GANUX, Author at SocietyGazette.com

NSCDC arrests 19 suspected vandals in Kano

The Kano State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested no fewer than 19 suspected vandals across the state within three days.

The state NSCDC Commandant, Bala Bodinga, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen at the State Headquarters of the command on Wednesday.

He said the suspects were arrested at different locations across the state following intensified operations through intelligence-led patrols and surveillance.

“In the course of the operations, operatives of the Command, through intelligence-led patrols and surveillance, have arrested 19 suspected vandals at different locations across the state, including Madobi, Tudunwada, Gwale, Minjibir and Kumbotso local government areas of Kano State,” Bodinga said.

According to him, the suspects were apprehended while engaging in unlawful acts such as tampering with electrical installations, communication cables, drainage slabs, illegal substances and other public utilities

“The arrests followed credible intelligence and swift response by our area commands and divisional offices across the state,” he said.

Bodinga said exhibits recovered from the suspects include many rolls of aluminium cables worth tens of thousands of naira, 6.1kg armoured cables of transformer, two rolls of suck and die (sukudai) and short spear (Dan bida).

Other items were rubber solution (sholusho), one motorcycle, a broken soldering iron, five shovels and five diggers.

He explained that the suspects have since been profiled, investigated thoroughly, and will be prosecuted in accordance with the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

“These arrests are a clear warning to all those who derive pleasure in sabotaging our commonwealth by destroying critical infrastructure.

“Let me emphasise that vandalism not only results in huge economic losses but also endangers the lives of innocent citizens and hampers development,” he said.

He said the command will continue to strengthen intelligence gathering, intensify patrols, and collaborate with sister security agencies, traditional rulers, and community stakeholders to ensure vandals and economic saboteurs have no hiding place in this state.

He called on members of the public to continue to partner with the Corps by volunteering timely and useful information that will assist in curbing crime and protecting collective assets.

Timi Dakolo offers to pay school fees for struggling parents

Nigerian singer, Timi Dakolo, has announced plans to assist parents struggling to pay their children’s school fees as schools reopen for the new 2025/2026 academic session.

In a post on his official X handle on Wednesday, Dakolo acknowledged the financial strain many families face at the start of every term.

“I know it’s school fee season, it’s not always easy, I know this first-hand.

“So, let me help lessen that burden a little bit,” he wrote.

The singer directed parents and guardians to send their children’s school bills via Instagram to #TheOyindaOlu, adding that receipts of payments made to schools would be sent back to confirm the support.

“Just DM the school bill to

@TheOyindaOlu

on IG.

“We would DM you the receipt of what we sent to the school,” the artist wrote.

Dakolo’s announcement has drawn wide attention online from fans, with many commending the move at a time when households are grappling with mounting costs.

PUNCH Online had reported that as schools usher in the 2025/2026 academic session, the familiar buzz of children in freshly ironed uniforms returning to class has been met with a different kind of noise, the groans of parents weighed down by skyrocketing school expenses.

For many families, the joy of watching their children return to class has been overshadowed by the crushing weight of rising fees.

From tuition and levies to uniforms and textbooks, the cost of education has never felt heavier, forcing households into painful financial choices.

Dakolo, who is known for family-themed songs and community-driven messages, has previously lent his voice to issues affecting education and welfare.

His latest intervention adds to a growing trend of celebrities offering direct financial relief to fans in times of need.

Shettima harps on Nigeria’s case for UN security council seat

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has listed steps to strengthen peace, development, and human rights across the globe.

Speaking at the general debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, he said that to achieve peace and development, Nigeria must have a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. This should take place as part of a wider process of institutional reform.

He also stated that the urgent action ⁠⁠to promote sovereign debt relief and access to trade and financing, adding that countries that host minerals must benefit from those minerals.

Over the years, Africa, despite being rich in natural and human resources, has remained underrepresented in global decision-making platforms like the United Nations Security Council.

Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation and a regional power, has long advocated for permanent representation to correct this imbalance.

He stressed that the digital divide must close, maintaining that A. I must stand for ‘Africa Included’.

“On my first point: the United Nations will recover its relevance only when it reflects the world as it is, not as it was. Nigeria’s journey tells this story with clarity: when the UN was founded, we were a colony of 20 million people, absent from the tables where decisions about our fate were taken; today, we are a sovereign nation of over 236 million, projected to be the third most populous country in the world, with one of the youngest and most dynamic populations on earth.

“A stabilising force in regional security and a consistent partner in global peacekeeping, our case for a permanent seat at the Security Council is a demand for fairness, for representation, and for reform that restores credibility to the very institution upon which the hope of multilateralism rests.

“This is why Nigeria stands firmly behind the UN80 Initiative of the Secretary-General, and the resolution adopted by this Assembly on 18 July 2025, a bold step to reform the wider United Nations system for greater relevance, efficiency, and effectiveness in the face of unprecedented financial strain.

‘We support the drive to rationalise structures and end the duplication of responsibilities and programmes, so that this institution may speak with one voice and act with greater coherence,” he added.

According to him, no country can achieve a peaceful world in isolation, saying that this is the heavy burden of sovereignty.

“Sovereignty is a covenant of shared responsibility, a recognition that our survival is bound to the survival of others. To live up to this charge, we must walk hand in hand with our neighbours and partners.

“We must follow the trails of weapons, of money, and of people. For these forces, too often driven by faceless non-state actors, ignite the fires of conflict across our region.

“Nigeria’s soldiers and civilians carry a proud legacy. They have participated in 51 out of 60 United Nations peacekeeping operations since our independence in 1960. We have stood with our partners in Africa to resolve conflicts, and we continue that commitment today through the Multinational Joint Task Force.

“At home, we confront the scourge of insurgency with resolve. From this long and difficult struggle with violent extremism, one truth stands clear: military tactics may win battles measured in months and years, but in wars that span generations, it is values and ideas that deliver the ultimate victory,” he averred.

Nigeria despised by terrorists for choosing tolerance over tyranny – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has said terrorists despise Nigeria because it chooses tolerance over tyranny, adding that its bitter experience has shown that violence never ends where it begins.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the ongoing 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, delivered the national statement on behalf of the country.

Speaking on global security challenges, Shettima said terrorist groups across regions sought to poison humanity with hate and division.

“We are despised by terrorists because we choose tolerance over tyranny.

“Their ambition is to divide us and to poison our humanity with a toxic rhetoric of hate,” Shettima said.

He explained that Nigeria’s stand against violence was not only because of international law but also due to its own experience with insurgency.

“Our difference is the distance between shadow and light, between despair and hope, between the ruin of anarchy and the promise of order.

“We do not only fight wars, we feed and shelter the innocent victims of war,” the statement read in part.

On the Israel-Palestine crisis, the federal government reiterated its support for a two-state solution as the most dignified path to peace.

“We say without stuttering and without doubt, that a two-state solution remains the most dignified path to lasting peace for the people of Palestine.

“The people of Palestine are not collateral damage in a civilisation searching for order.

“They are human beings, equal in worth, entitled to the same freedoms and dignities that the rest of us take for granted,” Shettima declared.

Turning to domestic reforms, the Vice President stressed that peace required tough economic choices.

“The price of peace is eternal vigilance. We in Nigeria are already familiar with such difficult choices: infrastructure renewal or defence platforms? Schools or tanks?

growth and prosperity,” he said.

According to him, FG has taken necessary steps to restructure the economy and remove distortions such as subsidies and currency controls that had favoured a few at the expense of the majority.

The Vice President added that the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit, held earlier this year in Abuja, had exceeded expectations and shown what innovation could deliver.

