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Category: News

  • SDP demands real-time electronic transmission of election results

    SDP demands real-time electronic transmission of election results

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has raised a strong and urgent voice in defense of transparency, accountability, and the collective will of the Nigerian people.

    In a press statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP expressed deep concern over what it described as deliberate and unpatriotic resistance by the leadership of the 10th Senate to meaningful electoral reforms.

    At the heart of this resistance, the party noted, is the refusal to provide a clear legislative mandate for the real-time electronic transmission of election results—an issue Nigerians have spoken about with one voice.

    Across the country, citizens have made their position unmistakably clear. During the extensive nationwide public hearings conducted by the Senate in 2025 on the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2026, Nigerians demanded reforms that would move the nation beyond the credibility challenges that marred the 2023 general elections. Their message was simple but powerful: Nigeria’s democracy must be strengthened through modern, transparent, and technology-driven electoral processes.

    The SDP emphasised that tools such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) are no longer optional innovations but essential safeguards. These systems, the party argued, significantly reduce human error and block avenues for manipulation that often occur during the manual movement of results by anti-democratic actors.

    According to the party, it is increasingly evident that many patriotic senators, the Nigerian electorate, and even the nation’s electoral umpire—the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)—are aligned in their desire to move the country forward.

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     The SDP commended the new leadership of INEC for its positive disposition toward integrity-driven reforms anchored on transparency and credible elections.

    However, the party issued a stern warning that a small, self-serving cabal within the Senate leadership must not be allowed to hold Nigeria’s democracy hostage. In clear terms, the SDP demanded that the new Electoral Act 2026 must contain an unambiguous legal command mandating the real-time electronic transmission of results by polling unit presiding officers. Anything less, the party warned, would leave room for legal loopholes and future manipulation.

    The SDP also reaffirmed its confidence in INEC, noting that the Commission has already demonstrated the infrastructure, technical capacity, and patriotic will to transmit election results electronically in real time—if only it is allowed to operate without political encumbrances.

    Invoking the timeless truth that “eternal vigilance is the price of freedom,” the party called on citizens, civil society organisations, and all democrats to rise in defense of Nigeria’s democracy. It urged collective resistance against any attempt by a few mandate holders to promote personal interests over the national good.

    Nigeria, the SDP concluded, cannot afford a repeat of the credibility crisis of the 2023 elections in 2027. The moment demands unity, courage, and action. All hands must be on deck to protect the ballot, safeguard democracy, and prevent the nation from sliding backward at a time when progress is both possible and necessary.

  • CAPPA trains journalists on salt reduction, front-of-pack labelling

    CAPPA trains journalists on salt reduction, front-of-pack labelling

    Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting corporate accountability, has trained journalists on the importance healthy food policies, particularly sodium reduction, front-of-pack labelling (FOPL), nutrient profile models (NPM), and their significance for public health in Nigeria.

     Addressing the participants during the training held at De Meros Hotel & Suites, Ikeja, Lagos,  Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, the Executive Director of CAPPA noted that there is a silent, but very real, struggle ongoing for control of our food system. His words: “On the one hand are powerful corporate interests that prioritise profit over public health. On the other is the public, seeking to protect itself through government policy, regulation, and legislation. Whoever prevails in this contest will determine not only what millions of Nigerians eat daily, but also the health outcomes of generations to come.At the centre of this struggle is you, the media.

     “Your role as custodians of truth, shapers of public understanding, and defenders of the public interest is critical in determining which way the pendulum swings. What you report, how you frame it, and what you leave unquestioned all have real consequences for public health policy.

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     “This training, supported by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), is designed to shine a light on the tactics deployed by corporations that are fuelling a growing artificial appetite for ultra-processed food products often excessively high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, across Nigeria.

