Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, on Friday urged members of the National Youth Service Corps deployed to the state to make a positive impact on the people’s lives.

He gave the charge during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2025 Batch A Stream II orientation exercise at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Wamakko.

Mr Aliyu assured the corps members that his administration would prioritise their welfare and security throughout their service year in the state.

He encouraged them to view Sokoto as fertile ground for upholding the ideals and objectives of the NYSC scheme.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Mustapha Muhammad, the governor warned corps members against cultism and other social vices.

He praised the NYSC management for its role in guiding Nigerian youths in line with government policies and developmental goals.

Mr Aliyu noted that the NYSC had greatly contributed to national development through various sectors across the country.

He emphasised the scheme’s importance as a unifying platform for youths of different ethnic, religious and academic backgrounds.

He also commended the NYSC for promoting patriotism, hard work and entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths.

Mr Aliyu highlighted the scheme’s role in driving socio-economic growth through community-based projects and initiatives.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to corps members’ safety, calling on security agencies and community leaders to support them.

The governor also reiterated his focus on youth empowerment through skill acquisition programmes to boost innovation and drive economic growth.

The NYSC State Coordinator, Usman Yakubu-Yaro, urged corps members to maintain discipline and adapt to the camp’s structured environment.

He stated that the orientation programme was intended to prepare them physically and mentally for national service.

Mr Yakubu-Yaro encouraged participation in the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme for future self-reliance.

He expressed appreciation to Mr Aliyu and the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, for their continued support of the scheme.

The state Chief Judge, Justice Sa’aidu Sifawa, represented by Magistrate Hadijia Muazu-Jodi, administered the oath of allegiance.

The police command in Anambra State has arrested a male suspected to be involved in the kidnap and murder of George Onwurah in the Ndiukwuenu, Orumba-North Local Government Area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Awka, said that the incident occurred in May 2024.

Mr Ikenga said that police operatives attached to the Awgbu Division, based on community support on June 12 by 10.20am, arrested 19-year-old Chimaobi Mbonu.

He explained that Mbonu was suspected to be a member of a kidnap gang involved in the abduction and murder of Mr Onwurah.

According to Mr Ikenga, preliminary information reveals that Mbonu and other gang members kidnapped and tortured their victim to death, after collecting ransom.

He stated, “The criminal gang is also responsible for the vandalisation of the community health centre, where they stole electrical materials and other valuables. The operatives have emplaced operational plans to arrest other gang members currently at large.’’

The Ijaw National Congress has described Senator Seriake Dickson, (PDP-Bayelsa) and senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District as a true son of the Ijaw cause.

This is contained in a statement by President, INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba and made available in Abuja on Saturday.

Mr Okaba noted that despite visible attempts to intimidate or entice the lawmaker into compromising his and ljaw collective values and principles premised on justice and the rule of law, he remained standing and firmly with the Ijaw people.

According to him, Mr Dickson remained unshaken, consistent, dogged, sagacious and courageous in defence of the Ijaw nation, especially amid recent political and economic challenges.

He said, “I recall Senator Dickson’s stance during the Rivers State political crisis, including his bold face-off with the Senate president and his walkout during the vote to affirm the ill-fated emergency rule-acts; that reflect his unwavering commitment to justice and democratic values. We commend Dickson for also recently drawing the attention of President Bola Tinubu to the worsening economic realities in Ijaw land and the glaring absence of federal presence or developmental projects in the region.

“His outspokenness continues to resonate with the aspirations of the Ijaw people. The Ijaw Nation is proud of his relentless pursuit of equity, justice, and the development of the Niger Delta. We urge other leaders to emulate his example of principled leadership and courage in the face of adversity.’’

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Kano Strategic Command, promised to partner with Mazaje Traditional Sport Promotion Limited (Kungiyar Dambe) to combat drug abuse in the state.

This is contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Agency, Mr Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari, on Saturday in Kano.

The decision was part of discussion between the two parties when the king of Traditional Boxing (Sarkin Damben Nigeria), Bashir Muhammad-Danliti, led his team on a courtesy visit to the NDLEA in Kano.

The event was part of activities lined up ahead of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, marked annually on June 26.