Tinubu’s statement further urged the United Nations to re-examine the best use of scarce resources, especially in tackling climate change, which he described as a security issue with direct implications for migration and stability.

PUNCH Online had reported that Shettima is in New York to represent President Bola Tinubu at the session, which runs until September 28.

He is scheduled to deliver Nigeria’s national statement, unveil the country’s new Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, and take part in side events, bilateral meetings, and roundtables.

This year’s 80th session began on September 9, while the high-level General Debate, the main platform for heads of state and government to address the Assembly, started on September 23 and will feature more than 150 leaders.

Oluwo, Ataoja feud: Regulate monarchs’ social media usage, Princes urge Adeleke

Princes from three royal families on Iwo, Osun State have appealed to the state government and the Osun Traditional Council to regulate use of social media platforms by monarchs in the state.

The princes, who decried incessant fighting among traditional rulers in Yorubaland on social media, demanded an end to the menace before it causes more disunity within the race.

They disclosed this while reacting to the supremacy battle between Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, and the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, over who occupies the fourth position in the hierarchy of monarchs in the state at a press conference held in Iwo.

Addressing journalists in Iwo on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the royal families, Prince Adedoja Osunwo, said the feud between the two monarchs could have been averted if necessary internal mechanisms were in place for conflict resolution among traditional rulers.

Osunwo noted that the use of social media by the two traditional rulers to defend their position was not necessary since a gazette existed that states the status of various stools.

Speaking in the Yoruba language, Osunwo said, “We want to urge the state government, the state traditional council and other relevant stakeholders in the state to put necessary machinery in motion to regulate social media conduct of our traditional rulers.

“Our mission here today is not to condemn or find fault with any of the royal fathers on the ongoing verbal attack between the Oluwo of Iwo and the Ataoja of Osogbo. The records are there. It has been gazetted for quite a long time that Oluwo of Iwo, when it comes to traditional rulers ranking in Osun State, occupies number four.

“The verbal attack we are witnessing today between the two monarchs is unnecessary if necessary internal mechanisms have been put in place for conflict resolution. If what is going on on social media regarding Oluwo and Ataoja is not curtailed, it will have a bad effect on the unity of the Yorubas. Yoruba unity is of greater importance, particularly at this time when a Yoruba is at the helm of affairs.”

He added, “The manner in which some of our traditional rulers go on social media is not something that should be welcomed. The outburst we have been hearing through social media is not something that we should be happy about.

“The idea of using social media for defence by the two royal fathers in this dispute is unnecessary. We want to appreciate the role played so far by the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, in his attempt to douse the tension. We also commend the Iwo Board of Trustees for their effort and urged them to find a truce. The need for an internal mechanism for conflict resolution should be embraced by the Osun State traditional council under the leadership of Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.”

Commenting further, he blamed the disagreement on distortion of historical facts, adding that Oluwo’s throne emanated from Ile-Ife and Oluwo was never a lesser chief.

“We want to place it on record that the throne of Oluwo emanated from Ile-Ife, and there is no contention about that. It has never been in history that Oluwo was ever a community chief ‘Baale’ and has such recognition, due to the throne of Oluwo, which should be given to whoever is occupying that throne.

“The ongoing issue was occasioned by the distortion of historical facts through logical thinking, which we believe should be discouraged. Relying on folktales to justify the position being taken by any traditional ruler on issues should be discarded,” Osunwo added.

The PUNCH reports that Ataoja, during a recent lecture at Osun State University to mark his 15th coronation anniversary, revisited the long-standing controversy over the who occupies the 4th position between him and Oluwo.

He insisted that his stool historically occupies the fourth position in the Council—a status he alleged was wrongly ceded to the Oluwo during the reign of his predecessor, Oba Iyiola Oyewale.

Oba Oyetunji narrated how the confusion began, stressing that he was not fighting any monarch but merely asserting the historical rights of his stool.

But Oluwo fired back through his Chief Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, accusing Oba Oyetunji of attempting to distort history.