    These practices are contributing directly to the alarming rise in non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers, which account for approximately 29 percent of all deaths in Nigeria and are placing an unsustainable burden on families and our already overstretched health system. More importantly, this training seeks to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to report effectively on policies that can reverse these trends. Furthermore, it will unpack the tactics used by the food and beverage industry to promote unhealthy diets and resist meaningful regulation, and how to monitor and counter such interference.”

     He emphasized that the stories reported by journalists  help shape policies that save lives and protect the well-being of Nigerians.

    Also speaking at the programme, the Food Safety Technical Lead, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Femi Stephen, stated that Nigeria’s salt intake is 3.9 grams per day which far exceeds the 2 grams safe limit, which is driving the country’s 38 per cent hypertension rate.

  • Ondo varsity workers demand full budget implementation, beg Aiyedatiwa over unpaid salary

    Ondo varsity workers demand full budget implementation, beg Aiyedatiwa over unpaid salary

    The Joint Action Committee of Ondo State-owned Tertiary Institutions (JAC-ODSTI) has called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to fully implement the 2025 and 2026 budgetary allocations to tertiary institutions in the state, warning that continued delays could worsen the crisis rocking the tertiary institutions sector of the state.

    The committee appealed in a communiqué issued after its first-quarter congress held at the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) in Okitipupa, on Friday.

    The communiqué was jointly signed by the Committee’s Chairman, Comrade Tayo Ogungbeni, and Secretary, Kunle Akinwonmi.

    JAC-ODSTI comprises the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SANU) Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANP), the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

    The affected institutions include OAUSTECH, Okitipupa; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED) and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO).

    The committee said the congress reviewed critical issues affecting staff welfare and the sustainability of tertiary education in the state, noting that unresolved financial and administrative challenges were undermining the effective running of the institutions.

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     The unions, however, commended the governor for paying the last tranche of the wage award and releasing the outstanding January 2017 subventions to state-owned institutions, describing the steps as encouraging.

     They, nonetheless, demanded the immediate and full implementation of the 2026 approved budget for all tertiary institutions to enable them meet their financial obligations to both staff and students.

     The committee also lamented that the 2025 budgetary allocations earlier acknowledged by the state government were not fully implemented, urging the governor to take swift corrective action to avert what it described as further institutional decline.

     The workers specifically called for the release of three months’ salary arrears owed to staff of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, saying the payment was earlier promised during the institution’s 2025 convocation ceremony.

     They also demanded the immediate implementation of the new N70,000 minimum wage for RUGIPO workers, alleging that staff were still earning N18,000.

     The unions further expressed concern over the delay in releasing the report of the staff verification and audit exercise conducted across the institutions in 2025, urging the government to make the findings public without further delay.

     They noted that the eight-year tenure of the governing councils of the state-owned institutions would expire in March and called for their urgent reconstitution.

     The committee warned that failure to constitute new councils within the stipulated time might compel it to withdraw recognition of the affected councils.

     “We demand the full implementation of the 2026 approved budget for all state-owned tertiary institutions to enable them to meet their financial obligations to both staff and students. Congress recalled that the governor’s earlier acknowledgement of the 2025 budgetary allocations was not fully implemented and urged immediate corrective action to avert further institutional decline.

     “Congress calls on the state government to urgently release the three months’ staff salary arrears to the staff of RUGIPO, earlier pronounced during the 2025 convocation ceremony of the institution. Congress also demands the immediate implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage for staff of RUGIPO, as against the current N18,000 being paid.

    “Congress also expressed deep concern over the continued delay in the release of the report of the staff verification and audit exercise conducted across the various tertiary institutions in 2025; we urge the state government to make the report public without further delay,” the communique read.

    “Congress calls on the state government to urgently release the three months’ staff salary arrears to the staff of RUGIPO, earlier pronounced during the 2025 convocation ceremony of the institution.”