The Strategic Commander, Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, said that the collaboration was aimed at using traditional sports, particularly popular traditional boxing (dambe) to engage the youth and raise awareness on drug abuse and illicit trafficking to promote a drug-free society.

Mr Idris-Ahmad, represented by the Head of the NDLEA Drug Demand Reduction Unit, Hajiya Maimuna Garba, expressed appreciation to the Mazaje group for its support in the fight against drug abuse.

He lauded the Officer in Charge of Sports, Jamilu Uba-Adamu, for his innovative approach in leveraging sports as a platform to disseminate crucial messages on drug awareness and prevention.

Mr Idris-Ahmad emphasised that the collaboration would feature sensitisation activities and sporting events aimed at educating the public on the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of seeking help and support where necessary.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working with community-based organisations and traditional institutions to address the menace of drug abuse across the state.

“As we approach the UNODC, the NDLEA Strategic Command calls on all stakeholders and members of the public to support this initiative. Together, we can create a lasting impact in the fight against drug abuse and promote a culture of wellness and resilience in our communities,” the official said

Earlier, Mr Muhammad-Danliti, emphasised the importance of deepening partnership between the two organisations.

He commended the NDLEA for its doggedness in the fight against drug abuse in the state.

He said his visit was to synergise with NDLEA in addressing security challenges, emphasising that a significant number of crimes were committed under the influence of drugs.

Mr Muhammad-Danliti said, “We will continue to work with the agency to tackle the root causes of drug abuse and prevent same from spreading in the state,”

The Police Command in Kaduna State said its operatives detained 182 suspects within Kaduna metropolis, recovered a vehicle, one AK-47 rifle, 31 rounds of ammunition and 30 bags of Indian hemp after various raids.

This is contained in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, issued on Saturday in Kaduna.

Mr Hassan said, “In its continuous efforts to rid Kaduna State of criminals, safeguard lives and property, the state command launched an aggressive manhunt and clampdown on criminal hideouts and blackspots across the state.”

He said that operations were coordinated by Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the metropolitan areas, particularly Rigasa, Kawo, Tudun wada, Sabon Tasha and other communities in line with the directives of the state commissioner of police.

According to him, a total number of 183 suspects were detained after the successful raids.

Mr Hassan said, “The crackdown, which is part of ongoing efforts to restore public confidence and enhance internal security, led to the recovery of dangerous weapons and hard drugs. As part of this operations, on Friday, police carried out raids in Rigasa, which resulted in the recovery of hard drugs and 30 bags as well as about 1,600 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and other dangerous weapons.

“On the same day, at about 11:45 p.m., residents of Rafin Guza discovered a bag abandoned during a police hot pursuit of suspected criminals. The bag contained an AK-47 rifle magazine loaded with 31 rounds of live ammunition. Investigations are currently underway to trace the culprits and soon they will be apprehended and brought to justice.”

Mr Hassan also disclosed that on Sunday, at 11:00 a.m, Kakuri Divisional Police operatives, acting on a tip-off, posed as buyers and arrested one Ziya Abdullah, who was attempting to sell a vehicle suspected to have been stolen.

According to him, Abdullahi’s arrest led to the arrest of his accomplice, one Bashir Usman, (aka) Yellow.

Mr Hassan said that the suspects confessed to robbing a resident using knives and cutlasses while they snatched a Honda Accord car.

He stated, “The stolen vehicle was later recovered in Zaria. Efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing gang members. Some of the suspects have been charged while others are currently undergoing thorough investigation by the police. The remaining suspects found culpable will be arraigned in court soonest in accordance with the law.’’

He said the Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, reiterated the command’s unwavering resolve to combat crimes and urged the residents to continue providing timely and useful information to assist the police in their routine and ad hoc operations.

The CP assured the residents that the state would continue to be peaceful.

The Council adjusted its original schedule to address the rapidly evolving crisis and also heard from the head of the UN-backed international nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Overnight from Thursday into Friday, Israeli military strikes targeted nuclear facilities across Iran, including the Natanz enrichment site.

Media reports indicated that the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, as well as several prominent nuclear scientists, were among those killed.

The strikes also caused significant damage, including reportedly dozens of civilian casualties, while airspace in the region has been largely closed and security forces are on high alert.

