The Nation Newspaper

Category: News Update

Minister urges universities to drive Tinubu’s economic agenda

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has called on Nigerian universities to actively support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda of building a prosperous economy that delivers tangible benefits to citizens.

Dr Tijani said the core mandate of universities as centres of teaching and research places a special responsibility on them to translate academic excellence into economic value, and human capital into national productivity, in line with the administration’s goal of building a prosperous, trillion-dollar economy.

He noted that when universities operate in this manner, classrooms become living laboratories, research responds to real constraints, and knowledge directly improves livelihoods.

The minister spoke on Saturday while delivering the 35th Convocation Lecture of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. At the event, he donated a digital innovation laboratory to the 42-year-old state-owned institution to boost technology literacy, digital advancement and access to opportunities.

An honorary degree was conferred on the founder of Optimum Bank and Chairman of Mango Asset Management, Mr Ayo Ojuroye, alongside the award of higher degrees, diplomas and PhD certificates to graduands.

Dr Tijani said the strength of any nation’s economy reflects the relevance of its universities, the quality of their graduates and the productivity of the workforce. He titled his lecture, delivered as a set of remarks, “A Memo Addressed to the University, to Our Graduates, to Government, Industry and Alumni.”

According to him, Nigeria has invested significantly in education, but the critical issue has shifted from access to impact. While acknowledging the importance of certificates, he stressed that national development is driven by applied knowledge and productive skills produced by relevant institutions.

He argued that Nigeria’s challenge is no longer a lack of ambition, but productivity, urging graduands to consistently raise standards in their chosen fields.

Dr Tijani added that national progress would not be measured by the number of policies formulated, but by the deliberate application of skills and knowledge to solve real-world problems.

He further maintained that the combination of graduate quality and workforce competence ultimately shapes a nation’s destiny.

The minister challenged the graduands to reflect on the immediate value they can add to society based on the training and skills acquired at the university, urging them to play their roles effectively in building a stronger nation.

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He said, “Across Nigeria, we have invested heavily in education. With over 270 tertiary instructions in Nigeria, We have built campuses and expanded access. But the defining question of our time is no longer access alone. It is an impact. While Certificates are important, it is not the end goal as nations do not grow on certificates but on applied knowledge and productive skills that come from relevant institutions.

“The most powerful contribution a university can make therefore is excellent teaching, relevant research, and knowledge applied to real problems. Development is not an add-on to scholarship. It is the outcome of relevance.

“No economy grows faster than

the relevance of its universities,

the quality of its graduates,

and the productivity of its workforce.

When learning aligns with real needs,

prosperity becomes an outcome,

not an aspiration.

“Nigeria’s challenge today is not ambition. It is productivity. A prosperous economy is built when skills are applied with purpose. When farmers, engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs, and public servants all raise the standard of what they do.

“Nigeria’s prosperity will not come from policy alone. It will come from millions of Nigerians applying their skills with intent. That includes you.

“No economy grows faster than

the relevance of its universities,

the quality of its graduates,

and the productivity of its workforce.

When learning aligns with real needs,

prosperity becomes an outcome,

not an aspiration.”

The visitor to the University and the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, represented by his Deputy, Engr Noimot Salako – Oyedele, commended the university for its laudable contributions, not only to the state, but Nigeria at large.

He said that the University had continued to uphold the ideals of discipline and knowledge by being first among other universities in the country.

The governor acknowledged the importance of education as the most powerful instrument in shaping the state and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to its advancement in the state.

The state government announced a sum of N2m to the Best Overall Graduating Student, David Bamidele Ajayi and handsome reward of N500,000 each to best graduating students of various Facilities in the school.

The Honorary Doctorate awardee, Ojuroye, pledged to support the University with a donation of 750 seater auditorium at the College of Health Sciences in Sagamu.

He charged the graduands to also impact positively on the institution by contributing their quota to the development of the school that moulded them.

Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, highlighted notable achievements recorded so far by his administration including upgrade of internet facility from 300mbps to 1500mbps.

This development, he said, was aimed at improving accessibility to online resources to enhance academic performance.

The VC commended the federal government for the introduction of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund), which he said had continued to save indigent students from dropping out of school.

“Many of OOU students in this category in their thousands have benefitted from this laudable scheme,” he added.

