Category: News

By Jabiru Hassan

The (TCN) has successfully restored the 330kV Shiroro–Mando Transmission Line 2 to service following the completion of repair works.

The line was energised at about 8:32 p.m. on Thursday, February 19, 2026, after TCN engineers concluded extensive technical interventions to ensure the integrity and operational reliability of the infrastructure. The restoration was carried out in strict compliance with safety and quality standards.

With both Line 1 and Line 2 now operational, the entire Shiroro–Mando 330kV transmission corridor is fully functional. The development is expected to reinforce bulk electricity supply to Kaduna Electric’s franchise area, enhance network flexibility and improve overall system reliability.

The return of the two lines marks a significant milestone in TCN’s efforts to strengthen the nation’s transmission backbone and ensure stable electricity delivery across the grid.

In a press statement signed by Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, General Manager, Public Affairs, TCN, the company expressed appreciation to customers and stakeholders for their cooperation and understanding during the outage period.

TCN reaffirmed its commitment to building a resilient and efficient national grid capable of meeting the country’s growing energy demands.

By Israel Adamu, Jos

Gunmen on Sunday night attacked Dorowa Babuje community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing nine persons.

Sources told our correspondent that the assailants stormed the area around 8:30 p.m., firing sporadically at residents. A community member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers invaded a local relaxation spot and opened fire indiscriminately.

According to him, nine persons were killed during the attack, while one other victim was rushed to the hospital with gunshot injuries.

Rwang Tengwong, a community leader associated with the Berom Youth Moulders Association, confirmed the incident, describing it as a brutal assault by armed attackers at Ratatis in Dorowa Babuje. He said three other persons sustained serious injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention.

Tengwong also confirmed that another individual was shot dead in Jol community in Riyom Local Government Area of the state, bringing the total number of fatalities to 10.

Efforts to obtain comments from security operatives were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

A civil society organisation, the Igbo Mandate Movement Group, has condemned a petition filed against the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, describing it as “frivolous, mischievous and politically motivated.”

The group said the move represents the latest in a sustained campaign allegedly aimed at undermining the political career and public image of one of the South-East’s most prominent lawmakers.

The petition, authored by a former First Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins, was addressed to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee and the National Youth Service Corps, requesting a review of records relating to Kalu’s professional qualifications and national service history.

In a press statement signed by its National Coordinator, Igboeli Arinze Napoleon, the Igbo Mandate Movement Group said the petition follows a pattern of credential challenges that have trailed Kalu at every stage of his rise. When he was nominated as a Commissioner in Abia State, detractors alleged he had never graduated from the University of Calabar — a claim disproved when Kalu subsequently obtained an LL.M and a Ph.D from the same institution and delivered its 50th Anniversary Convocation Lecture. When he sought election to represent Bende Federal Constituency, it was first alleged he had dodged NYSC service entirely; when that was debunked, the allegation shifted to claims that his NYSC certificate was a forgery — a claim that required a formal letter from the then NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Y.D. Ahmed, to finally extinguish. “The same forces of retrogression have returned with yet another iteration of the same discredited narrative,” the group said.

On the substance of the current petition, the group laid out the facts of Kalu’s 2010 service year. He graduated from the University of Calabar in 1998, but the Nigerian Law School — which then operated only two campuses in Lagos and Abuja — could not the volume of qualified graduates in promptly absorb. The resulting backlog left many law graduates waiting years for admission. Kalu travelled abroad during the wait to acquire further qualifications. Upon returning to Nigeria and being mobilised for NYSC in 2010, he was posted to the Enugu North Local Government Area and served in the office of the Chairman. He participated fully in camp activities, emerged as a Platoon Leader, and was decorated with the Citizenship and Leadership Award.

At the same time — by a remarkable coincidence — his long-awaited Law School admission arrived, placing him at the Enugu Campus in Agbani, just thirty minutes from his NYSC post. Faced with the choice of deferring admission and waiting another three to four years, or abandoning his NYSC service in breach of the NYSC Act, he chose to honour both obligations simultaneously. His primary assignment schedule was organised to allow him to discharge his LGA duties before attending Law School classes. He met all weekly and monthly NYSC clearance requirements, exceeded the mandatory 70% Law School attendance threshold, and was so distinguished academically that he was among only three students selected to serve on the research team of the then Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, the eminent Professor Ernest Ojukwu.