Additional Israeli strikes were reported late Friday local time as well as ballistic missile launches by Iran which have reportedly struck parts of Israel, including Tel Aviv.

Briefing the Council, Director General of IAEA, the UN-backed international nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, warned of the grave risks to regional stability and nuclear safety.

Mr Grossi said his agency was in constant contact with the Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority to assess the status of affected facilities and determine broader impacts on nuclear safety and security.

He said, “Iran has confirmed that at present, only the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant site has been attacked in today’s strikes. This facility contains the Fuel Enrichment Plant and the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. At Natanz, the above-ground part of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, where Iran was producing uranium enriched up to 60 per cent U-235, has been destroyed.”

The IAEA chief stated that nuclear facilities must never be attacked, regardless of the context or circumstances, as it could harm both people and the environment.

He added, “Such attacks have serious implications for nuclear safety, security and safeguards, as well as regional and international peace and security. Grossi said IAEA had consistently underlined that “armed attacks on nuclear facilities could result in radioactive releases with grave consequences within and beyond the boundaries of the State which has been attacked. I reiterate that any military action that jeopardizes the safety and security of nuclear facilities risks grave consequences for the people of Iran, the region, and beyond.”

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, emphasised Israel’s determination to dismantle Iran’s nuclear programme.

Mr Danon stated, “We know our enemies. We know their ideology. And when a regime builds ballistic missiles, enriches uranium to near weapons-grade, and openly declares its intent to destroy us, we believe them.”

UN Under-Secretary-General for political affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, said Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities marked a dangerous new escalation in the Middle East.

The top UN official told ambassadors that the repercussions of the attacks were already reverberating.

“I reaffirm the Secretary-General’s condemnation of any military escalation in the Middle East,” she said.

Ms DiCarlo urged both Israel and Iran to exercise maximum restraint and “avoid at all costs a descent into deeper and wider regional conflict.’’

Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA)
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has reaffirmed its preparedness to respond effectively to any flood related emergency in the state.

Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, made this known on Friday during the flag-off of the 2025 Flood-Free Lagos Campaign.

The campaign included strategic visits to the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs.

He stated that the campaign was in response to early warnings from the Federal Government indicating that Lagos was among states at high risk of flooding during the rainy season.

Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said, “We have mapped out all vulnerable areas including Eti-Osa, Kosofe, Lekki, Apapa and Amuwo-Odofin. We are well prepared for any form of eventuality.’’

The permanent secretary highlighted significant improvements in the state’s emergency preparedness and infrastructure.

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has formally condoled with the Niger State Government and families of victims of Mokwa flood disaster.

The group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Ezechi Chukwu, disclosed this in a statement issued in Enugu on behalf of the body’s President-General, Senator Azuka Mbata, on Friday.

According to Mr Chukwu, the news of the flood in Mokwa was received with sadness.

He said that the organisation saw the unfortunate incident, which occurred on May 28, killing over 200 people as “heartbreaking.”

Conveying the organisation’s condolences to the bereaved families, government and people of Niger State, Mr Chukwu quoted Mr Mbata as urging the government to adopt measures that could help to avoid or mitigate such disasters in the future.

He stated, “Mbata calls on the Niger State Government and all other governments to implement the recommendations from experts on environment and weather. The Igbo leader, therefore, prays God Almighty to grant the bereaved families the fortitude to bear this painful loss.’’

It further urged them “to take solace in the will of God.”

President Bola Tinubu’s government has directed civil servants at the ministry of agriculture to observe mandatory prayer and fasting within three weeks as part of spiritual exercise to tackle food insecurity in the country.

The ministry of agriculture and food safety issued the directive in a circular dated June 11 sent to its board members and staff, inviting them to participate in prayer sessions against nationwide hunger.

The weekly spiritual programme has been scheduled to hold every Monday for the rest of the month.

The circular noted, “This is to invite all staff of the federal ministry of agriculture and food security to a solemn prayer session for God’s guidance and success in supporting the government’s efforts to achieve food security. The prayers will hold at Conference Hall ‘B’ of the FMAFS headquarters in Area 11, Garki, Abuja, from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. on June 16, June 23 and June 30.’’

According to the circular, staff are expected to show up at work fasting on the selected dates, starting from next Monday through to the remainder of June.

