveillance is not ‘common wealth’; it is a Federal security contract. You do not share a security contract the way you share revenue allocation; you earn it by capacity, trust, and results.”

    He cautioned against proposals to fragment surveillance jobs among communities, warning that such an approach would fuel arms proliferation and weaken national security.

    “The idea of ‘community guarding pipelines’ is a security nightmare,” Tambou said. “Fragmenting surveillance into hundreds of community fiefdoms would militarize communities, encourage extortion, create parallel armed structures, and collapse national energy security.”

    Addressing allegations of corruption and wealth display, Tambou dismissed them as speculative without evidence.

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    “Owning a Rolls-Royce is not proof of theft; spending dollars is not proof of corruption. If corruption exists, produce court-tested evidence, not gossip,” he said.

    He maintained that the real metric should be oil theft reduction, noting that production rebounded after surveillance reforms, even if theft has not been completely eliminated.

    Tambou also accused critics of selective outrage, recalling that previous surveillance contracts handled by other firms did not attract similar ethnic protests.

    “The only thing that changed is the face of the contractor, and that alone reveals the dishonesty behind the current hysteria,” he said.

    He urged Nigerians to focus on oversight and performance rather than ethnic hostility. Starting: “Criticism is legitimate, but ethnic hate is not. Reform what is imperfect, audit what is powerful, prosecute what is criminal, but never destroy what is functional without a superior alternative.”

  • Group advocates stronger funding for cancer care as survivors, advocates march in Abuja

    Group advocates stronger funding for cancer care as survivors, advocates march in Abuja

    Cancer survivors, advocates and civil society groups have urged the Federal Government and other key stakeholders to give greater attention to Nigeria’s high cancer burden, the rising cost of treatment and persistent gaps in access to care.

    Project Pink Blue said more focused action by government and stakeholders, alongside increased public awareness, has become urgent given that Nigeria records about 127,000 new cancer cases each year, with an estimated 79,000 deaths, which translates to a mortality rate of more than 50 per cent.

    “Other countries have higher diagnosis rates but lower mortality. That’s where we hope to get to and that is why the public must be made aware of the cancers,” Programme Associate with Project Pink Blue, Faridah Banwo said.

    This emerged on Saturday when advocates and public health experts took to the streets of Abuja in a road walk organised by Project Pink Blue to mark World Cancer Day.

    The walk, held under the global theme ‘United by Unique’, was aimed at highlighting the different cancer journeys faced by patients while pressing for stronger government support, especially increased funding for cancer treatment, Banwo explained.

    The 8-kilometer walk, which also featured skating, a 10 km marathon, and 40 km cycling race, according to her, was focused on awareness and advocacy, noting that many cancer patients in Nigeria are forced to choose between basic needs and life-saving treatment.

    “To treat cancer, it’s very expensive here in Nigeria. Cancer patients have to determine, do they want to buy food or do they want to buy medication?” she said, adding that incomplete treatment due to lack of funds remains common.

    She called on the Federal Government to increase allocations to the Cancer Health Fund and urged state and local governments to establish their own cancer health funds to reach more patients and reduce treatment abandonment.

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    Banwo said Project Pink Blue supports cancer patients beyond awareness, providing psychological support, patient navigation and information on appropriate health facilities to reduce late diagnosis and misdiagnosis, which she described as a major contributor to cancer deaths.

    She also highlighted the organisation’s Pink Blue mobile app, designed to help patients and caregivers locate functional treatment centres and access reliable information.

    “You don’t just come down to Abuja from another state and find out that the machine is not working,” she said.

    Banwo said the road walk was part of broader efforts to push cancer awareness beyond hospitals and conferences, taking the message directly to the public in the hope of driving early detection, policy action and sustained support for patients.

    A colon cancer survivor of five years, Fortune Osilem, who joined the walk, said early detection saved her life and urged Nigerians to go for regular check-ups.

    “It’s not a death sentence. The earlier you detect it, the better your chances,” he said, while cautioning against stigmatizing patients.

    On his part, the General Manager of Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Martin Zarybnicky, said the hotel partnered the initiative as part of its commitment to supporting health and charity causes, noting that cancer awareness requires collective effort from government, private sector and the public.

  • Ex-Don urges fair pipeline surveillance contracts to avert Niger Delta crisis

    Ex-Don urges fair pipeline surveillance contracts to avert Niger Delta crisis

    A former university lecturer, Dr. Youpele Banigo, has called for a more equitable distribution of oil and gas pipeline surveillance contracts to prevent what he described as a looming conflict in the Niger Delta.

    Banigo said the current pipeline surveillance arrangement was heavily imbalanced and could fuel resentment and disillusionment among oil-producing communities that bear the brunt of exploration activities.

    The scholar, who once served on the Presidential Technical Committee on the Niger Delta, recalled that the committee’s 2008 report strongly recommended meaningful participation of host communities in protecting critical national oil assets.

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    “Our vision at the time was for broad, inclusive participation by all producing communities,” Banigo said.

    He noted that the report also anticipated the need to build capacity among local stakeholders, stressing that although such a process might pose initial challenges, it could be addressed through a structured and inclusive framework.