  • Gunmen kill commercial motorcyclist, snatch motorcycle in Ondo

    Gunmen kill commercial motorcyclist, snatch motorcycle in Ondo

    A Commercial motorcyclist was killed by gunmen who also snatched his motorcycle on Wednesday night in Oba-Ile, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    The body of the motorcyclist, who was working at the second gate of Oba-Ile Housing Estate, took a passenger to Akure was found along the road.

    Confirming the incident on Friday in Akure, the spokesperson of Ondo Police Command,  Abayomi Jimoh, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) said: “On Wednesday Feb. 4 at about 22:00 hours, a case of a body found beside Federal College of Agriculture, Akure along Airport Road, Oba-Ile, was reported to the Oba-Ile command.

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    “Upon receiving the report, the command switched into action and deployed its personnel to assess the place.

    “The lifeless (sic) body, which was later identified as Peter Monday, has been moved to the morgue of Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) Teaching Hospital.

    “Meanwhile, an investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances behind the lifeless body,” Jimoh said.

    The command’s spokesperson, therefore, reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property in the state.

    “The command will not relent in its efforts to ensure that perpetrators of any crime will be pursued and brought to justice,” he said.

  • ‘Epileptic power supply driving investors away from Kwara’

    ‘Epileptic power supply driving investors away from Kwara’

    Stakeholders in businesses have linked the current spate of industrial development in Kwara state to inadequate and unstable power supply.

    They described erratic power supply as a major obstacle to industrial development and job creation in the state.

    Speaking on behalf of businessmen and entrepreneurs in the state, Captain Olatinwo  Abiodun said that poor power supply is militating against investments in the state.

    Olatinwo, a professional pilot, added that “electricity remains the backbone of industrial growth, as reliable power is critical for the establishment and sustainability of industries. “The current situation, however, has continued to push potential investors to other states with relatively better electricity supply, thereby limiting Kwara State’s industrial expansion.

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    “Despite paying high taxes to the state government, businesses and companies still grapple with unreliable electricity, leading to increased production costs and reduced investor confidence.”

    He added: “The growing unemployment challenge, stressing that government employment alone cannot absorb the increasing number of graduates and youths in the state, noting that “a strong and supportive private sector, driven by industrial growth, is essential for providing sustainable livelihoods and boosting the state’s economy.”

    He therefore urged the state government to prioritise and intensify efforts toward improving electricity supply across Kwara State, noting that “such intervention would attract investors, stimulate industrial development, reduce unemployment, and position the state as a preferred destination for business and economic growth.”

  • Globacom’s N1b donation to Lagos Security Trust Fund lauded

    Globacom’s N1b donation to Lagos Security Trust Fund lauded

    Telecommunication giant, Globacom, has been lauded for donating N1 billion to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.

    The commendation came from the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Security Fund, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, who praised Globacom for donating the amount to the Fund to promote enduring commitment to national development and public safety.

    The donation follows Globacom’s participation in the LSSTF-organised Private Sector Breakfast Meeting with CEOs, hosted by the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, recently. The high-level forum emphasised deeper collaboration between government and business on security, innovation and economic resilience – an agenda Globacom has consistently supported through sustained social investment.

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    Ogunsan described the gesture as “a powerful demonstration of corporate citizenship and a strategic investment in the stability of Lagos State.”

    He noted that the LSSTF was established to bridge funding gaps in security infrastructure and, therefore, relies heavily on voluntary contributions from corporate bodies and well-meaning partners.

    According to him, the ₦1 billion donation will significantly enhance the Fund’s capacity to address critical priorities for 2026, including multipurpose security helicopters and drones, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), water cannons, digital communication equipment and Smart CCTV systems. These assets are central to proactive policing, rapid response and intelligence-led operations across the state.

    Reacting to the development, Globacom, in a press statement, described the donation as an extension of the company’s long-standing belief in Nigeria’s future. “At Globacom, we see security not as a government burden alone, but as a shared responsibility. When people feel safe, enterprise grows, creativity flourishes and hope becomes practical. Our support for the LSSTF is about protecting the everyday dreams of millions of Lagosians,” the statement added.