Many Nigerians have been plunged into acute hunger in the past two years after harsh economic policies by President Bola Tinubu caused a significant hike in food prices across the country.

Under Mr Tinubu’s administration, attacks on farms continued to increase, with farmers often forced by terrorists to abandon their lands, causing nationwide food shortages.

The Jigawa State Government said it commenced enrolment of 400 political appointees into the state health insurance scheme.

This is contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Ismail Ibrahim, on Friday, in Dutse.

Mr Ibrahim said the SSG, Bala Ibrahim-Mamsa, officially inaugurated the enrollment of the appointees into the Jigawa State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency in his office.

According to the PRO, Mr Ibrahim-Mamsa emphasised that the initiative will strengthen the scheme to enhance universal health coverage for all citizens of the state.

The SSG highlighted that the State Executive Council approved the inclusion of political office holders into the health scheme, adding that the law establishing JICHMA had been amended to facilitate the exercise.

He urged political appointees in the state to enroll in the scheme within the designated time frame.

The SSG and Chief of Staff to Governor Umar Namadi, Mujitaba Muhammad, were the first to enroll, setting the stage for the exercise.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Kabiru Ibrahim, highlighted that the exercise would provide essential healthcare service to the vulnerable population of the state.

Mr Ibrahim said that JICHMA had enrolled 500 vulnerable persons from each of the 287 wards in the state into the scheme.

He said that the beneficiaries were digitally selected at the ward level, with their profiles recorded in a central database.

Also, the agency’s Executive Secretary, Hamza Maigari, assured that arrangements for the enrollment of all the political appointees had been concluded.

Mr Margari, however, appealed to the SSG to ensure that political appointees participated in the exercise.

He said that the enrollment exercise would take place across the 27 local government areas in the state.

Plastic pollution
The Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria) has released its five-year Plastic Brand Audit Report, spotlighting top corporate plastic polluters in the country.

The brand audit unveiled at a media event on Friday in Lagos, is part of activities to commemorate the 2025 World Environment Day.

Speaking at the event, Executive Director, SRADev Nigeria, Dr Leslie Adogame, said that over 11,000 plastic waste items were audited across six communities, revealing that food and beverage packaging—particularly PET bottles and sachet plastics—accounted for up to 99 per cent of pollution.

He noted that plastic pollution had escalated beyond an environmental issue to a public health crisis, linking it to cancer, hormonal disorders, and respiratory diseases.

He commended the Lagos State Government’s planned ban on single-use plastics, set to take effect on July 1, 2025, but urged for a broader scope that included PET bottles, nylon bags, and water sachets, which remained under-regulated.

“Top polluting companies must go beyond pledges and take measurable steps to reduce single-use plastics. We urge them to reveal their plastic footprint, reduce production, and reinvent packaging to be reusable,” Mr Adogame said.

SRADev called on the media to amplify awareness, drive public discourse, and hold corporate polluters accountable.

The audit was conducted under the global ‘Break Free From Plastic’ movement and contributes to international efforts for a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution.

Wife of President Bola Tinubu, Oluremi Tinubu, on Friday, in Abuja urged Nigerians in the diaspora to contribute more actively to national development.

She called on them to support efforts aimed at rebuilding the country and improving its wellbeing through greater commitment and engagement.

Mrs Tinubu made the call while receiving the President and CEO of Montefiore Medicine, Dr Philips Ozuah, at the State House, Abuja.

She praised Mr Ozuah, a renowned paediatrician and philanthropist, for his achievements in the United States of America and his willingness to invest back home in Nigeria.

She said, “We are proud a Nigerian is excelling in the USA. It is commendable that you have supported your alma mater, UCH Ibadan.’’

She added that starting with education was significant. “Through the Renewed Hope Initiative, we are doing a lot to promote education.’’

The First Lady acknowledged Mr Ozuah’s efforts in enhancing Nigeria’s global reputation and supporting the diaspora’s contribution to national progress.

She encouraged other Nigerians abroad to use their skills and resources to support development in their homeland.

In his remarks, Mr Ozuah thanked Mrs Tinubu for championing both domestic and international support for Nigerians.

He praised her initiatives, especially those under the Renewed Hope Initiative addressing maternal and child health across the country.