    Banigo urged relevant stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to propose a model that would guarantee every oil-producing community a fair opportunity to participate in pipeline surveillance activities.

    According to him, the most practical step would be to unbundle the existing arrangement and restructure it in a way that ensures equitable and participatory involvement across oil-producing areas.

    He warned that failure to adopt a more inclusive model could heighten tensions in the region, with negative implications for security and crude oil production.

  • Traditional ruler, political leaders, stakeholders call for investment, peace in Oba-Oke

    Traditional ruler, political leaders, stakeholders call for investment, peace in Oba-Oke

    Traditional authorities, political leaders and community stakeholders in Oba-Oke, Osun State, have called for increased investment, improved infrastructure and sustained peace as critical pillars for the town’s development.

    The calls were made during the 27th Oba-Oke Day celebration, which attracted government officials, political figures, community leaders and sons and daughters of the town from within and outside the state.

    In his address, the Oloba of Oba-Oke, Oba Adam Bamidele Iyiola Yusuf Esutola II, urged residents to maintain peaceful relations with neighbouring communities and cautioned youths against thuggery and other social vices capable of undermining development. The monarch encouraged young people to pursue education and vocational skills that would enable them to be self-reliant.

    The Chairman of the Oba-Oke Development Union (ODU), TPL Yakubu Oladipupo Abdul-Ganiyu, highlighted the town’s agricultural strength and expanding fishing activities, noting that Oba-Oke produces cocoa, kolanut, rice, maize, cassava, yam and plantain. He added that despite these advantages, inadequate infrastructure continues to limit economic growth.

    Abdul-Ganiyu appealed to private investors and Oba-Oke indigenes in the diaspora to take advantage of the town’s peaceful environment, fertile land and strategic location, while also calling on government authorities to provide enabling infrastructure to support investment.

    Speaking at the event, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2026 Osun election, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), expressed concern over the state of infrastructure in Oba-Oke, describing the condition of access roads, schools and public facilities as unsatisfactory.

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    Oyebamiji said the continued neglect of the town, particularly the underutilisation of the Owala Dam, represents a missed opportunity for job creation and economic expansion. He stated that the dam has the potential to support tourism, agriculture and other commercial activities if properly developed.

    He assured residents that, if elected governor in 2026, his administration would prioritise the rehabilitation of roads, improvement of schools and the full development of the Owala Dam, drawing on his experience as former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

    Also speaking, the Chief Launcher of the event, Rt. Hon. Busayo Oluwole Oke, a member of the House of Representatives, stressed the importance of effective collaboration between local and state governments to ensure that public funds are directed toward priority development projects.

    The Chief Host, Ambassador Issah Adedotun Niniola, thanked guests and donors for their support, noting that community-driven projects remain essential to Oba-Oke’s progress. He called for sustained unity among residents and stakeholders to advance the town’s development agenda.

    The celebration ended with a collective appeal to Oba-Oke indigenes in the diaspora to return home with ideas, capital and partnerships, reinforcing the message that sustainable development will require unity between government, traditional institutions, and the people.

  • City Boy Movement appoints Blankson as Bayelsa state director

    City Boy Movement appoints Blankson as Bayelsa state director

    The national leadership of the City Boy Movement has appointed Bayelsa-based All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Osomkime Blankson, as the organisation’s State Director.

    The appointment, announced in a statement, is part of efforts to strengthen the movement’s grassroots structures and expand programmes aimed at youth engagement and leadership development across the South-South region.

    Blankson, who also holds traditional recognition, expressed appreciation to the national leadership for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to use the platform to advance initiatives that empower young people in the state.

    “I am honoured by this appointment and fully committed to building a strong, inclusive and purpose-driven City Boy Movement in Bayelsa State, aligned with our national vision,” he said.

    According to the letter conveying his appointment, Blankson will serve as the principal representative of the movement in Bayelsa State and is expected to coordinate activities in line with guidance from the National Secretariat.

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    The statement noted that the City Boy Movement operates under the leadership of its Grand Patron, Mr. Seyi Tinubu, and focuses on structured youth engagement, civic participation and leadership development among young Nigerians.

    Observers say the group has increasingly positioned itself as a platform for mentoring young people, promoting skills development and encouraging participation in community-building initiatives. With the new appointment, attention is expected to centre on expanding programmes that foster entrepreneurship, capacity building and constructive social involvement among youths in Bayelsa.

    The movement reiterated its commitment to nurturing future leaders and creating opportunities for young Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to national development through education, engagement and empowerment initiatives.

  • PEBEC, NPA set to achieve 7-day cargo dwell time, facilitates seamless trade

    PEBEC, NPA set to achieve 7-day cargo dwell time, facilitates seamless trade

    The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has concluded a three-day high-level stakeholder engagement in Lagos, to reduce cargo dwell time and improve vessel turnaround time to attract investment and facilitate seamless trade.

    Titled “Achieving a 7-Day Cargo Dwell Time,” the session brought together the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee (PCEC) under the Business Environment Enhancement Programme Accelerator (BEEPA) framework and hosted by the NPA was geared towards streamlining port processes to bolster the ease of doing business across the nation’s sea ports.