On the legal question, the group argued that any NYSC declarations critics seek to invoke are prospective in nature — they state what “shall not” be done going forward and cannot be applied retroactively to Kalu’s 2010 service. “Laws are not retroactive in nature,” the statement read.

“Such declarations do not carry the force of law and would not survive the scrutiny of an affidavit on oath.” The group added that a call to the Bar is a professional certification, and that corps members across Nigeria routinely acquire professional certifications — in management, cybersecurity, project management, and accountancy — during their service year, with full NYSC knowledge.

Beyond defending Kalu, the group used the statement to call for urgent policy reform. Thousands of Nigerian law graduates still face years-long waits between graduation and Law School admission. The group argued that Kalu’s ordeal — both in 2010 and now, as it is being weaponised against him — exposes a systemic failure that demands a legislative response, one that ensures law graduates can access the Law School in due time and that corps members in the legal profession are not punished for navigating a broken system with initiative and good faith.

“Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu deserves commendation — not condemnation,” the statement concluded.

The group called on the LPDC and NYSC to treat the petition with the contempt it deserves.

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have attacked a military camp in Garaha District, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, killing at least three soldiers and a civilian, according to local sources and eyewitnesses.

Residents said the attackers stormed the community around late morning, approaching from multiple directions, including the Dabna and Lar axes. The assault reportedly led to a gun battle between the armed group and troops stationed in the area.

An eyewitness, Reverend Isaiah Yeriman, said the attackers eventually overran the camp and set parts of it on fire. He added that several structures, including a nearby primary school, were affected during the attack.

According to Yeriman, three soldiers were killed during the confrontation, while a woman died after being struck by a stray bullet while trying to flee the area.Local accounts also indicated that weapons were taken from the base before the attackers withdrew, although these claims have not been independently verified.

The traditional ruler of the Huba community, Tol Barr Alheri Bulus, confirmed that an attack occurred and said more details would be provided later.

Efforts to obtain an official statement from the military were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

The incident highlights ongoing security concerns in parts of Adamawa State, where communities continue to face attacks by armed groups despite ongoing counterinsurgency operations.

… Says Nigerians now know the Ruling and Real Opposition Party

By Joyce Remi – Babayeju

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating an enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of Saturday’s Area Council elections, describing the outcome as having shown Nigerians the ruling party and the real opposition party in the country.

In a special broadcast on national television and radio stations on Sunday evening, the minister said the peaceful conduct of the election was a testament to the commitment of the people of the FCT to democracy and good governance.

The minister, who said the election further exposed the hypocrisy of people who go about buying corn and groundnut from roadside sellers for the purpose of campaigning just to deceive Nigerians, added that “the residents of FCT demonstrated that they cannot be deceived by emergency democrats, who have chosen not to see anything good in our country and its government.”

He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the development he has brought to the FCT, adding that the election is a reflection of the president’s vision and leadership and a testimony that the Renewed Hope Agenda has brought optimism and confidence to the people of the FCT.

The broadcast read in part, “The peaceful conduct of the election is a testament to the commitment of the people of the FCT to democracy and good governance. I thank the residents for believing in the renewed and credible democratic process being championed by the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

“To all the candidates who participated in the election, I commend your belief in our democracy. Your participation is proof of your commitment to ensuring that the voice of the minority is heard, even when it is the majority that will always have its way.

“Most especially, I congratulate the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for their victories.

“This election has indeed shown that Nigerians now know the ruling party and the real opposition party.

“Also, the election has further exposed the hypocrisy of people who go about buying corn and groundnuts from roadside sellers for the purpose of campaigning just to deceive Nigerians. Yesterday, the residents of the FCT demonstrated that they cannot be deceived by emergency democrats, who have chosen not to see anything good in our country and its government.

“I thank Mr. President for the development he has brought to the FCT. This election is a reflection of the president’s vision and leadership and a testimony that the Renewed Hope Agenda has brought optimism and confidence to the people of the FCT.

“No doubt, the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to improving the lives of Nigerians, particularly the residents of the FCT, has not gone unnoticed. The Renewed Hope Agenda has given us hope for a brighter future, and we are confident that under his leadership, the FCT will continue to be a model of development and progress.

“Most especially, I commend the President for standing firm in his defense of democracy, particularly in ensuring the amendment of the Electoral Act to strengthen the conduct of credible elections. This demonstrates his commitment to improving our democratic process.