February 1, 2026
Yusuf’s defection, Kwankwaso and the 2027 Kano election
- By Tunde Rahman
Kano State, the bastion of progressive politics in Northern Nigeria, is going through a turbulent time. This turbulence has caused a tectonic shift in the state’s political map. Mallam Abba Kabir Yusuf, nicknamed Abba Gida-Gida by his numerous supporters, the only governor elected on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and a key lieutenant and protégé of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso – leader of both the party and the Kawankwasiyya Movement – quit the NNPP and the movement. His departure is a big blow to Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya Movement. The seismic shift perhaps presents the biggest challenge to the godfather’s hegemony.

For Kwankwaso, former Minister of Defence in the President Obasanjo’s administration, the disappointment is difficult to mask. He has described Monday, January 26, 2026, the day Abba Gida-Gida formally enlisted in the governing All Progressives Congress, as one that should be marked in the world as a day of ‘betrayal’.

Cloak-and-dagger politics has never been the exception in Kano’s political culture. Over the years and across several republics, Kano has witnessed bitter disagreements among its political leaders that engendered acrimonious parting of ways.

In the Second Republic, the late Abubakar Rimi’s disagreement with his mentor, Malam Aminu Kano, led to a rift that split down the line Aminu Kano’s People’s Redemption Party that brought him to power as governor in 1979. Rimi eventually pitched his tent with the defunct Nigeria Peoples Party, founded by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, to seek re-election in 1983. Sabo BakinZuwo, propped by PRP to contest the Kano governorship election in 1983, would later defeat his opponent, Alhaji Aminu Wali of the National Party of Nigeria, in a closely contested election. However, his tenure was short-lived. The military coup of December 31, 1983, removed him from office.

It has been no different in the Fourth Republic. Dr Umar Ganduje had a bittersweet relationship with his political friend and principal, Rabiu Kwankwaso, leading to the two parting ways. Such was their initial bond that, even after Ganduje served as Kwankwaso’s deputy during his first governorship term from 1999 to 2003, he tapped him again as deputy when he returned as governor for a second term in 2011, after the eight years of Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau.

Defection is normal and part of Nigeria’s politics. The question arising from today’s wave of defections is whether the motive is ideological or for political survival and whether defection is motivated by conflicting political ideas, as was the case in the earlier period referenced, particularly in the case of Rimi and Aminu Kano.

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Abba Gida-Gida says his decision to defect to the APC was not self-serving, but was made in the interest of the people of the state to align with the party at the centre and drive more development to Kano.

“Our return to APC is anchored on the need to work closely with President Bola Tinubu to advance social welfare, infrastructure and inclusive economic development in Kano. This decision was not driven by personal ambition, but by stability, progress and well-being of Kano people,” he had said during his declaration.

Governor Yusuf seemed at pains to leave the NNPP and part ways with his political leader. It’s instructive that, despite the widespread talk of his defection, it took him quite a while and a few postponements before he eventually joined the APC and pitched his tent with the Ganduje political camp he defeated in the 2023 Kano governorship election.

On January 20, 2026, when Governor Yusuf came to the Presidential Villa for a strategic meeting with President Tinubu, apart from addressing his defection concerns, one other issue that dominated discussions was his plea to the President to renew discussions and negotiations with Kwankwaso, persuade him to re-join APC and consider the possibility of working with him.

However, as correctly reported by a national newspaper over the weekend, Kwankwaso appears inflexible and unrealistic in his demands and conditions for enlisting in the governing party, allegedly seeking commitments for the 2031 presidential position – five years away!

Kwankwaso was thrown into shock and disbelief by Abba Gida-Gida’s defection. Still reeling from shock days after, he swore that Yusuf would regret his decision. His tough stance should be understandable. Governor Yusuf is his son-in-law, former Commissioner for Transport and one of his closest associates.

The battle line now seems clearly drawn between the godfather and the godson. Can Kwankwaso recover from the shock of what he called treachery by a man he helped into office as governor? Can the former minister regain his stranglehold on Kano politics and his awesome control of the levers of power in the state? What does Governor Yusuf’s defection portend for his re-election? I will attempt to answer these critical questions shortly.

One crucial point is the fact that Abba Gida-Gida defected from a position of strength. He crossed over to APC with a formidable arsenal: eight National Assembly members, 22 state assembly members and 44 local council chairmen. The APC has also given him an automatic ticket to contest for re-election in 2027.