He urged Ataoja to seek accurate historical knowledge from respected elders of Osogbo rather than distort the hierarchy of Yoruba traditional stools.

17 African countries back electricity reforms—World Bank

The World Bank said seventeen African governments have committed to reforms and actionable plans to expand electricity access as part of Mission 300, an ambitious partnership led by the lender and the African Development Bank Group that aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.

The lender said in a statement on Wednesday that governments from Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, the Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, and Togo endorsed National Energy Compacts at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum.

The Bank described the compacts as policy blueprints intended to guide public spending, drive reforms, and attract private investment, while serving as a model for the rest of the world.

Nigeria was not part of the latest group; it had joined earlier this year alongside Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia. Collectively, those countries pledged more than 400 policy actions to strengthen utilities, reduce investor risk, and remove bottlenecks.

“Electricity is the bedrock of jobs, opportunity, and economic growth.

“That’s why Mission 300 is more than a target; it is forging enduring reforms that slash costs, strengthen utilities, and draw in private investment,” World Bank Group President Ajay Banga said.

Since the launch of Mission 300, 30 million people have already been connected, with more than 100 million in the pipeline.

African Development Bank Group President Dr Sidi Ould Tah said, “Reliable, affordable power is the fastest multiplier for small and medium enterprises, agro-processing, digital work, and industrial value-addition.

“Give a young entrepreneur power, and you’ve given them a paycheck,” he added.

National Energy Compacts are at the core of Mission 300, developed and endorsed by governments with technical support from development partners. Tailored to each country’s context, these practical blueprints integrate three core tracks: infrastructure, financing, and policy.

The World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group are working with partners, including the Rockefeller Foundation, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, Sustainable Energy for All, and the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program trust fund, to align efforts in support of powering Africa. Many development partners and development finance institutions are also supporting Mission 300 projects through co-financing and technical assistance.

President of Botswana, Duma Boko, said, “This National Compact is our shared pledge to ensure accessible, reliable and affordable energy as a basic human need, to transform our economy and create jobs, and to electrify our journey to an inclusive high-income country.”

President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, said, “The government of the Republic of Cameroon is committed, through its Energy Compact, to a determined transition towards renewable energies, promoting inclusive universal access and sustainable development based on partnerships and ambitious reforms to build a low-carbon future.”

President of the Union of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, noted, “The Comoros Energy Compact is a call for collective action to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030, to ensure the country’s emergence in dignity, equity, and shared progress.”

President of Ethiopia, Taye Atske Selassie, noted, “Our National Energy Compact exemplifies Ethiopia’s unwavering dedication to ensuring universal, affordable, and sustainable energy access for all.

“By unlocking our vast renewable resources and strengthening regional interconnections, we aim to foster inclusive growth domestically and propel Africa’s collective momentum toward ending energy poverty. Together, we are committed to building a resilient, equitable, and sustainable energy future for generations to come.”

Olubadan: Obasanjo congratulates Ladoja, urges separation of tradition, politics

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has congratulated the 44th new Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, on his formal ascension to the throne of Olubadan of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in a ceremony slated for Friday.

In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, and made available to newsmen on Wednesday, Obasanjo, in Yoruba royalty salutation, prays “Ade a pe lori, bata a pe lese”, even as he observed that the formal coronation ceremony was only a formality.

The former President, who, according to the statement, is presently in New York for the 80th United Nations (UN) General Assembly session, however, advised the new monarch to separate tradition and politics, noting that the new position requires humility and tolerance among others.

Obasanjo, in the congratulatory statement, said, “I take this opportunity to congratulate you in advance of a formal announcement. Ade a pe lori, bata a pe lese.

“It is an exalted and responsible position to be the traditional ruler of all Ibadan people. It requires humility, patience, divine wisdom, tolerance, and advice from wide and varied quarters to succeed.

