Author: CSNews

NEMA Rushes Relief To Port Harcourt As Flood Response Ramps Up

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Following recent flood incidents affecting parts of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mrs Zubaida Umar, activated a technical team led by Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Bature Usman, to strengthen response efforts and support affected persons. The team, on arrival in Port Harcourt, inspected affected areas to assess the situation before delivering relief items approved by NEMA to provide immediate succour to victims of the flooding. Presenting the items to the Rivers State Government during a courtesy visit to Government House, Air Commodore Usman conveyed the concern and sympathy of the NEMA Director General over the impact of the flooding on residents. He explained that the team was deployed to provide coordination and technical support to complement ongoing response efforts by the state government and other relevant stakeholders in the affected communities. The NEMA team comprised the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr Abbani Imam Garki, Acting Director of the South South Directorate, Mr Eric Ebhodaghe, and Head of the Port Harcourt Operations Office, Mr Chidi Ogundu. Usman said the relief items were provided by the Federal Government through NEMA to complement the efforts of the Rivers State Government in alleviating the condition of affected persons. Receiving the team on behalf of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Odu expressed appreciation for the timely intervention, assuring that the items would be judiciously distributed to reach intended beneficiaries. The relief materials were subsequently handed over to the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr Inyingi Brown, who inspected the items at a warehouse in Port Harcourt. The intervention forms part of NEMA’s continued collaboration with state governments to strengthen coordinated response and provide timely humanitarian assistance to disaster affected communities. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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Tinubu Honours MKO Abiola And June 12 Heroes At Premiere Of New Documentary

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu attended the national premiere of MKO, a documentary chronicling the life and political struggle of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts as part of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary activities. The screening highlighted the events surrounding the June 12, 1993 presidential election, its annulment and the subsequent pro democracy struggle that helped shape Nigeria’s democratic journey, drawing senior government officials and dignitaries to the event. Among those present were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Nigeria Governors’ Forum Chairman AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, paid tribute to Nigerians who sacrificed for the restoration of democratic rule, leading participants in a minute’s silence in honour of those who lost their lives during the struggle. Onanuga said the freedoms Nigerians enjoy today were secured through the courage of pro democracy activists, journalists, lawyers, students and ordinary citizens who resisted authoritarian rule and defended democratic values. Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, described the documentary as a tribute to the heroes of June 12, noting that it documents key moments including Abiola’s arrest and his death in detention in 1998. She stressed the importance of preserving the stories behind one of Nigeria’s most significant democratic milestones, noting that future generations must understand the sacrifices that secured today’s democratic freedoms. Producer of the documentary, Ose Oyamendan, commended President Tinubu for his commitment to democratic ideals, saying the film was designed to preserve an important chapter of Nigeria’s political history for younger generations. The President’s presence at the premiere underscored his administration’s commitment to preserving Nigeria’s democratic heritage and honouring those who contributed to the country’s return to civilian rule. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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Shettima Opens Lagos HQ, Credits Tinubu’s Reforms For Oil And Gas Rebound

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has officially commissioned the ultra modern corporate headquarters of Northwest Petroleum and Gas Company Limited in Victoria Island, Lagos, describing the facility as a game changer set to rewrite standards of excellence for the nation’s oil and gas industry. Speaking at the commissioning, Shettima declared that the world class facility sends a clear message to investors, clients and Nigerians that Northwest Petroleum is poised for decades of service in a changing global energy economy, adding that Nigerian ownership must mean Nigerian capacity to compete and deliver. The Vice President attributed renewed investment and stronger performance across the oil industry to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms, specifically pointing to the removal of subsidy on petroleum products and reform of the foreign exchange market as measures that confronted distortions discouraging productive investment. He said the stabilisation of the market is restoring the confidence businesses need to commit capital beyond the next quarter, stressing that greater exchange rate predictability strengthens procurement and supports production across the sector. Shettima commended Northwest Petroleum for building a strong Nigerian presence across the oil and gas value chain since 1998, noting that the facility will open doors for talented young Nigerians and deepen the skills on which the nation’s energy industry depends. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu described the private sector as the oil of growth, commending investors in the oil and gas, financial services and construction industries for their continued commitment to the state’s commercial economy. Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Northwest Petroleum, Mrs Winifred Akpani, said the facility represents the company’s confidence in the future, built to operate at the highest standards of excellence as the global energy landscape rapidly evolves. She said the future of the energy industry would depend increasingly on innovation, technology and development of Nigerian talent, with the facility designed to promote collaboration and empower the people driving the business. Also present at the event were former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Dangote Industries Group Executive Director Fatima Aliko Dangote, and former Delta State Governor Chief James Ibori, among other dignitaries. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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Beyond Promises: YS4A Urges Nigerian Youths to Drive Nation-Building Through NELFUND and Consumer Credit