Leading APC gubernatorial aspirants in the state, notably Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, have already dropped their ambitions, opting to support the governor in 2027. This is a significant decision, particularly by Barau, who had been quite resolute in his preparation for the governorship race, and a demonstration of his humility and loyalty to party leadership.

Will Abba Gida-Gida suffer the same fate in next year’s election as late Abubakar Rimi in 1983? It is yet uncertain.

As indicated earlier, Governor Yusuf has strong supporters in his corner, and his administration is said to be truly pro-people in its governance programmes and infrastructure projects. In his home-base of Gwale Local Government and Kano Central Senatorial District, Abba Gida-Gida, a member of a royal family, is well-liked and has a strong following, even though Senator Rufai Hanga of NNPP, who represents the senatorial zone in the National Assembly, had refused to defect with him.

Senator Barau undoubtedly has a formidable presence in his Kano North, along with Hon. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar Bichi, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, who is from Hagagawa Village. Also for APC in this zone are former deputy governor in the state and former Minister of State for Housing, Abdullahi Gwarzo, and APC deputy govenorship candidate in the last election, Murtala Sule Garo. APC is strong enough there to secure Kano North for Abba Gida-Gida, while Senator Kawu Sumaila, who had earlier in April 2025 defected from NNPP to APC, may do a similar thing for the governor in Kano South, among other things.

A lot, however, will depend on how Governor Yusuf carries on from now till the election, in terms of his relationship with the Kano people and the seriousness of the leaders both in Kano and Abuja, who are with him, to deliver him. There is also the issue of who Kwankwaso’s NNPP will present to slug it out with Abba Gida-Gida, who is yet unknown. That choice too will be a key factor in the election.

Meanwhile, Kwankwaso has begun a recalibration of his fractured NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement.

Fortunately for him, Yusuf’s deputy, Samaila Gwarzo, has refused to join the governor in the defection to the APC. However, his fate hangs in the balance as the governor and his associates mull his impeachment. The governor has an overwhelming majority in the House to carry this through.

Also, some commissioners and a few top functionaries have resigned from Abba Gida-Gida’s government to demonstrate their loyalty to Kwankwaso. This will give initial comfort and strength in his efforts to rebuild his broken political group.

In summary, though seemingly down now, Kwankwaso cannot be ruled out in Kano’s political equation. It will amount to political naivety to contemplate otherwise.

…ahman is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties.
February 1, 2026
Be ambassadors of Christ, Abiodun tells pilgrims

The Ogun State Government has issued strict guidelines to Christian pilgrims travelling to Israel, urging them to remain spiritually focused, disciplined, and law-abiding throughout their stay in the Holy Land.

Governor Dapo Abiodun gave the charge yesterday during a farewell ceremony for the intending pilgrims at the Obas’ Complex, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. He was represented by the Chief of Staff, Dr Taiwo Oluwatoyin.

The governor stressed that the pilgrimage is not a leisure trip but a sacred journey meant for spiritual renewal and deeper communion with God. He urged the pilgrims to conduct themselves with integrity and decorum, noting that they would be representing Ogun State and Nigeria on the international stage.

According to him, unity, cooperation, and strict adherence to established rules are essential for the success of the pilgrimage.

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“Pilgrims must see themselves as ambassadors of the state and the country. Your conduct abroad reflects on all of us, and unity among pilgrims is key to achieving the spiritual purpose of this journey,” Abiodun said.

Also speaking, the Ogun Board Secretary, Mr. Oduyemi Ibiyemi, described the pilgrimage as a strictly spiritual exercise and warned against distractions capable of undermining its essence. He cautioned pilgrims against harbouring intentions of absconding, popularly referred to as the ‘Japa syndrome’.

“You must be intentional to avoid distractions,” Ibiyemi said, advising pilgrims to dress modestly, eat moderately, remain with their assigned groups, obey the laws of the host country, follow tour guides’ instructions, and maintain good conduct throughout the journey.

He added that prayer should remain the central focus of the pilgrimage. Ibiyemi also commended the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his continued support of pilgrimage programmes, describing government efforts as key to ensuring a well-structured and seamless exercise.

