Delta State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, emphasized on Wednesday that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is committed to building durable infrastructure to promote the economic stability of the state. During an unscheduled inspection of the Obo River bridge along Sector C of the Ughelli-Asaba highway, Izeze assessed the quality of the ongoing construction.

“Our visit today aligns with Governor Oborevwori’s vision to create lasting infrastructure for the benefit of Delta’s residents. We will leave no stone unturned to fulfill this mandate,” Izeze said. The commissioner stressed the importance of monitoring project progress to ensure high standards are maintained.

At the site, the ministry team collected a sample of concrete for a “Concrete Cube Test” to verify if it met design specifications. The project, currently 45 percent complete, is scheduled for completion in 2025.

Mr. Zhou, the Site Supervisor, expressed satisfaction with the visit and reassured that work was progressing steadily and safely, promising the project would be delivered on time and according to specifications. Zhou was pleased with the surprise visit, noting that his team was prepared and committed to maintaining their reputation for delivering quality work.

In a related development, Izeze also visited the erosion site at Obinomba community in Ukwuani Local Government Area, accompanied by Hon. Chukwudi Dafe, who represents the Ukwuani State Constituency in the House of Assembly. The visit aimed to assess the severe erosion concerns threatening the community. Izeze promised to report his findings to the appropriate authorities to ensure timely intervention.

Residents of Obinomba expressed their fears of the community’s potential collapse due to the recurring tornado-like erosion and urged the state government to take immediate action to save their homes.

The African Union’s health agency has raised alarm over the escalating mpox epidemic, warning that it is “going out of control” unless swift action is taken. Since January, over 42,000 cases have been reported across Africa, with 1,100 deaths recorded, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

The disease, previously known as monkeypox, has spread to 18 African countries this year, with Zambia and Zimbabwe recently reporting their first cases. The majority of deaths have occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicenter of the outbreak, where a vaccination campaign was recently launched.

Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa CDC, emphasized the urgency of the situation during an online briefing, saying, “Mpox is going out of control if we don’t act. We now have more than 1,000 deaths, and the number of new cases is rising week after week.” He expressed concern about the rapid spread to multiple countries and called for immediate action to curb the outbreak.

Kaseya also urged international partners to release funds pledged to fight the epidemic, stressing the need for concrete measures on the ground to stop the spread of mpox.

Mpox is caused by a virus transmitted from infected animals to humans, and it can also spread through close physical contact between humans. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and large, boil-like skin lesions. In severe cases, it can be fatal.

With the epidemic continuing to spread, the Africa CDC has reiterated the need for heightened global cooperation to prevent further loss of life.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has voiced concern over what he termed “politically motivated” court judgments in Nigeria, cautioning that such rulings are undermining the country’s democratic process. Speaking at the 67th birthday celebration and book launch in honor of prominent lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN) in Abuja, Jonathan highlighted the destabilizing effects of questionable court decisions on Nigeria’s democracy.

He specifically referenced a recent court ruling that allowed a ward chairman to expel a national officer of a political party, calling it harmful to the political system. Jonathan urged the Supreme Court to revisit the judgment, noting its adverse impact on major political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Considering the current state of the country, especially the judgments in political cases, democracy in Nigeria is becoming unstable, like an inverted cone. It cannot stand stably; even the slightest disturbance will cause it to fall,” Jonathan remarked.

He emphasized that the survival of Nigeria’s democracy depends on the legal profession’s resistance to political influence. “For democracy to thrive, legal professionals must stand firm against political pressure,” he said, stressing the importance of impartiality in judicial rulings.

Jonathan also criticized the notion of a lower-ranking party official, such as a ward chairman, having the authority to expel a national leader. “It’s like saying a Head of Department in a university can expel the Vice Chancellor. This ruling has caused turmoil within political parties like the PDP and, at one point, the APC.”

He called on the Supreme Court to address the judgment, warning of its potential long-term damage to Nigeria’s democratic framework.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo echoed Jonathan’s concerns, commending Ozekhome for his dedication to advocating for political and social change with “conviction, courage, and integrity.” Obasanjo praised Ozekhome as a champion of justice and reform.

At the event, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who reviewed Ozekhome’s 50 books, lauded his intellectual contributions to Nigeria’s legal, political, and philosophical discourse, describing the works as a valuable addition to the nation’s intellectual legacy.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has pointed to outdated infrastructure as the main cause of Nigeria’s frequent national grid collapses. This follows the nation’s seventh power grid collapse in 2024, which plunged the country into darkness earlier this week.