    The engagement, which was held at the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) in Apapa, followed an extensive “shadowing” exercise where officials observed real-time vessel berthing and cargo clearance operations at both the Tin-Can Island and Lagos Port Complexes (LPC).

    Speaking at the event, the Director General of PEBEC, Zahrah Mustapha emphasised that the session was designed to move beyond identifying hurdles toward implementing long-overdue practical solutions.

    “Nigeria loses significantly every day due to operational inefficiencies.These are not just numbers; they represent missed opportunities, jobs not created, and delayed economic growth. This reform is about resilience and unlocking the nation’s economic potential,” Mustapha said.

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    He noted that the initiative integrates both government regulators and private sector stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability, with the ultimate goal of reducing cargo dwell time and improving vessel turnaround time.

    In his address, the Managing Director of the NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho reiterated the Authority’s commitment to supporting PEBEC’s mandates.

    He highlighted the NPA’s progress including collaborating with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to deploy the Port Community System (PCS) which will serve as the digital backbone for the National Single Window, a move expected to eliminate manual bottlenecks and synchronize port operations.

    Recall that the NPA achieved a 100% success rate in PEBEC reforms, ranking 5th among agencies in 2025 with an 84.2% compliance rating.

    The outcomes of this engagement are expected to be implemented within the coming months. By closing the operational gaps identified during the port inspections, the NPA and PEBEC aim to create a more competitive maritime environment that attracts investment and facilitates seamless trade.

  • Nigerian social media tracking App, Kluoto, thrives in UK

    Nigerian social media tracking App, Kluoto, thrives in UK

    A Nigerian-developed social media tracking and monetisation application, Kluoto, is recording strong traction in the United Kingdom, marking a major milestone in its push to expand beyond Africa.

    The platform, founded by Nigerian tech entrepreneur Chukwuemeka Martins Osuofia, is currently based in the UK, where it now attracts the bulk of its user traffic, even as plans are underway to extend operations to the United States.

    Speaking recently on Lagos Television, Osuofia said the app was built to empower youths, businesses and content creators by offering financial rewards largely unavailable on conventional social media platforms.

    He explained that Kluoto was designed with a strong economic focus, aimed at giving users tangible value for the time and engagement they invest online, while also contributing to Nigeria’s broader digital economy.

    According to him, Nigerian users enjoy exclusive benefits on the platform, including an hourly earning feature, introduced to ensure local content creators are compensated for the time they spend engaging on the app.

    Osuofia noted that unlike platforms such as YouTube, where users must meet specific thresholds before monetisation begins, Kluoto allows instant earnings as users interact with content.

    He added that the company is open to granting exclusivity to its Nigerian database, provided it receives the necessary institutional and ecosystem support.

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    The founder also disclosed that content regulation remains a priority for the developers, particularly amid the growing spread of deepfake materials online, stressing that measures have been put in place to ensure authenticity on the platform.

    Kluoto was registered in Nigeria last year and is currently in its first year of operations in the country.

    The firm recently unveiled its new brand identity alongside a tracking feature that enables users to monitor engagement and earnings in real time.

    In a statement signed by the company’s Social Media Manager, Didi Edem, the firm said the rebrand signals a new phase in its mission to redefine how users interact, create content and earn online.

    The statement added that the new tracking tool provides engagement insights via an intuitive dashboard, allowing users to see how consistency on the platform translates into rewards, as Kluoto gains momentum not just as an app, but as a growing movement centred on African creators.

  • Davis Cup: Adeleye fights back to secure vital win over Uzbekistan

    Davis Cup: Adeleye fights back to secure vital win over Uzbekistan

    Nigeria’s number one player, Daniel Adeleye, produced a determined comeback to defeat Abdulaziz Usmonjonov of Uzbekistan in the Davis Cup World Group II Playoffs on Saturday at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club.

    After dropping the opening set, Adeleye showed composure and grit to record a 4–6, 6–2, 6–4 victory, earning Nigeria a crucial point and reigniting the home side’s challenge in the tie.

    Usmonjonov started brightly, using his consistency and court coverage to edge the first set. Adeleye, however, responded like a top-ranked player, raising his intensity in the second set as he began to dictate rallies and put pressure on his opponent’s serve, racing to a 6–2 win.

    The deciding set was tightly contested, with both players refusing to give ground.

    Backed by a lively Lagos crowd, Adeleye displayed resilience and maturity in the key moments, breaking late before calmly serving out the match to seal a memorable victory.

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    Speaking after the match, the Nigerian number one highlighted the importance of staying mentally strong.

    “I knew I had to be patient and trust my game, even after losing the first set,” Adeleye said. “Playing at home gives me extra motivation, and I’m happy I could deliver for the team.”

    Usmonjonov acknowledged the shift in momentum, admitting Adeleye’s improved level made the difference.

    The win proved pivotal for Nigeria as the tie remained finely balanced, with Adeleye’s performance underlining his leadership role and importance to the team’s hopes in the World Group II Playoffs.