  • APC chieftain distributes 1,000 free JAMB forms in Osun West

    APC chieftain distributes 1,000 free JAMB forms in Osun West

    No fewer than 1,000 admission seekers in the Osun West Senatorial district have benefited from the free Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms from a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Peter Taiwo Ogundeji.

    Ogundeji hinged his decision on his effort to ease the financial burden on candidates and boost access to tertiary education among grassroots students.

    The 2027 Senate hopeful, during his visit to his hometown, Ola community, Ward 6 in Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State, for the continuous house-to-house awareness for the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO).

     “I am giving out free JAMB forms for 1,000 students in this Senatorial district, and I pledge to sponsor qualified students from 100 levels to final year in tertiary institutions, covering courses such as Nursing, Geometric Survey and other critical disciplines.

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     “This gesture is part of my efforts to complement the Federal government’s effort to increase enrollment of youths in school. The administration of President Bola Tinubu has introduced several initiatives for youths, like student loans, and we as partymen must also help in our own little way,” Ogundeji said.

    Speaking about the awareness, tagged ‘Apata for AMBO walk-to-live,’ he said “the primary purpose of the exercise was to mobilise massive grassroots support for the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the August 8 governorship election.”

     He urged eligible voters without a Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to promptly visit the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices for registration.

     APC leader in Ola Town, Chief James Oladoye, expressed confidence that if Ogundeji is elected as a senator for the district in 2027, he would do more, as he has empowered youths when he was a private citizen.

    The Olola of Ola, Oba Johnson Oyewale Ajiboye, commended  Ogundeji for his positive contributions to community development and assured him of the unwavering support of his subjects, while offering prayers for his success in the upcoming elections.

  • Epe LG chair donates generators, printers to boost APC e-registration

    Epe LG chair donates generators, printers to boost APC e-registration

    The Executive Chairman of Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Princess Surah Olayemi Animashaun, has donated generators and printers to all eight (8) wards within the council to ensure a hitch-free ongoing e-registration of All Progressives Congress (APC) members across the local government council area.

    She said that the intervention was aimed at addressing power challenges, improving efficiency, and ensuring timely documentation during the ongoing exercise, thereby encouraging wider participation at the grassroots.

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    “In fact, I did this because of the epileptic supply to the entire council, to make it easier for them in the production of identity cards for our members in the ongoing e-registration exercise, and also to complement the great jobs of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government is recording both at the federal, state and local government levels, and I believe he will do even more when reelected in 2027.

    “Indeed, the secret of continuity is to win elections, and to win elections, the APC must record massive votes. This can only be achieved when members of the party are registered as bona fide, and the means of voting is to be a member of the APC through the ongoing e-registration exercise,” Animashaun said.

    She reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening party structures and promoting inclusive political participation, noting that adequate logistics are essential for a credible and effective registration process.

  • Adeleke, Sultan commission Ahmadiyya’s Minaret varsity in Osun

    Adeleke, Sultan commission Ahmadiyya’s Minaret varsity in Osun

    The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, have commissioned Minaret University, Ikirun, a tertiary institution established by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, in the state.

    Speaking at the commissioning and investiture of the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Abdullah Abdur-Rahman, Osun governor stressed the importance of education, noting that a well-read population is stronger than those wielding brute force as a means of existence.

    He said the establishment of the faith-based varsity further strengthens Osun State reputation as one of Nigeria’s foremost centres of learning and scholarship.

    Adeleke noted that the inauguration of the private university signalled the intellectual capacity of the Osun people, adding that an educated society cannot be subdued, coerced or denied its constitutional rights.

    “Osun will continue to advance in scholarship and good governance. Our sons and daughters will continue to make the state proud locally and internationally. Never shall Osun retrogress; the clock of advancement will continue to tick in our favour.”