Speaking at the unveiling of Hexing Livoltek, a new electricity meter manufacturing company in Lagos, Adelabu explained, “We keep discussing grid collapse—whether total, partial, or a slight trip-off. This is almost inevitable due to the state of our power infrastructure. With the infrastructure in deplorable conditions, why wouldn’t there be trip-offs or collapses? Until we overhaul the entire system, this problem will persist. For now, we’re focused on managing it.”

He noted that, prior to this recent partial collapse, there had been no grid failures in the last four months, and the recent one lasted less than two hours. Adelabu highlighted the importance of improving response times to restore power whenever collapses occur.

The minister also emphasized the need for significant investment in the power sector, citing the use of transformers that are 50 to 60 years old. “You can’t expect them to perform optimally,” he said, calling for modernization to prevent further collapses.

Commenting on the decentralization of Nigeria’s power sector under the new Electricity Act, Adelabu noted that the Act allows state and local governments to participate in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. He added, “We currently rely on a single national grid, and if there’s a disturbance, it affects all 36 states. It shouldn’t be like that.”

Leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) are currently engaged in discussions with the Federal Government to address pressing issues related to the state of the nation, particularly concerning petrol pricing and its implications for citizens.

The meeting is taking place at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume. Key government officials in attendance include:

• Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA)
• Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Labour Minister
• Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy
• Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Information Minister
• Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum
• Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas)
• Representatives from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited

The discussions are crucial, as the recent changes in petrol pricing have significant implications for the economy and the livelihood of Nigerians. The outcome of the meeting may influence future policies and actions regarding fuel prices and their economic impact.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has defended his directive requiring foreign carriers to use local caterers for on-board meals starting January 1, 2025. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Keyamo criticized the current practice of foreign airlines serving warmed meals on outbound flights to Nigerians, deeming it unacceptable.

Keyamo emphasized that foreign airlines should not benefit at the expense of Nigeria’s economy. He stated, “This is to clarify that directing foreign airlines on outbound flights to patronise our local caterers is not the same thing as directing them to serve local dishes. Our local caterers can also prepare continental dishes or any cuisine according to their specifications.”

He expressed discontent with the long-standing practice of airlines bringing frozen meals from their countries, only to warm and serve them on flights, particularly to Nigerian citizens. Keyamo reassured that Nigeria has quality control agencies in place to ensure the hygiene and quality of meals prepared by local caterers, addressing any concerns foreign airlines may have about food safety.

Furthermore, he argued that if foreign carriers expect Nigeria to trust the quality of the food they import, they should also trust the vetting process for meals made by local caterers. Keyamo stressed the importance of supporting local businesses, stating, “The bottom line is that we must support our local businesses with our huge population and traffic, but other caterers from other climes should not benefit from what should essentially be to the benefit of our local economy.”

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has expressed strong disapproval of the recent inauguration of the Renegotiation Committee, labeling the event a charade.

The Renegotiation Committee was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Ministry of Education headquarters in Abuja. Although representatives from NASU and SSANU attended the ceremony, their presence was reportedly insignificant, as they were not assigned any formal role in the proceedings.

In a statement issued by Prince Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU, and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, President of SSANU, the unions criticized what they perceive as a bias favoring academic staff in the upcoming negotiations, which could be detrimental to non-teaching staff.

The statement read: “The Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU hereby strongly expresses its displeasure and disgust at the charade witnessed today, Tuesday, 15th October 2024, at the so-called inauguration of the Renegotiation Committee of the 2009 Agreements with Universities based Unions.”

The unions highlighted specific grievances regarding the organization of the event, noting that the letters of invitation referred to ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) rather than NASU or SSANU. They indicated that the event seemed predominantly focused on ASUU, with only cursory mentions of other unions.

Additionally, they described a humiliating experience during the inauguration, where the President of ASUU was placed at what was termed the “Responsibility table,” while the presidents of NASU and SSANU were left in positions deemed “irresponsible.”

This incident has heightened concerns about the representation and consideration of non-teaching staff in the negotiations related to their agreements with the universities.

Chairmen of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the Northeast subregion have publicly expressed their support for the embattled national chairman, Umar Damagum, and other national officials.