“Traditional rulership does not compete or conflict with political rulership. I wish you all the best and the grace, guide, and direction of Almighty God.”

PUNCH Online had, on September 23, 2025, reported that the organising committee, inaugurated by the Oyo State Government to oversee the coronation of the former Governor of the state as new Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, announced the closing of some routes leading to the ancient Mapo Hall.

A statement issued by the committee stated that the affected routes include Beere Junction inward Mapo Hall; Born Photo Junction inwards Oja’ba; Idi-Arere Junction inwards Oja’ba, and Itamerin Junction inwards Mapo Hall shall be shut by 7:00 am on Friday.

According to the statement, the security committee, which is under the General Committee, chaired by the former Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes President, Bayo Oyero, informed that traffic diversions on the routes were occasioned by the coming of President Bola Tinubu, who promised to attend the coronation ceremony of the new Olubadan.

Family of five found unconscious, one dead in Benue

Five members of the same family were discovered unconscious in their home at Akaajime community, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, on Wednesday, with one confirmed dead.

The victims – a mother and her four children – were found in a coma before neighbours rushed them to a private hospital in Gboko.

One of the children, a four-year-old boy, was reported dead before help arrived.

A family member who identified herself as Mohivinze Terkura told journalists that she escaped the tragedy after spending the night in her aunt’s house due to heavy rain.

According to Terkura, she only returned to their residence around 10 am on Wednesday to discover that her mother and siblings had yet to open the door of their house, as it was locked from the inside.

She said, “I did not come back home to sleep due to heavy rain yesterday, and I decided to sleep in my aunt’s house, but when I returned home this morning, I met the door still shut, and several attempts to open the door failed.

“So, I decided to force the door open, only to find my mother and other siblings unconscious.

“Upon seeing them in that condition, I immediately raised an alarm, which drew the attention of our neighbours who came and assisted me to convey them to the nearest hospital. However, before we could get to the hospital, my younger brother who was four years old, had died.

“I can’t actually ascertain what led to the incident. However, when we forced the door open, I noticed an unusual smell of chemical-like cooking gas in the room. But we don’t have a gas cooker in the entire house, nor do we use insecticide in our house aside from mosquito nets that we use constantly.”

One of the victims, who was later resuscitated by the doctor at the hospital, told journalists that he woke up to prepare for school activities but couldn’t move from the bed.

“I called our mother, but she could not answer me. Only for me to discover that all of us in the room were unconscious, and were helpless till my sister returned this morning at about 10 am. Regrettably, my brother died in the process,” he said.

When contacted on the phone, Dr Joshua Atime of Vawar Hospital, Akaajime, Gboko, confirmed that some patients of the same family were brought to his hospital on Wednesday morning, but they had been transferred to the General Hospital, Gboko, after stabilising them.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Gboko LGA, Torseer Yina, said he was yet to receive a formal report about the incident.

He said, “I have not received any formal information about the incident, but I saw it on social media, and that is where I learned about it.”

Efforts to get a reaction from the State Police Command were unsuccessful as the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, did not respond to texts or calls put across to her cell phone.

Tinubu orders BOA to clear N30bn agro-dealers debt

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Bank of Agriculture to clear outstanding arrears of N30bn owed to agro-dealers and input suppliers under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the bank’s External Media Relations Lead, Judith Ekwebelem, the directive followed the release of funds from the African Development Bank.

The bank explained that the move was aimed at strengthening support for farmers and stabilising the country’s food supply chain.

The Federal Government has also designated BOA as the custodian of all agricultural financing programme funds.

Ekwebelem said, “The move (the directive ) is seen as a turning point for the sector, with BOA tasked to ensure smooth and timely disbursement of funds to critical stakeholders in food production.

“The bank has, however, pledged to execute the approved payment schedule with urgency using its robust electronic wallet system to achieve payment to all complying agro-dealers within 24 hours, while also providing weekly progress updates until completion.”

