Author: Our Correspondent

By Francis Wilfred

The Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, has praised China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for its exceptional expertise and professionalism in reconstructing and expanding the Maraba-Keffi Road. During a visit over the weekend to the project site, Umahi commended the quality and timely progress of the completed sections, noting that CHEC has set a high standard for other contractors to follow.

Umahi advised the CHEC team to maintain the high standards and strict compliance that have characterized their work so far, particularly now that the project has entered its critical and final phase. He emphasized the importance of enhancing safety management and quality control to ensure the project’s successful completion.

Umahi stated that although the contract completion date is June 2026, given the project’s importance to public transportation, he hopes CHEC will optimize its construction plan and resource allocation to strive for the overall handover by the end of February 2026, enabling the road to be fully open to traffic, thereby promoting regional socio-economic development and improving the convenience of public life.

Umahi assured CHEC that funding issues would be resolved and the Federal Ministry of Works would expedite procedures to promptly settle all approved Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs). He also committed to ensuring that the contractor receives full project payment in a timely manner upon completion, securing the smooth conclusion of the project.

The minister’s visit aimed to understand and assess the project’s progress and ensure that the project delivers high-quality road infrastructure that meets the needs of the public.

By Wilgred Francis

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has expressed deep concern over the recent political developments in Rivers State, particularly the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu.

In a statement by its National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, the pan-Niger Delta body called on all parties involved to exercise restraint and mutual forbearance, emphasizing the need for peace, development, and the welfare of the people of Rivers State.

In the statement, PANDEF commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other stakeholders for their efforts to restore peace and stability in the state. The organization said it has constituted a high-level reconciliation committee, chaired by Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, CON, Former Attorney-General of the Federation) to intervene in the matter and achieve a peaceful resolution.

Other members of the reconciliation committee are:

– Senator Obende Domingo (Former Senator, Edo North) – Vice Chairman
– Rt Hon (Chief) Essien Nduese, CON, (Former Minister of Housing)
– Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agari, OON (Retired Federal Permanent Secretary) – Member
– Chief Mike Ejiofor (RTD Director, Department of State Service), Member
– Mrs. Nella Rabana-Andem, SAN (Former Attorney-General, Cross River State) – Member
– Prince Godwin Okotie (Deputy National Secretary, PANDEF) – Secretary

PANDEF also called on all parties to cooperate with the committee, emphasizing the need for a dispassionate and inclusive process to achieve a peaceful and sustainable resolution. The organization also urged stakeholders to prioritize peace, development, and the welfare of the people of Rivers State.

By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

Armed Herdsmen have reportedly launched attacks on Farmers, destroy crops worth millions of naira in Adogo, Ugbaam Council Ward, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.

A statement by Chief Aule Gber, one of the Community leaders of the area indicates that the renewed attacks have disrupted farming activitie, stressing that most Farmers have relocated for fear of being attacked by the militia herdsmen.

“Armed Herdsmen were seeing destroying crops including cassava to feed cattle, the situation suggest the state is vulnerable, with no apparent response from government or security agencies, specifically on this issue of illegal migration of suspected terrorists in some parts of the state”, the statement reads.

“The state security council should reassess strategies, potentially collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Defense for high-caliber security support, including air tactical components, address hideout in deep forest areas with bad road network and communication palavers.”

He Implored the Benue State Government and security agencies to adopt proactive measures in tackling security challenges bedeviling the state, adding that the state should expect more of such attacks if urgent steps are not taking to address the security challenges.

As at the time of filing this report, efforts to contact the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Benue State Command, DSP Udeme Edet to confirm the incident were unsuccessful.

By our Correspondent

A Kaduna State High Court has sentenced Victor Solomon, popularly known as “Zidane,” to death by hanging following his conviction in connection with a violent incident involving armed herdsmen in his hometown in Kaduna State.

According to reports, Solomon was arrested in 2018 after an attack on his community, during which residents reportedly came under threat from armed Fulani herdsmen.

He was said to have acted in self-defence while trying to protect himself and other locals from being killed in a place known as bandits riddled Kajuru LGAs of kaduna State.

Sources familiar with the case claim that Solomon has been sentenced twice by the same court, a development that has generated public concern and renewed debate over the circumstances surrounding his trial and conviction.

The arrest and subsequent prosecution occurred during the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

Since news of the death sentence emerged, the case has attracted widespread attention on social media and among human rights advocates, with many calling for a review of the judgment and a thorough reassessment of the events that led to his conviction.

Critics argue that the case raises serious questions about self-defence, community security, and the treatment of civilians caught in violent conflicts.

They have appealed to relevant authorities, including the judiciary and the Kaduna State Government, to intervene and ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done.

As of the time of filing this report, official statements from the Kaduna State Government and the judiciary regarding the claims surrounding the case were yet to be issued.