Mr Ozuah stated, “I am inspired by the First Lady’s impactful work in health and education.’’

He pledged to collaborate with the RHI to extend support to more Nigerians, especially women and children nationwide.

Kyiv has received another 1,200 bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers from Russia, Ukrainian authorities said on Friday, following another night of Russian drone strikes.

The handover, the second to take place this week, was brokered by the International Red Cross, the staff responsible for prisoner-of-war issues in Kyiv said.

On Wednesday, Ukraine received the remains of 1,212 soldiers and handed over 27 dead bodies to Moscow in return.

During direct negotiations in Istanbul at the beginning of the month, the warring parties agreed on the return of the remains of more than 6,000 fallen soldiers from Russia to Ukraine.

The exchange was originally expected last weekend but stalled due to a lack of coordination between the two countries.

Friday’s handover followed another wave of overnight Russian drone attacks on eastern Ukraine, with combat drones bombing areas around Sumy and Donetsk, the Ukrainian Air Force said.

Air raid alerts sounded in eastern Ukraine, authorities said.

Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than three years.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has attested that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration rescued Nigeria’s economy from imminent collapse and returned public finances to a path of solvency through bold structural reforms.

Speaking on June 12 at “The Platform Nigeria”, a civic engagement forum organised by The Covenant Nation and hosted by Pastor Poju Oyemade in Lagos, Governor Soludo praised the Tinubu administration’s economic agenda and called for a national rebirth rooted in ethics, ideology, and citizen responsibility.

According statement issued on Friday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Soludo, who is a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said “the audacious structural reforms embarked upon by the current administration of HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu have rescued the economy from the tipping point”.

Soludo recounted that the economy, as of May 2023, resembled a “standing dead horse,” warning that public finances were on the verge of insolvency with potentially dire consequences, including mass layoffs and salary arrears.

“Public finance is back on a solvency path, and macro fundamentals are recovering positively,” he declared.

Backing his position with endorsements from global financial institutions, Soludo said: “The endorsements by the World Bank, IMF, London Financial Times, rating agencies—Fitch, Moody’s—are well deserved.”

He pointed out that although he had historically critiqued these institutions, their current praise for Nigeria’s reform trajectory should not be dismissed.

“Funny enough, when these institutions criticise the government, some people use them to validate their criticisms, but when the same institutions give a positive report, they are derided as ‘neoliberal, out-of-touch institutions’,” he remarked.

Soludo urged public commentators to embrace a more rigorous and fact-based approach to analysing national economic policies.

“Many analysts have interesting ‘opinions’, but I urge them to go deeper: conduct rigorous counterfactual analysis and provide credible alternatives! As a friend said recently, the task is always easy, especially if you are not the one doing it,” he noted.

While acknowledging Nigeria’s broad reform needs—ranging from security to infrastructure and constitutional review—the Anambra Governor argued that implementation remains the key challenge, especially in a resource-constrained and unequal society.

He called for a fundamental national rebirth grounded not just in policies, but in values.

“We must deliberately create a critical mass of ‘new Nigerians’—who believe in her and are ready, if necessary, to die for her. No nation has prospered sustainably without a critical mass of patriotic, vigilant and actively participatory citizenry”, Soludo said.

Lamenting the erosion of values such as hard work and integrity, Soludo warned against a prevailing culture that glorifies wealth without effort.

“The ‘culture’ that celebrates and expects something for nothing or wealth without work must give way to a culture that rewards and celebrates hard work, enterprise and integrity,” he asserted.

He identified the Tinubu administration’s Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), alongside Anambra State’s One Youth, Two Skills programme and expanded education and healthcare support, as pivotal investments in Nigeria’s human capital.

“The shortest answer is to give the citizens stakes in the society by investing in their future… These programs excite the youths/students and could hopefully create ‘stakeholders’ in future projects,” he said.

The APGA governor also warned of the damage caused by superstitions about instant wealth and called for a legislative and educational campaign to combat such beliefs.

“It is my thesis that a society where no one asks/cares about sources of livelihood or where most people expect and celebrate unearned/free money is one where transactional governance will always trump transformational leadership,” he said.

Soludo concluded by urging for ideological clarity and unity across political lines to foster a new national culture.