In a communique delivered by Tahir Shehu, the Adamawa State PDP chairman, during a meeting in Bauchi on Wednesday, the group reiterated their alignment with the positions held by PDP governors, the Board of Trustees (BOT), the National Assembly Caucus, and other key stakeholders within the party.

The communique emphasized, “As for the National Chairmanship tussle, the meeting wishes to align itself totally with the position of the governors, the BOT, National Assembly Caucus, and all the major critical stakeholders in the zone. This we believe shall bring decorum and sanity that will lead the party to lofty heights.”

The chairmen acknowledged the significant infrastructural development undertaken by PDP governors in their states, urging them to continue building upon the solid foundation they have established.

Additionally, they expressed satisfaction with the strong support received from the PDP governors for the Zonal Office and state chapters. They also passed a vote of confidence in the three governors from the zone—Adamawa, Bauchi, and Taraba—for their commendable performance and encouraged them to keep delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of the zone and Nigeria as a whole.

he Senate has initiated an investigation into claims that personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS) have taken control of the National Assembly in an alleged move to impeach the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

In response to the reports, Akpabio denied any invasion of the National Assembly, stating that the situation is stable. He has directed Senator Shehu Kaka, APC, Borno Central, to lead the Senate Committee tasked with investigating the matter and to present a report during the next plenary session within 24 hours. “Sen. Kaka, investigate and report back to us as soon as practicable,” Akpabio instructed.

The situation gained attention after the Order Paper reported that the National Assembly resembled a warzone due to the presence of DSS operatives amidst speculation regarding an impeachment threat against Akpabio. According to the report, some disgruntled Northern Senators, reportedly dissatisfied with President Bola Tinubu, were allegedly reviving a previous attempt to remove Akpabio from office.

While addressing the Senate during the Wednesday plenary, Akpabio refuted the claims circulating on social media about a DSS invasion. He stated, “It has just been brought to my attention by one of us that there is fake news trending on social media that the DSS has surrounded the National Assembly with possible impeachment of principal officers. There is no limit to social media. We are here sitting down and doing our work very peacefully, oblivious of the mischief that is going on behind us.”

Akpabio further condemned the spread of false information, suggesting that it may be manipulated by individuals using artificial intelligence (AI) to create sensationalized content for traffic generation. He reassured the public that the chamber remains stable and that the issue of impeachment is unfounded. “But I hope the public is aware that this is fake news and that the chamber is very stable, and the issue of impeachment does not come in,” he concluded.

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos State Chapter, has unveiled its first batch of 3,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) commercial tricycles, valued at N10.2 billion, aimed at alleviating transportation challenges in the state. The CNG initiative was launched on Wednesday by Alhaji Azeez Abiola, a prominent NURTW chieftain, in Lagos.

Abiola, who serves as the Zonal Chairman of the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria under the NURTW, expressed optimism that this initiative would provide relief to the masses by reducing transportation costs. He stated, “Over 3,000 CNG tricycles have been deployed to the state to ease the cost of transportation among the residents and, at the same time, reduce economic hardship.”

He further emphasized the positive impact of the project, saying, “As we launch this initiative today, residents will begin to experience a reduction in the cost of transportation within their locality. This is the number one CNG commercial tricycle in the country that will be in operation, with the 3,000 tricycles beginning operations on Thursday.”

The shift to CNG is expected to significantly lower daily operational costs for tricyclists. Currently, it costs about N15,000 for a tricyclist to fuel their vehicle daily, while operating on CNG will cost between N2,500 and N3,000. Abiola noted that the initiative would also create over 5,000 new jobs for operators and technicians involved in CNG conversions.

He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for supporting the project and acknowledged the state NURTW chairman for facilitating the initiative, allowing members to benefit from it. “With this development, we are going to engage hundreds of our members, fix them in the system, and monitor their operations from excessive charges,” he added.

However, Abiola raised concerns about the limited availability of CNG filling stations, noting that the only station is located at Agidingbi in Ikeja. He urged the government to establish additional CNG stations closer to operators in areas such as Alagbado, Agbado-Okeodo, Ifako-Ijaiye, Agege, and Alimosho for easier refueling access. He also called for the lifting of the ban on tricycles on routes leading to the CNG filling station to facilitate refilling.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday called on the Executive to comply with Section 11(1)(b) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and submit the 2025 Budget Proposal to the National Assembly without further delays. This call came following the adoption of an urgent motion titled “Need to Urge the Executive to Comply with Section 11(1)(b) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007,” moved by Rep. Clement Jimbo during plenary in Abuja.