A resident of Kajuru LGA of kaduna State Joshua “Zidane,” a “self defence patriot” was also reportedly sentenced to death by hanging, penultimate this week, according to statement shared with journalists on Thursday in Kaduna .

Zidane, who gained recognition for reportedly defending his community in Kajuru Local Government against bandit attacks, has become a focal point in debates over citizen-led security efforts.

The sentence has sparked outrage among citizens and human rights advocates, with critics arguing that it reflects a criminal justice system that punishes individuals for protecting their lives and communities.

“This is a cruel injustice where the victim has now been forced to become the perpetrator of a crime,” a concerned indigene and kaduna based Journalist, Dauda Bumba, said, calling for public action to challenge the judgment.

Recalled that a similar incidence accured with one Jackson in north Eastern region of Nigeria.

By Francis Wilfred

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have developed a framework to address consumer complaints arising from unsuccessful airtime and data transactions.

According to a statement signed by Nnena Ukoha Head Public Affairs of the Commission, the framework aims to provide refunds to subscribers who are debited but do not receive value for their purchases due to network downtimes, system glitches, or human input errors.

She further noted that under the new framework, subscribers are entitled to a refund within 30 seconds if they are debited but do not receive airtime or data. “In cases where the transaction remains pending, the refund may take up to 24 hours. The framework also mandates operators to notify consumers via SMS of the success or failure of every transaction”.

The framework establishes a Central Monitoring Dashboard, jointly hosted by the NCC and the CBN, to monitor failures, identify responsible parties, track refunds, and detect breaches of Service Level Agreements (SLAs). The dashboard will enable real-time monitoring of transaction failures and refunds.

The NCC and CBN have also made it clear that operators will be held accountable for failed transactions, including erroneous recharges to ported lines, incorrect airtime or data purchases, and transactions made to the wrong phone number.

“Failed top-ups rank among the top three consumer complaints, and we are committed to resolving this issue as quickly as possible,” said Mrs. Freda Bruce-Bennett, Director of Consumer Affairs at the NCC.

The implementation of the framework is expected to commence on March 1, 2026, pending final approvals and technical integration by all stakeholders. So far, MNOs and banks have collectively refunded over N10 billion to customers for failed transactions

By our correspondent

Earl Osaro Onaiwu, former DG of the Nigeria’s Governors forum and founding Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, has commended Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, for what he described as a humane and visionary intervention that has finally brought relief and closure to dozens of Zamfara indigenes whose academic futures had been left hanging for nearly a decade.

Onaiwu was reacting to the presentation of academic certificates to 50 Zamfara students who graduated from Crescent University, Abeokuta, but were unable to access their results for nine years due to unpaid tuition fees owed by the state government under previous administrations.

Crescent University had withheld the students’ results as a result of the outstanding debt.
The Lawal administration intervened, cleared the accumulated fees, and ensured the immediate release of the results and certificates. Among the beneficiaries are a First Class graduate in Chemistry and several Second Class Upper degree holders—young Nigerians whose talents and aspirations had been unjustly stalled.
Describing the development as “a powerful act of restorative leadership,”

Onaiwu said Governor Lawal had not only paid a financial debt, but also “repaid a moral obligation to the youth of Zamfara State.”

“For nine painful years, these young men and women lived in uncertainty, their lives placed on hold through no fault of theirs,” Onaiwu said.

“By resolving this long-standing injustice, Governor Dauda Lawal has put smiles on faces that had known only frustration, dashed hopes and broken promises. This is what responsible governance looks like.”

While praising the governor’s decisive action, Onaiwu did not spare past administrations in Zamfara State, accusing them of gross negligence and a dangerous disregard for human capacity development.

“It is deeply troubling that successive governments could abandon their own students after sending them to university,” he said.

“This is not just administrative failure; it is a betrayal of the future. Education is not a luxury—it is the backbone of development, security and prosperity, especially in Northern Nigeria.”

Onaiwu stressed that the Zamfara case reflects a wider structural problem across the North, where insufficient budgetary allocation to education has continued to undermine youth development, worsen unemployment and fuel social instability.

He called on governors across Northern Nigeria to emulate Lawal’s example by deliberately increasing funding for education, clearing legacy liabilities, and placing youth development at the centre of governance.
“Governor Lawal has shown that leadership is about courage, empathy and priority,”

Onaiwu added. “By investing in education, he is investing in peace, productivity and the long-term stability of Zamfara State. This intervention is clear evidence that his education reforms are not mere rhetoric, but policies with measurable human impact.”

Governor Lawal, while presenting the certificates, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education, noting that the move was part of broader reforms aimed at restoring confidence in public institutions and ensuring that no Zamfara child is denied opportunity due to government failure.

For the 50 graduates, the intervention marks the end of a long night and the beginning of renewed possibilities—proof that when leadership aligns with conscience, lives can be transformed and hope restored.

By Francis Wilfred

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) said it has launched an Inter-Agency Innovation Competition & Awards, inviting Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to propose innovative solutions to address pressing national challenges.