The farewell programme also featured sensitisation sessions and briefings for operational staff, including clerics, media personnel, medical officers, and administrative teams, who were taken through their roles and responsibilities to ensure a smooth and hitch-free pilgrimage.

A total of 172 pilgrims from Ogun State are expected to embark on the 10-day holy pilgrimage to Israel this year.

February 1, 2026
Wike inaugurates NDDC 9.4km road, 1,500-seater hall in Rivers community
- They are Renewed Hope dividends of democracy, says Ogbuku
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, has inaugurated 9.4-kilometre Ogu Community Road Network and a 1,500-seater Royal Hall built by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Ogu, Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Speaking at the inauguration of the two projects, Wike said they were further demonstrations of the Federal Government’s determination to develop the Niger Delta region.

He said: “I am overwhelmed by the current level of development in Ogu, facilitated by the NDDC. I have seen the network of concrete roads with drainages and I am impressed.

“The NDDC has impacted positively on the lives of the people of Ogu, and this is largely because of the working understanding between the NDDC Managing Director and the Executive Director, Finance and Administration.

“This is the first time I am participating in the activities of the NDDC, and this is because I am satisfied with the performance of the current leadership of the Commission. They have demonstrated that they are working for the people.”

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The Minister in a statement signed by the NDDC Director, Corporate Communications, Seledi Thompson-Wakama charged all government agencies to join hands to ensure the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In his speech, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, described the road and the town hall as dividends of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He noted that the NDDC was spreading the good news of President Tinubu through tangible results.

He described the FCT Minister as a “champion of development,” with footprints in Rivers State and the nation’s capital.

Ogbuku restated the commission’s commitment to the mandate given to it by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to change the narrative in Nigeria’s oil-producing region.

Ogbuku affirmed that the commission was engaging all stakeholders to ensure harmony and cooperation in developing the Niger Delta region.

In his own remarks, the NDDC Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, noted that the people of Ogu were full of joy over the projects and reassured them that the present board of the Commission would not relent in spreading development to all communities.

In his project brief, the NDDC Director of Project Monitoring and Supervision, Engr. Gbenga Omowale, explained that the Ogu Community Road Network (Phases 1 and 2) comprised a 9.450 km rigid pavement road with an average width of 7.3m.

According to him, the road project covered a total of 12,600km of reinforced concrete line drains, slabs and ring culverts.

Omowale said the road would provide an easy, accessible network connecting the villages in Ogu and its neighbouring communities, as well as improve socio-economic conditions in the communities along the alignment.

On the Royal Hall, the Director explained that the 1,500-seater capacity town hall was furnished with state-of-the-art fittings, including firefighting equipment, at strategic positions, acoustic walls to ensure efficient sound filter and heat absorption, multiple air conditioners to ensure the comfort of the users and an efficient public sound system.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Ogu Divisional Council of Chiefs, Chief Lawrence Egbelekpeke, expressed gratitude to the NDDC for executing various projects in the Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area. He commended the vision and leadership of the NDDC Board and Management, noting that the quality of the projects was exceptional.
February 1, 2026
Sanwo-Olu, others grace Lagos Country Club’s New Year party

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other eminent personalities, on Friday, graced the Lagos Country Club’s 2026 New Year party.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Gbenga Omotoso, said the state shares the can-do spirit of the club as he noted that in spite of the challenges faced in 2025, the state recorded huge successes in different areas that stood it out among others.

His words: “When the president was speaking, he spoke about some of the challenges that the club had last year, some of the crises that the club faced. He was right. These are some of the things that Lagos State shares with this club. In 2025, there were so many challenges. On Christmas Eve, the 25-story Great Nigeria Insurance House building was on fire. And while people were celebrating Christmas, the Governor and I, as well as some other members of the Executive Council, were out there to see how our first responders were doing in curtailing that fire.”

About three days after, he said, “there was a boat accident in which some people died. But then, the challenges of 2025 have grown in 2025. And in Lagos State, we always like to look at the bright side of life.

“In 2025, we made so many admirable feats in Lagos State. 2025 was the year that we hosted the E1 Lagos GP | Africa’s First All-Electric Powerboat Race, the first ever to be hosted anywhere in the black world. And the organisers of the race said that it was the best they had ever seen.