In moving the motion, Jimbo highlighted that the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 mandates the prudent management of the nation’s resources, ensures long-term macroeconomic stability, and secures greater accountability and transparency in fiscal operations within a medium-term fiscal policy framework. Additionally, the Act establishes the Fiscal Responsibility Commission to promote and enforce the nation’s economic objectives and related matters.

Jimbo pointed out that Section 11(1)(b) stipulates that the federal government must prepare and lay before the National Assembly a Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for the next three financial years no later than four months before the commencement of the next financial year.

He further referenced Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, along with Section 30(1) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007. He emphasized that Section 88(1) grants each house of the National Assembly the power to direct investigations into any matters concerning its legislative responsibilities, including the conduct of government ministries and departments involved in executing laws and managing funds appropriated by the National Assembly.

Jimbo expressed concern that the time required by the National Assembly to fulfill its functions, as outlined in Section 88(2)(b), is being undermined by the Executive’s non-compliance with Section 11(1)(b) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

In adopting the motion, the House also mandated its Committees on National Planning and Economic Development, Appropriation, and Finance to ensure compliance within two weeks.

Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lawyer to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has urged Nigerians to oppose the proposed bill that seeks to arm the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). Speaking to reporters in Owerri, Ejiofor expressed concerns that the legislation, if passed, could exacerbate existing tensions and lead to more tragic incidents across the country.

Ejiofor described the proposal as “deeply troubling,” warning that transforming a civilian agency responsible for traffic management into an armed entity poses a significant risk to public safety. He stated, “This attempt to turn a civilian agency responsible for traffic management into an armed force poses a serious risk to public safety and threatens to escalate violence on our roads.”

He pointed to the past incidents where armed officials misused their authority, leading to the loss of innocent lives. He lamented that many law enforcement officers have turned checkpoints into mobile ATM machines, extorting money from citizens. “Oftentimes, non-compliance with their illegitimate demand to part with one’s hard-earned stipends at their various checkpoints usually leads to the untimely death of citizens,” he added.

Ejiofor also highlighted the potential psychological impact of arming road safety officials, emphasizing that the FRSC’s primary roles include guiding, educating, and enforcing traffic regulations in a calm manner, rather than instilling fear. He questioned the logic behind increasing the potential for violence on the highways while claiming to protect public safety.

Instead of arming the FRSC, Ejiofor advocated for investment in modern technology, enhanced training, and improved coordination with security agencies to address the root causes of insecurity. He concluded by urging all concerned citizens to reject the bill, asserting, “The focus should be to ensure our roads remain a place of safety, not a battlefield. Lawmakers and other elected leaders must focus on pressing issues bedeviling the country.”

The situation in Nigeria’s university system is becoming increasingly precarious as the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Other Associated Institutions (NASU) has signaled the possibility of resuming a suspended strike due to unresolved issues concerning four withheld salaries by the Federal Government.

During the ongoing National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi expressed the union’s frustration, stating that members’ patience has worn thin. While he did not specify an exact date for the resumption of the strike, he indicated that the decision would be made during the meeting.

Adeyemi criticized the government’s failure to act on President Bola Tinubu’s directive to pay two of the withheld salaries, highlighting a disconnect between the president’s intentions and the actions of his aides, particularly the Minister of Finance. He remarked, “What is new is that the President’s directive has been disobeyed,” suggesting that the current inaction reflects a broader disrespect for the president’s authority and could provoke significant unrest in the educational sector.

He further explained that previous warnings had been issued to members about the potential consequences of striking but noted that the continued delays in salary payment indicate a lack of commitment from the Finance Ministry. Adeyemi emphasized the need for immediate action, stating, “There is no reason for not paying this money. I think this is a big disrespect for the president and an attempt to provoke an industrial upheaval in an atmosphere that is cool and calm.”

The backdrop to this impending crisis includes President Tinubu’s earlier directive in October 2023, which aimed to address grievances stemming from a prolonged strike initiated under former President Muhammadu Buhari. However, the union members had previously engaged in a warning strike in March 2024 over the Ministry of Finance’s refusal to implement the presidential directive, reflecting ongoing tensions and dissatisfaction within the educational workforce.

The situation remains critical, and unless addressed promptly, the resumption of strikes by NASU could further destabilize Nigeria’s university system, which has already faced numerous disruptions in recent years.