“Now, I also congratulate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting a free, fair, and credible election. This is a reflection of President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening our democratic institutions and ensuring that our electoral processes are transparent and reliable.

“I commend the security agencies for their dedication to duty, ensuring the peaceful conduct of the election. Their efforts have contributed to the success of this democratic exercise.

“To the winners of the elections, I congratulate you on your victory. You have been given a mandate to serve the people, and I urge you to do so with humility, dedication, and commitment to excellence. Work tirelessly to improve the lives of the residents and bring development to our communities.

“To the residents of the FCT, especially those in the satellite towns, I once again commend you for coming out in large numbers to exercise your franchise and for doing so in a peaceful and orderly manner. Your participation affirms your trust in our democracy and I urge you to continue to support the government in its efforts to build a better FCT.

“As an administration, we pledge to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to FCT residents, in accordance with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.”

End

By Joyce Remi – Babayeju

The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has warned traders and market operators across the country against creating artificial scarcity , hoarding of food thereby causing inflation of prices of essential food items during the holy month of Ramadan and lenten seasons.

This was following reports thr NOA Director General recieved concerning reports indicating that certain marketers are deliberately withholding staple commodities commonly consumed during fasting period thereby creating artificial scarcity and driving up prices to the detriment of ordinary Nigerians.

Issa – Onilu said that such practices are not only economically disruptive but morally indefensible, particularly during a sacred season that emphasises compassion, sacrifice, generosity, and social responsibility.

“This is a period that calls for reflection, charity, and empathy for the less privileged. It is deeply troubling that some individuals would exploit this spiritual moment for excessive profit-making at the expense of vulnerable citizens,” the DG stated.

He noted that the deliberate hoarding of food items undermines national efforts at economic stability, fuels inflation, and places avoidable hardship on families already navigating challenging economic realities.

The DG of NOA reiterated that responsible market conduct is a patriotic duty and a moral obligation.

He emphasised that fairness, transparency, and moderation in pricing are aligned with both national values and religious teachings.

He therefore urged trade associations, market unions, and commodity groups to exercise internal regulatory discipline by discouraging exploitative behaviour among their members.

Furthermore, he called for collaboration with relevant regulatory authorities to ensure compliance with ethical market standards.

The NOA boss reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to sustained sensitisation campaigns across all states and local government areas, promoting value reorientation, economic responsibility, and national cohesion.

He appealed to marketers to see Ramadan and Lent as opportunities to demonstrate integrity and social conscience rather than a window for opportunistic gain.

The National Orientation Agency affirmed it will continue monitor developments and engage stakeholders to safeguard the welfare of citizens and uphold the values that strengthen our national fabric.
End

By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo

At least persons in Akwa Ibom has benefitted from various empowerment programmes of the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA) in the last two years,.

GIFA was founded by the late wife of Governor Umo Eno, Mrs Patience Eno who passed on two years ago.

Mrs Helen Obareki, Chairman, Board of Trustees, made this known in an address marking the second anniversary celebration of GIFA in Uyo last weekend.

Obareki, who is also the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom said that GIFA would sustain the legacy of her mother, late Patience Eno, founder of the initiative.

“I bear this responsibility with resolve and determination, because I am inspired by the grace of God and the tenacity not to let down my parents and the good people of Akwa Ibom State.

“To put it briefly, a total of 53,987 lives have been touched and impacted by GIFA across Akwa Ibom State in the last two years.

“The breakdown is as follows; Maternal and Child Healthcare – 9,776 mothers and children reached.

“Enhancing Literacy and Learning, 19,587 adults and pupils of public schools impacted.

“Improving Environmental Health, 13 Water of Life borehole projects completed in 13 LGAs;
Women Empowerment – 5,064 women empowered.

“Fight Against Diseases – 4,900 rural women and children benefited from our Wheels of Hope Medical Outreach.

“Prevention and Response – 1,020 survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) were reached and rehabilitated by GIFA during the period under review,” Obareki said.

According to her, the impact of GIFA across the state has been tremendous but added that in spite of the achievements, she was aware that there was still much work to be done to help the vulnerable.

In his remarks, Gov Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom said though he would continue to mourn her late wife, thanked God for her life, though short.

Eno said he took solace on the lives the late wife touched through her pet project, GIFA.

He expressed appreciation to the coordinator, office of the first lady for the remarkable achievements recorded in two years.