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In 2025, we hosted GITEx. GTEx is the most popular and the biggest exhibition of technology anywhere in the world. The organizers, too, have judged the one hosted by Lagos State as the best so far.

Today, if you talk about Lagos State, people are talking about Detty December; they are talking about all the strides we have made together in tourism, in technology, and in so many other things. Despite all the challenges, we have been able to do all of these things. These are the things that we have in common with Lagos Country Club.

“Our resilience, our courage, our endurance, our can-do spirit, the ability to bounce back when people feel that, oh, this crisis is going to consume them. I would like to say tonight that our members of this club continue to behave the way they have been behaving. They should continue to see the club as a symbol of unity, as a symbol of harmony, and as a symbol of the can-do spirit of our dear state, Lagos State.

The only thing that I would do is to just pray that this club will continue to grow and grow.”

Earlier in his welcome speech, the President of the club, Mr. Seyi Adewunmi, appreciated the guests and appealed to the governor to actively support the club.

“Your Excellency, while we are a self-sustaining body of professionals, our ambitions for infrastructure renewal are vast. As our Patron and a leader who understands the power of institutions, we invite you to actively support these developmental strides.

Your financial support would not only accelerate our facility upgrades, specifically the YES project. Still, it would also serve as a profound investment in a community that remains a critical pillar of support for your administration’s vision for a Greater Lagos.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Aare Kola Oyefeso, said: “As we celebrate the treasure of a new year, we are called to pause, to reflect, and to renew our covenant with one another. It is a very enduring family.In every enduring family, love is not merely spoken. It is demonstrated through understanding, tolerance, and a steadfast commitment to the collective good. These are the pillars upon which Lagos Country Club has been built, and these must remain the hallmarks of our future.”

February 1, 2026
Remain undeterred in enforcing ban on sachet alcohol, RDI urges NAFDAC

The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) not to be intimidated by the alcohol and beverage industry’s blackmail tactics as it presses ahead with enforcing the ban on the production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET bottles, and glass bottles of 200ml or less.

The enforcement exercise which began on 22 January 2026 is the culmination of more than two years of back and forth between NAFDAC and the alcohol industry over the implementation. The Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers, and Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria had signed an agreement with the Ministry of Health and NAFDAC in December 2018 to phase out production of alcohol in sachet and PET bottles less than 200 ml by January 31, 2024.

At the expiration of the deadline a further extension was given to enable members adequately prepare for the ban.

The Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, (FOBTOB), which claimed that the ban has disrupted operations of many of its members in different parts of the country has criticized the policy. There has also been pushback from the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), both of which also hinged their arguments on job losses.

NAFDAC has however insisted that there is no going back on the policy, insisting that its decision was informed by health risks for children whose physiological systems are exposed to alcohol early and the damage it causes.

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RDI Executive Director Philip Jakpor said: ”We must commend NAFDAC for this bold life-saving action. The enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol is long overdue and it is a step in the right direction. NAFDAC must remain undeterred by the usual rhetoric of the beverage and alcohol industry whose line of argument is usually about imaginary job losses because of their prioritization of profits over health.

“We have said it time and again that alcohol harm is a major but under-addressed driver of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and mental health conditions. Not only adults; Children are victims of this menace and science has proven it.”

While dismissing the beverage and alcohol industry arguments, Jakpor pointed out that it is a known and well documented fact that the industry and their front groups deliberately stand in the way of any form of regulation.

He cited the Movendi International 2025 Big Alcohol Exposed Report which documented 1,300 cases and 77 independent studies of the alcohol industry’s global system of interference that obstructs evidence-based alcohol policy despite strong public support.

“The sustained effort by alcohol lobby in Nigeria to kill and bury the enforcement of the sachet alcohol ban through a potential job loss claim is a clear testament that reinforces a statement in the Big Alcohol Exposed Report that the alcohol industry operates through concrete policy arenas, institutional arrangements, and political moments, adapting to local contexts while following a deliberate and recognisable global strategy.

While urging NAFDAC to stand firm in the face of the gathering storm, he said that the new policy is epochal and would be shining example to other African countries that are also entangled in the industry’s web of lies to sustain their grip on consumers including innocent children.

“We use this medium to commend NAFDAC and its director-general, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye for placing the wellness of Nigerian citizens far and above profit motives. Nigerians fully support this action. The false narrative and twisted rhetoric of the alcohol industry to continue business as usual will fail this time”, he insisted.