The aim of the competition according to a statement signed by the spokesperson of NASENI, Chima Akwaja is to harness innovation, promote collaboration, and drive technological advancement in key sectors, including health, agriculture, education, and infrastructure. By leveraging science and technology, NASENI the statement said seeks to enhance public service delivery and improve Nigerians’ quality of life.

Consequently, MDAs are encouraged to submit their entries through NASENI’s website, joining the movement to drive innovation and unlock Nigeria’s potential. This initiative it noted aligns with NASENI’s mission to develop infrastructure for indigenous industrialization, job creation, and national progress.

The competition is open to all MDAs, and submissions are expected to showcase creative solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.

By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo

The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Baba Azare has reiterated the stance of police authorities on the withdrawal of officers from escort duty for unauthorized VIPs saying the move would help to free the officers for their core duties.

He has also warned officers against violating directives saying he would deploy all the machineries of the force to ensure that violators are brought to book.

Azare who made this known at his first management and strategic meeting of the year 2026 with senior officers, in Uyo yesterday DPOs and tactical commanders of the Command however commended them for their dedication and resilience in maintaining relative peace and security across the State in the preceding year.

The commissioner issued a stern warning against all forms of indiscipline, misconduct, and unprofessional behaviour and emphasized that the Command’s leadership would not tolerate any action capable of tarnishing the image of the force..

Reiterating key directives of the IGP Kayode Egbetokun,Azare stressed the strict enforcement of the directive on the withdrawal of police officers from escort duties for VIPs was aimed at ensuring optimal deployment of manpower for core policing duties that serve the interest of the general public.

The commissioner reiterated the Executive Order of the State Government on masquerade operations, directing all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Tactical Team Leaders to ensure full compliance in order to maintain public order.

He charged officers to maintain neatness in dressing, courteous disposition, and civility in all interactions with members of the public reminding them that they remained servants of the people while their conduct must reflect the ethics and standards of a modern, people-friendly police force.

By Anne Azuka

CP Aina Adesola has assumed duty as the 23rd Commissioner of Police, Delta State Police Command, succeeding Assistant Inspector-General of Police Olufemi Abaniwonda, who was recently promoted and posted as Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

CP Aina Adesola was born on 2nd September, 1968 to the family of Mr and Mrs Aina Ajana and hails from Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Ondo State University in the year 1990 and was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a member of course 4 Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) on 10th June 1994. He attended the elite Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State. Upon completion of his training, he was deployed to Delta state in the year 1996, where he served in Ogwashi-Uku.

The new Commissioner of Police has served the Nigeria Police Force in various capacities, including operational, administrative, investigative, and training roles.

His postings include service as Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Aswani Division 2012-2015, he served as the OC Homicide Edo State command in the year 2016, OC X-squad zone 2, Lagos state also in the 2016, Assistant commissioner of Police Department of finance and admin, Abia State Police Command from the year 2018-2022, Commandant, and Police Training School, Oyin-Akoko, Ondo State in the year 2022.

Also, he was Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration), Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja; Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, Rivers State Command in the year 2023; and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Delta State Command 2023-2025.

Upon his elevation to the rank of Commissioner of Police in the year 2025, he was posted to Lagos State as Deputy Commandant, Police College, Ikeja where he served for seven months and in the month of January 2026, he was deployed to Delta State as the 23rd commissioner of Police Delta State Police Command.

In furtherance of his professional development, CP Aina Adesola has attended several leadership and specialised courses, including the Citizenship and Leadership Course, Sherri Hills, Jos; Leadership Command Course; Tactical Leadership Command Course at the Police Staff College, Jos; Police Mobile Training Course, Gwoza; Community Policing Train-the-Trainers Course, Police College, Ikeja; as well as International Law Enforcement Agency (ILEA) programmes in Gaborone, Botswana, and Roswell, New Mexico, United States of America.

Widely regarded as a disciplined, detribalised, and people-oriented police officer, CP Aina Adesola has participated in numerous workshops and seminars both within and outside the country. He is known for his professionalism, humility, and commitment to community-based policing. His hobbies include reading, travelling, and playing football. He is happily married and blessed with children.

While formally taking over the leadership of the Command, the new Commissioner of Police pledged to build on existing security frameworks and strengthen proactive policing strategies across Delta State. He called on residents to continue to support the Police and other security agencies, while advising youths to resist all forms of criminal inducement.

In his handing-over remarks, the outgoing Commissioner of Police, AIG Olufemi Abaniwonda, expressed sincere appreciation to the Delta State Government and the people of the State for their cooperation and support during his tenure. He urged them to extend the same goodwill to his successor.

Addressing members of the press, CP Aina Adesola assured Deltans and residents that under his leadership, the Delta State Police Command would remain firm, professional, and proactive in ensuring that the State becomes increasingly hostile to criminal elements and activities.