She noted that the N30 billion represented the second tranche released by AfDB for the implementation of NAGS-AP, saying, “the funds are targeted at settling outstanding obligations from the 2024 dry and wet season programmes.

“Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, O.F.R., directed that the process be treated with the highest priority.”

“Accordingly, the NAGS-AP Secretariat and BOA formally kicked off the exercise on 18th September 2025 with the handover of beneficiary data.”

According to the statement, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of BOA, Ayo Sotinrin, described the appointment as a historic responsibility, saying, “This is a truly defining moment for our agricultural sector. This is more than just a fund; it is a bold commitment to ensuring our nation’s food security.

“By working hand-in-hand with the NAGS-AP team, we are cutting through bureaucratic delays to get payments directly to agro-dealers and suppliers.

“We are unlocking opportunities for farmers to move beyond subsistence farming into sustainable and profitable agribusiness.”

It added that BOA had outlined conditions for pre-qualified and registered agro-dealers and suppliers eligible for payment under the scheme, which include opening a BOA account, a mandatory step for claim processing.

Registration is free and can be completed online.

Sotinrin, who lauded the President and other stakeholders over the funds, urged all beneficiaries to comply without delay, warning that failure to do so could result in processing setbacks.

Tinubu, during a recent meeting with the Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, has expressed assurance to remove all bottlenecks hindering the realisation of the agricultural sector’s potential to enable food sovereignty and export.

The President, in a bilateral meeting held with the Brazilian President, noted that bureaucracy contributes to delays in realising the agricultural sector’s potential.

He informed the Brazilian leader and delegation that Nigeria was already undergoing reforms to reposition the economy for global competitiveness, particularly in agriculture, where it already had a competitive advantage.

We’ve repaid one-third of inherited debt, says ATBU Vice-Chancellor

The management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, has pledged to adopt financial prudence and academic justice in addressing the institution’s challenges.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibrahim Garba, gave the assurance when officials of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union paid him a solidarity visit in his office on Wednesday.

Garba, who expressed delight over the visit, said the university community’s pride lay in seeing ATBU progress in its mandate as a citadel of learning.

According to him, his administration inherited a huge debt profile but has succeeded in offsetting nearly one-third of the loan without taking additional credit.

“When I assumed office, I met a huge amount of debt at the university. I have been able to settle nearly one-third of that loan in the last few months without incurring any fresh loan at all,” he said.

On welfare, the VC disclosed that five luxury buses had been refurbished to ease students’ shuttle between Gubi and Yelwa campuses, while a 32-seater bus was also being prepared to support staff transportation.

He further revealed that six of the 11 grounded tractors owned by the university had been refurbished for this year’s farming season, with two more almost ready.

The intervention, he explained, was to support staff and members of the Bauchi community farming on the campuses at subsidised rates of less than 30 per cent of commercial charges.

Garba also announced that management was working on a seamless promotion process to eliminate delays in staff promotion exercises.

Commending the university community for its support since he assumed office, Garba assured that his administration would continue to uphold transparency and justice in running the institution.

Speaking earlier, the SSANU Chairman, Comrade Sulisma Jatau, praised the VC’s leadership style, particularly in financial prudence, staff and students’ welfare, and academic quality assurance.

He, however, described a recent media campaign against the VC as regrettable, noting that the institution did not deserve negative publicity.

Similarly, the NASU Chairman, Yusuf Yusuf, faulted the escalation of negative reports linking the VC to a Federal Government policy decision on restructuring some faculties and courses.

He explained that the decision, announced by the Pro-Chancellor, was wrongly attributed to the VC, leading to the controversy.

Both unions assured Garba of their continued support in his efforts to reposition the university.

PUNCH recalls that a Bauchi-based group had accused the VC of unilaterally misleading the Governing Council to shut down the Faculty of Management Sciences and some courses in the Faculty of Technology Education, a decision later clarified as a directive from the Federal Government.