“We must break this vicious ‘culture’ and intentionally promote ethical-value rebirth. This is a national emergency requiring urgent national conversation,” he said.

A 52 year old Canada returnee, Morufudeen Idowu, has been sentenced to three months imprisonment for assaulting an official of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (popularly known as KAI) at Ojota.

Punch Online reported that Idowu was arrested after he allegedly physically attacked a KAI official who stopped him from crossing the Ojota expressway, in violation of Lagos State’s pedestrian safety regulations.

According to the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, the incident occurred during routine enforcement activities by KAI officers to discourage illegal road crossing.

In a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, Wahab disclosed that Mr Idowu, who claimed to have recently returned from Canada, refused lawful arrest and assaulted a government official performing his duty.

“Following the arrest of Mr Morufudeen Idowu, who assaulted one of our personnel and refused arrest while crossing the expressway at Ojota, he was arraigned before the Magistrate Court sitting at Oshodi and sentenced to three months imprisonment,” Wahab posted on Friday.

The assault took place near the Ojota pedestrian bridge, one of the locations frequently monitored by LAGESC operatives due to the high number of pedestrian-related accidents recorded on the expressway.

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria has hailed the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency for combating piracy and restoring safety and security on Nigeria’s waterways.

The commendation was expressed in a statement on Friday by Francis Bunu, the president of the union.

Mr Bunu said that NIMASA’s transformative role in maritime security and governance, particularly in combating piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, was commendable.

“The agency’s efforts have significantly improved safety and stability in Nigerian waters. We now have peace on our waters; NIMASA has enhanced regional stability and boosts investor confidence,” he said.

Mr Bunu said NIMASA’s commitment to maritime safety served as an indicator that Nigeria had a growing prominence in global maritime affairs.

Mr Bunu also said that with the establishment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and other efforts being made by the government, Nigeria was well-positioned for election into the International Maritime Organisation Council.

According to him, Nigeria has both the expertise and leadership to make meaningful contributions on the global maritime stage.

“Nigeria is long overdue for a return to the IMO Council, and a vote for Nigeria is a vote for Africa,” he said.

Mr Bunu pledged the support of the union through its international affiliates to advocate for Nigeria’s election into the IMO Council.

He also reaffirmed the union’s commitment to collaborate with maritime stakeholders to foster industrial harmony, particularly within the dock labour sub-sector, to ensure peace, progress, and sustained sectoral growth.

Three men, Olufemi Faleti, 59, Ayoade Adewale, 41 and Idowu Yusuf, 41, were on Friday, brought before the Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly breaking into a bank and stealing laptops.

The defendants, whose addresses were not provided, were charged with conspiracy, housebreaking and stealing, to which they pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Insp Elisha Tellang, told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offences on March 24 at 7:30 p.m., at First Bank, Asogo, Oyo.

He alleged that the defendants broke into the bank and stole two laptops worth N800,000.

Mr Tellang said the offences contravened sections 516, 413 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The magistrate, Moyosore Atanda, granted the defendant N300,000 bail with two sureties each in like sum.

She adjourned the case until September 8 for a hearing.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Friday appointed new military commanders following the deaths of key security officials in Israeli airstrikes on Tehran, local media reported.

The appointments come after Israel launched a wave of airstrikes early Friday targeting Tehran and other Iranian cities.

The strikes killed Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri, Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Hossein Salami, and Gholam-Ali Rashid, head of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the report said.

Mr Khamenei named Abdolrahim Mousavi as the new chief of staff of the armed forces, Mohammad Pakpour as the IRGC’s new commander, and Ali Shadmani to lead the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.

Before their appointments, Mr Mousavi headed the regular army, Mr Pakpour commanded the IRGC’s Ground Force, and Mr Shadmani served as deputy coordinator at Khatam al-Anbiya.

In addition to the top military leaders, the Israeli strikes also killed six Iranian nuclear scientists, including Mohammad-Mehdi Tehranchi and Fereydoun Abbasi, as well as an unspecified number of civilians, the report added.

In a statement, Mr Khamenei condemned the attacks, warning that Israel would face “severe punishment” for what he called a crime against Iran.

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would “sort itself out”, following President Bola Tinubu’s remarks on the crisis bedevilling opposition political parties in the country.