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    In his address, the Chancellor of Minaret University, Barrister Azeez Alatoye, said the institution came up at a time when Nigeria grapples with profound social, economic, and moral challenges, adding that the university is positioned to respond to the challenges through quality teaching, relevant research, innovation, and community engagement.

    Alatoye said the university commences academic activities with programmes in Data Science, Information Technology, Computer Science, Cyber Security, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Marketing, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management.

    Speaking after his investiture, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Abdullah Abdur-Rahman, said the mission is to turn the university into a world-class tertiary institution, saying, “I envision a university that is entrepreneurial, inclusive, and globally competitive. Our mission is to become a world-class tertiary institution for the intellectual and manpower development of human resources for sustainable socio-economic development regionally, nationally, and internationally.”

    The representative of the Sultan, Prof Abdullateef Abass joined other dignitaries to inaugurate the varsity.

  • FULL LIST: Top 10 states with highest FAAC allocation in 2025

    FULL LIST: Top 10 states with highest FAAC allocation in 2025

    The 2025 ranking of the top 10 states by net Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) receipts underscores a familiar fiscal pattern. Oil-producing states and leading commercial hubs dominate the table, buoyed by multiple shared revenue streams and, for producing states, the added advantage of the 13 per cent derivation fund.

    In 2025, state allocations were shaped by key revenue components, including net statutory distribution, net Value Added Tax (VAT), the Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), and the 13 per cent derivation for oil-producing states. Taken together, these inflows favoured states with stronger production bases and higher levels of economic activity.

    Below are the top 10 states with the highest FAAC allocation in 2025

    1. Delta State — ₦649.67bn

    Delta led the 2025 FAAC table with ₦649.67 billion in net allocation. Its dominance was driven largely by oil receipts, particularly the 13 per cent derivation fund. Combined with statutory allocation and VAT inflows, the oil advantage cemented Delta’s position at the top.

    2. Rivers State — ₦526.30bn

    Rivers ranked second with ₦526.30 billion, reflecting a similar structural edge. As a major oil-producing state with a vibrant commercial base, Rivers benefited from derivation revenue alongside strong VAT performance generated by high transaction volumes.

    3. Lagos State — ₦514.56bn

    Lagos emerged as the highest-ranking non-oil state, posting ₦514.56 billion. Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre leveraged its vast consumption market and electronic payment ecosystem to record robust VAT and Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) inflows.

    4. Akwa Ibom State — ₦494.23bn

    Akwa Ibom secured ₦494.23 billion, reinforcing its status among the top tier. Oil production and derivation earnings, backed by statutory and VAT components, sustained the state’s strong FAAC standing.

    5. Bayelsa State — ₦488.08bn

    Bayelsa received ₦488.08 billion, underscoring the weight of derivation revenue in the FAAC formula. Despite a relatively smaller population and market size, oil-linked inflows lifted the state above several larger counterparts.

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    6. Kano State — ₦270.86bn

    Kano led the northern non-oil states with ₦270.86 billion. Its large population and commercial scale supported solid VAT receipts, strengthening its position among the top allocations.

    7. Oyo State — ₦213.75bn

    Oyo recorded ₦213.75 billion, reflecting the impact of population size, trade and consumer activity. Though without derivation benefits, the state’s economic base bolstered its share of statutory and VAT distributions.

    8. Anambra State — ₦199.88bn

    Anambra posted ₦199.88 billion, driven by sustained private-sector activity and transaction flows. While lacking oil derivation revenue, its commercial strength kept it competitive in the FAAC rankings.

    9. Borno State — ₦198.75bn

    Borno received ₦198.75 billion, highlighting the broader factors embedded in the allocation formula. Beyond oil output and commerce, fiscal considerations and statutory criteria shaped its final share.

    10. Ondo State — ₦198.42bn

    Ondo closed the top 10 with ₦198.42 billion. As an oil-producing state, derivation revenue enhanced its allocation, enabling it to compete favourably despite having a smaller consumer market than some peers.