February 1, 2026
Nwifuru sacks all political appointees, monarchs, community leaders in Ebonyi community

Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State on Saturday dissolved the entire political and traditional leadership structure of Amasiri Community, Afikpo Local Government Area.

This followed a violent attack on Okporojo Village, Oso Edda Community in Edda Local Government Area on Thursday, during which four persons were reportedly beheaded.

The attack has been blamed on the people of Amasiri who the Okporojo people have been having a boundary dispute.

Houses and properties worth millions were also destroyed in the area.

The governor announced the sweeping sanctions on Saturday, during an on-the-spot assessment visit to Okporojo Village, where he addressed residents, community leaders, security agencies and government officials.

Visibly saddened by the incident, Nwifuru described the attack as “most unfortunate” and said he never expected such a level of brutality to occur in the state.

He assured the affected community that the state government would decisively deal with those responsible; stressing that the lives lost would not be in vain.

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“I am very pained by this development. As a careful leader, when you are angry, you speak less. But I want to assure you that the government of Ebonyi State will show the perpetrators what it truly means to be a government,” the governor said.

He urged residents to remain calm and embrace peace, warning that retaliatory violence would only worsen the situation.

According to him, government actions would be firm but guided by the need to prevent further escalation of the crisis.

Nwifuru revealed that the conflict had lingered for years despite several reconciliation efforts, including boundary agreements between the affected communities, lamenting that such agreements were not respected.

He noted that his visit was a “strong signal” that the state would no longer tolerate lawlessness or disregard for the rule of law.

Turning to the role of the Amasiri Community in the crisis, Nwifuru issued a stern warning, stating that violence would never lead to a meaningful resolution.

He cautioned that the situation was fast approaching “a point of no return” if provocations continued.

Consequently, the governor announced the immediate dissolution of the Amasiri Town Development Union and its executive members.

He also ordered the withdrawal of the traditional ruler’s certificate and the removal of all village heads in the Amasiri autonomous community.

He also ordered the sack of all political appointees from Amasiri Community, from members of management committees up to commissioners serving in his administration.

“For the time being, all these structures are dissolved. We will do more, and we will show everyone why we are a government,” Nwifuru declared.

Police arrest 10 suspects over murder of four

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested ten suspects in connection with the killing of four persons during a violent communal attack.

According to the Police, four villagers—three men and one woman—lost their lives in the incident, while several mud houses were razed. Windows of a church building were also vandalised, and harvested paddy rice was destroyed during the violence.

In response to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, CP Adaku Uche-Anya, fdc, on January 30, 2026, visited the affected community for an on-the-spot assessment of the damage.

Upon receiving the report of the attack, she ordered the immediate deployment of tactical squads and personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) to the area to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

The Police Command said the deployment has successfully restored calm and normalcy in the community.

She disclosed that ten suspects had already been arrested in connection with the killings, adding that investigations were ongoing to apprehend other individuals involved.

The Commissioner warned communities across the state against resorting to self-help or taking the law into their own hands, stressing that the Police would not tolerate acts of violence arising from communal or land disputes.

She further assured residents that security presence in the area would be sustained until the situation is fully resolved.

February 1, 2026
Public schools surge from 117,000 to 300,000 in Abia

The Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, says that public school enrolments in the state have skyrocketed from 117,000 last year to over 300,000 this January, tripling the number of school children in our public schools.

Otti stated this in Umuahia, the state capital, at the banquet hall of Government House, Umuahia during the January edition of his monthly media interaction tagged “Governor Otti Speaks to Abians”

Otti said that the positive results coming out from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education concerning the increase in the enrolment is the kind of results he wants.

“That’s exactly the kind of result we expect. It’s good news. The recruitment of 4,000 additional teachers is on at the moment. We are paying a lot of attention to make sure that things move smoothly.

“We will continue with our push to make education available and affordable to every Nigerian living here. Reconstruction projects continue in different schools.

“The renovation, rebuilding, retrofitting of hostels, offices in the Abia State University, Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu, are still ongoing”

Otti, who noted that a lot of projects are getting to finishing stages, disclosed that his administration would be commission the Omenuko Bridge and the Abam – Okobo – Amuvi – Arochukwu road.