While fielding questions from journalists at the National Assembly on Thursday, Mr Saraki acknowledged Mr Tinubu’s position about the crises in opposition parties, aligning with the president on his support for a multiparty system.

Mr Tinubu, in his June 12 Democracy Day speech on Thursday, expressed delight at the disarray in the PDP, Labour Party (LP), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

He refuted claims that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was hellbent on making Nigeria a one-party state amid the wave of defections to the ruling party.

“Political parties’ fear of members leaving may be better served by examining their internal processes and affairs, rather than fearful conjuring up demons that do not exist. For me, I would not say try your best to put your house in order, I would not help you to do so either. It is indeed a pleasure to witness you in such a disarray,” Mr Tinubu had said.

Reacting to Mr Tinubu’s remarks, the former Senate president admitted his party, PDP, was in crisis, urging members to get their houses back in order.

“I think we must take him at his word. I mean, he spoke well, saying that he’s not for a one-party state. So we must take him at his word, and he supports a multi-party. So we are all on the same page,” Mr Saraki said.

The politician added, “That is why we are going around and bringing everybody to come around. So those who say they are under pressure, there is no pressure anymore. So, we are all for multi-party, and everybody should get their house in order, as he said, he is not going to help us, so, we are going to sort our own house again.”

Opposition parties, including PDP, LP and NNPP, have been mired in internal crises, with many questioning their integrity and readiness to wrestle power from Mr Tinubu in 2027.

Mr Saraki was appointed to chair PDP’s reconciliation committee as the opposition embarked on steps to unite all its stakeholders ahead of the forthcoming elections.

A composite of Bola Tinubu and MKO Abiola used to illustrate the story
A composite of Bola Tinubu and MKO Abiola used to illustrate the story
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says history has returned the baton of democratic struggle to late Moshood Abiola’s trusted ally, President Bola Tinubu, decades after June 12.

Representing President Tinubu, Mr Shettima stated this on Thursday at the Democracy Day lecture held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, marking Nigeria’s 26th anniversary of democracy.

He described the late Abiola as a patriot who gave everything for Nigeria, saying Abiola’s sacrifice became the guiding light of the country’s democratic journey.

The vice-president noted that hope remains an enduring part of Abiola’s legacy, a flame that could neither be extinguished nor ignored in history’s account.

He added that belief in Abiola’s vision has renewed national hope in what he described as the great theatre of providence.

According to him, Mr Abiola’s dream did not die in vain but became a national covenant and enduring resolve among Nigerians.

“Abiola’s dream inspired Nigerians to uphold what is right, defend electoral choice, and honour the sacrifices that built the roots of our democracy. This faith in Abiola’s promise has renewed hope for Nigeria. In the great theatre of providence, history returns the baton to Abiola’s ally in democracy’s struggle —President Tinubu.

“The ticket once denied Nigerians — the Abiola-Kingibe ticket — finds reflection and vindication in Tinubu’s leadership, mirroring its spirit and conviction. Tinubu, a leader who has preserved democracy’s flame through years of fire and storm.

“I’m honoured to share the weight of this history and the depth of its memory,” Shettima said.

According to him, Nigeria stands today on the sacrifices of unsung heroes—those who gave up comfort, freedom, and even their lives for the sake of democratic values.

“Nigerians, including myself, remain thankful to serve in a government that listens to all voices. There is no doubt Tinubu honours that covenant — reaching across divides to build a nation for all,” Mr Shettima stated.

He said Mr Abiola’s life shows that democracy’s burden is not a lone man’s task but a shared national responsibility. The vice-president urged Nigerians to unite and guard democracy as a fortress that no force of anarchy can breach, not even in thought.

Mr Shettima called for strong support for Mr Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ nationwide.

“Each of us has a sacred duty to support the President in renewing hope, deepening democracy, and institutionalising governance,” he said.

The secretary to the government, George Akume, praised the lasting legacies, democratic contributions, and efforts of democracy heroes to reshape the national economy. He encouraged stakeholders to embrace democratic ideals by supporting Tinubu’s efforts towards peace, growth, and prosperity.

Governor Hope Uzodimma said recognising June 12 as Democracy Day reflected national will and sacrifice.