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Nigeria at 66: YS4A–Asiwaju Boys and Girls Urges Youth to Embrace NELFUND, CREDICORP Opportunities By Edoko Wilson Edoko As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary, Youth Structure 4 Asiwaju (YS4A), also known as Asiwaju Boys and Girls, has urged young Nigerians to embrace government initiatives that expand access to education, consumer credit and economic opportunities. The call was made by YS4A’s Secretariat Director, High Chief Godfrey Omoarebu Ogbeide, MBA, MSBA, in an Independence Day message centred on unity, justice and purposeful youth participation in nation-building. Ogbeide, who is also the Founder and Chairman of The Omoarebu Ogbeide Foundation (TOOF®) and the Aigbugbakheini I of Ozalla Kingdom, highlighted student loans through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and consumer credit opportunities through the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) as avenues to support education, strengthen livelihoods and encourage productive participation in the economy. “As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, may God unite our hearts in love and justice,” he said. He encouraged young Nigerians to translate access to these initiatives into practical progress by pursuing education, developing skills and building sustainable livelihoods. He stressed that national development requires both public investment and citizens willing to take responsibility for their future. According to Ogbeide, YS4A’s guiding philosophy of Participation, Involvement and Execution (PIE) calls on young people to move from awareness to active engagement and tangible results. “Through PIE, YS4A calls on youth to turn these opportunities into purposeful action and shared prosperity,” he added. He reaffirmed the importance of unity, responsible citizenship and constructive engagement, urging young Nigerians to make their talents, energy and enterprise count in building a nation of opportunity and shared prosperity.

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The Man Reshaping Edo Sports: Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele and the Rise of a New Sporting Era

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When Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele took the helm as Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, few could have predicted just how quickly the tide would turn for sports in the state, and in a relatively short time, he has proven himself to be exactly what Edo sports needed, a goal getter and a team leader whose energy has become the heartbeat of a new sporting revival. What began as an appointment has grown into a mission, one that has seen him move through the corridors of the Commission not as a distant administrator, but as a hands on leader who understands that sports development is as much about people as it is about policy. Under his watch, the Commission has not merely managed sports in Edo State, it has reimagined what sports development can look like, pushing programmes from the grassroots to the elite level that are designed to discover hidden talent and nurture it into national and international excellence. His flagship initiative, the “Discovering Tomorrow’s Stars” Grassroots Talent Hunt, launched at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, reflects his conviction that the programme goes beyond winning medals and competitions, but is a strategic investment in the future of sports and youth development in Edo State, a vision he has said aligns closely with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s Catch Them Young policy under the SHINE Agenda, a policy framework that places the discovery and development of young talent at the centre of the state’s sporting philosophy. Through this initiative, schools and communities across the eighteen local government areas of Edo State are being combed for raw talent, giving young athletes who may never have had access to structured sporting opportunities a genuine pathway to grow. None of this progress has happened in isolation, and Enabulele has been consistent in crediting Governor Monday Okpebholo for creating the enabling environment that has allowed Edo sports to flourish. When he received the Sportsville Leadership Award in Lagos earlier this year, an honour recognising his pragmatic leadership style and achievements within a short period of time he has been at the helms, he was quick to dedicate the recognition to the Governor, who gave him the opportunity to contribute his quota to sports development in Edo State, as well as to his board members, athletes and coaches, whose collective effort helped Edo State secure a top position at the second Niger Delta Games hosted in the state. That gesture, small as it may seem, says a great deal about the kind of leader Enabulele is, a Chairman who understands that no single individual builds a sporting legacy alone, and who has made it a point of duty to spread credit generously among everyone who contributes to the Commission’s success. The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter, has also taken note of his impact, describing him as an exceptional, visionary and result driven sports administrator whose sterling leadership has continued to redefine and elevate the standard of sports development in Edo State, the kind of endorsement that does not come easily in sports administration, and one that speaks to the discipline and clarity of purpose he has brought to the role. Sports administration in Nigeria has often been weighed down by inconsistency and a lack of long term vision, but Enabulele appears determined to break that pattern, building structures and programmes that can outlast any single festival or competition cycle. His leadership style is one built on partnership rather than command, and he regularly acknowledges the athletes, coaches, parents and teachers whose sacrifices power the success stories emerging from the state, most recently celebrating Edo parapowerlifter Esther Onyema after her silver medal performance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, saying in his own words that with hard work, discipline and motivation, our athletes can compete favourably against the very best in the world, a philosophy that has become something of a personal creed for him as Chairman. He also took time during the Children’s Day celebration to speak directly to the young people of the state, describing children as the pride, hope and future of the nation, and encouraging them to remain disciplined, hardworking and focused on their education and talents, and it is this consistent engagement with young Edo people, not just as future athletes but as the true inheritors of the state’s sporting ambitions, that has endeared him to many across the sporting community. As Edo State looks ahead to the National Sports Festival coming up in November this year, the confidence around Team Edo has never been higher, and with a Governor firmly behind him and a Commission structured around talent discovery, discipline and result oriented leadership, Enabulele is positioning the state to compete for nothing less than the top spot. The signs are already there, from the state’s strong showing at the Niger Delta Games to the steady stream of grassroots talent now coming through the pipeline, and Edo State will be going into this festival not just to participate, but to win, carrying with it the hopes of a state that has invested heavily in rebuilding its sporting identity. With a goal getter at the head of the Commission and a team leader whose door remains open to athletes and administrators alike, Edo sports appears to be entering one of its most promising chapters, and Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele has shown, in a short space of time, that vision paired with strong governmental backing can move a state’s sporting fortunes forward, and come November, Edo will be watching to see that vision translate into victory. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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Witness Tells Court He Lost Over N500 Million In Alleged Bitter Kola Export Scam