The State Chief Executive also announced that he would soon flag-off the reconstruction of the Uratta road and Old Express road to achieve the complete recovery of Aba.

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The Governor further informed Abians that the government would be flagging off the Pocket Layout Housing Estate construction and other housing estate projects including, Mbaisii, Mgbarakuma, and another one in Ubakala.

Otti said that his government had signed a ground breaking partnership to digitally create and rate every hotel and hospitality facility in the State.

“In the next few months, all the hotels in the State will be accessed using the Global Positioning System, and verified criteria that is used to classify hotels, guest houses, and lodges.

“So, at the click of a button, you can see the hotels, get their rates, and then be ready to make your choice without necessarily visiting,” Otti stated.

In the area of science and technology, the Governor disclosed that the State is launching a pilot bio-gas programme at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

He informed the people that the whole idea is to turn waste into clean energy, to provide Abia with renewable energy from bio-gas.

“This is a pilot programme, so, instead of the waste that we are disposing of, we can turn that with this technology into clean energy. We will be able to power a whole lot more places, particularly in the Umuahia ring fence,” he said.

The Governor reported that the “Project Ekwueme Phase 1 project which is 200 primary healthcare centres have been completed and many of them functionalised, while those that have not been functioning will be functioning soon. He informed the people that plans are in place to start the 2nd phase of the project Ekwueme initiative.

He added that, “We insist that before a primary health care centre is functionalized, it must have not just all the facilities and minimum standards that we have set up.

” We insist that before we open any primary healthcare centre, we must have healthcare professionals around those centres.

“We hired over 600 health care professionals recently and we are deploying them. Some of them have now resumed. As they resume, we will continue to functionalize more.

“We also have awarded the construction of a brand new general hospital in Ndoki, Ukwa East. Just recently, a contractor took over the site,” the governor further revealed.

On the CKC Aba water project flagged off last year, Otti said that the project was almost completed and would be commissioned soon to supply water to parts of Aba, while the Ariaria area and other regional water schemes including that of Umuahia would soon be flagged-off.

The Governor added that all efforts are geared towards making available pipe borne water to every household in the State as was the case in the past and announced that the Water project at the Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu is ninety percent completed and would be made to supply water in other parts of Arochukwu.

February 1, 2026
LASACO, NIIA, AASME, royal fathers call for strategic cultural diplomacy

Nigeria must urgently reposition itself by deploying culture as a strategic national asset capable of driving economic growth, strengthening global reputation, and attracting international investment, Chief (Mrs.) Olateju Philips,Chairman of LASACO Assurance Plc, made the call in her keynote address, titled ‘Repositioning Nigeria through Strategic Cultural Engagement,’ at the Maiden Cultural Diplomacy Conference held in Lagos,

The event brought together traditional rulers, policymakers, government functionaries, business leaders, cultural practitioners, development partners, and students from Nigerian universities.

Describing cultural diplomacy as more than soft power, Philips said culture represents reputation capital that lowers investor risk, attracts tourism, and builds diplomatic trust.

She stressed that Nigeria’s music, film, fashion, and art exports are not merely entertainment but credible ambassadors of national standards, capable of signalling structured opportunity to the global community.

Adding a diplomatic perspective, she called for stronger institutions, investments in cultural infrastructure, protection of intellectual property rights, and “triple-helix collaboration” between government, private sector, and cultural stakeholders to unlock the full economic value of the creative sector.

Ambassador Zainah Mohammed, Convener said the event aims to strengthen Africa’s cultural presence in global discourse, train young cultural diplomats, and promote heritage preservation and creative economy development.

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She disclosed that selected students would undergo mentorship to help them tell African stories and promote positive narratives across borders.

Speaking President, Dr Ebiekure Jasper Eradiri, of All-African Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (AASME), represented by Dr Anire Okogun urged African governments to place culture and SMEs at the heart of trade diplomacy.

Dr Okogun said from a continental economic angle, African entrepreneurs are already practising cultural diplomacy through cross-border trade and innovation, but face challenges including complex regulations, weak digital infrastructure, and limited market intelligence.

She called for harmonised customs systems and SME-friendly policies to support inclusive growth.

Hajia Islamiat Oshodi, National President of the Association of Childhood Education Practitioners (ACEP), speaking on values and upbringing, she urged parents to instill positive cultural values in children from an early age, stressing that African culture promotes language, food, fashion, music, hospitality, and tourism.

The conference was graced by the Royal Father of the Day, HRH King Sir Emperor J.D. Nkpe II, JP, Paramount Ruler of Eleme Kingdom, Rivers State, who emphasised the role of traditional institutions in preserving African values and serving as custodians of heritage in a rapidly globalising world.

Also present was Alhaja Sinatu Aderoju Ojikutu, the first elected female Deputy Governor in Nigeria, who called for greater integration of culture into governance and national development strategies, noting that leadership without cultural consciousness risks losing national identity and social cohesion.

Other prominent voices included Prof. Eghosa Oshahae, Director-General of NIIA, who spoke on bridging nations through cultural diplomacy; Ms Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, Founder of the Nigeria Network of NGOs; and Mrs Yekeene-Ajani, President of Women in Fashion Tech, who urged young people to embrace culture as a pathway to purpose, entrepreneurship, and global relevance.

Mrs Helen Onwuau, Head of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), described culture as a strategic asset for nation-building and sustainable development, noting that cultural diplomacy strengthens people-to-people relations and enhances Nigeria’s credibility in international affairs.

Highlighting the creative dimension of the event, Engr Oyama Osam Ntun thrilled the audience with Africa Ekuum Bass with electrifying and mystic performance m

Barrister Adeyinka Titilayo Adeyafa captivated the audience with spoken-word poetry celebrating Africa’s rich cultural heritage, while fashion parades and traditional performances showcased the diversity of African identity.

Stakeholders at the conference concluded that cultural diplomacy, when aligned with economic strategy, offers Nigeria and Africa a human-centred, inclusive, and sustainable pathway to global influence and shared prosperity, with traditional institutions, government leadership, and the creative economy acting as key drivers of a reimagined global identity.

February 1, 2026
Nigeria’s real problem is indiscipline not corruption- NBA chairman

Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Epe Branch, Dr. S.O. Jimoh, has said Nigeria’s crisis goes beyond corruption, arguing that indiscipline is the root cause of the country’s challenges.

In a statement released recently, the legal practitioner described corruption as merely a symptom of a deeper national failure, stressing that without discipline, meaningful progress would remain elusive.

According to Jimoh, Nigerians are often labeled ungovernable, but their behaviour abroad tells a different story.

He pointed out that at least four to five flights leave Nigeria for the United Kingdom daily, each carrying between 300 and 500 passengers—most of them Nigerians. “On Nigerian soil, many of these passengers are loud and unruly,” he said.

“But once they land at Heathrow or Gatwick, you suddenly see calm, orderly, and disciplined Nigerians.”

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‎‎The Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law at Crescent University explained that the difference lies in enforcement. In the UK, he noted, discipline is non-negotiable, and minimum behavioural standards are strictly upheld—unlike in Nigeria, where he said anything often goes.‎

‎“When leadership lacks discipline, the citizens will reflect it,” Jimoh stated. “When the home is undisciplined, the children will be the same. And when schools lack discipline, the outcome is predictable.”‎

‎Recalling the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) introduced during the Babangida–Idiagbon era, Jimoh said Nigerians once queued at bus stops and avoided littering, not because they had changed overnight, but because standards were enforced.

‎‎He argued that a government unable to manage basic systems such as waste disposal would struggle to manage a complex society, adding that Nigeria urgently needs a nationwide minimum standard of discipline.

‎‎Jimoh also praised former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, for what he described as a significant improvement in orderliness and civic discipline during his tenure.

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‎On corruption, the NBA chairman insisted that it can never truly end unless indiscipline is tackled first.

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‎“Corruption is a fruit, not the seed,” he said. “Indiscipline is the tree. Fighting corruption alone is like cutting leaves while leaving the roots intact.”

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‎He further clarified that corruption itself is not a specific criminal offence under Nigerian law.

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‎“There is no crime called corruption,” Jimoh explained. “It is a collective name for different acts of indiscipline that have been criminalised.”

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‎He added that many practices—such as favouritism, nepotism, and lobbying—remain legal in Nigeria despite being forms of corruption in practical terms.

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‎“These behaviours thrive because they have not been criminalised,” he said. “Until discipline becomes a national culture, corruption will simply keep reinventing itself.”

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February 1, 2026