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The trial of the Chief Executive Officer of Onome Global Market Resources Limited and Lexicon Multi Concept Media Limited, Osabohein Alex Ologbose, and his wife, Hope Onome Oghelemu, continued before Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court, Abuja, with a prosecution witness narrating how he allegedly lost over N500 million to the couple and an accomplice. The defendants, alongside their two companies, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a seven count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, conversion of funds and money laundering totalling N740 million. The third prosecution witness, businessman Ikechukwu Chikelum, told the court he was introduced to the investment by his friend, Modestus Uche Okafor, who took him to Alice Ayeni, a director of Onome Global Market Resources Limited. Led in examination in chief by prosecution counsel, O.S. Ujam, the witness said he became interested in the companies in June 2023 after his friend told him about the couple’s business of exporting bitter kola to China and Hong Kong. He said Ayeni, whom he met at the Nigerian Export Import Bank, showed him a company profile containing the Chief Executive Officer’s photograph, the Corporate Affairs Commission certificate, an EFCC Special Control Unit against Money Laundering certificate and export promotion certificates, which convinced him the business was genuine. He told the court he initially transferred N31 million for 100 bags of bitter kola at N310,000 per bag, paid into an account provided by Ayeni, before subsequently transferring another N62 million for 200 additional bags after being encouraged to invest further. The witness said he went on to transfer N267,220,000 for 862 bags destined for China, followed by N220,150,000 for 710 bags destined for Hong Kong, and a further N20,400,000 for 60 bags of red kolanut intended for export to Indonesia. He told the court that all payment receipts were forwarded to Ayeni via WhatsApp and were acknowledged by her, yet he never regained his capital or received any return on the substantial sums he had invested. The trial continues as the prosecution seeks to establish the full extent of the alleged scheme before the court. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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KC Luxury Denies Charges Over N39 Billion Cocaine Haul Bound For London

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arraigned Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, and two alleged accomplices, Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch, before the Federal High Court in Lagos over the attempted export of 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in five consignments destined for London. The defendants, arraigned before Justice Musa Kakaki on a 22 count charge bordering on cocaine trafficking, unlawful export of narcotic drugs and money laundering, all pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read in court. The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired between July 28 and August 1, 2026, with two others already arrested in London, to export the cocaine through a Lagos based courier logistics firm using consignments shipped under a false name. The charge sheet further alleged that Boniface procured Ikechukwu to facilitate the export, while Afolabi allegedly procured a staff member of the logistics firm to process the consignments and paid N13.2 million as consideration for the shipment. Sixteen additional counts relate to alleged money laundering, with the prosecution accusing Afolabi of moving several billions of naira through various companies to acquire vehicles and landed properties, allegedly to conceal the illicit origin of the funds. Following the not guilty pleas, NDLEA prosecutor Abu Ibrahim opposed the defendants’ bail applications, urging the court to remand them in custody pending trial given the gravity of the alleged offences. Justice Faji ordered that the defendants be remanded in an NDLEA facility and adjourned the matter until October 4, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application. Afolabi was arrested by NDLEA operatives on August 13, 2026, while allegedly attempting to leave Nigeria on a business class flight to Paris from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, following the interception of the cocaine consignment estimated to be worth about N39 billion. A subsequent search of his person and his Banana Island apartment allegedly led to the recovery of exotic vehicles, foreign currency and jewellery suspected to be proceeds of illicit trade, though the allegations remain subject to determination by the court. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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Tinubu Tells UN, Africa Deserves A Real Seat At The Table, Not A Place On The Margins

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has renewed calls for a radical shake up of the United Nations, insisting that reforms must begin with reconstituting the Security Council to grant Africa permanent seats. He warned that the continent can no longer afford to fill the Council’s agenda from the margins, pointing out that the world of 2026 cannot remain captive to the distribution of power that shaped global institutions in 1945. The Nigerian leader made the position clear in his address delivered by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, during the General Debate at the ongoing 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Specifically, he demanded at least two permanent seats for the continent, including full rights, responsibilities and veto power, along with a total of five non permanent seats for African nations on the Council. Quoting directly from the President’s address, Shettima told the Assembly that the reform of the institution must begin with the reconstitution of the Security Council, insisting that Africa cannot continue to fill the Council’s agenda while remaining absent from its permanent membership. The President anchored Nigeria’s demand in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, insisting that the authority to speak for humanity carries an obligation to represent it fully and equitably. Beyond Security Council reform, President Tinubu also issued a wake up call to world leaders, demanding an immediate end to global warfare and a total rejection of the rising tide of nationalism sweeping across the international community. The renewed push adds Nigeria’s voice to a long running African campaign for permanent representation on the Council, a demand that has repeatedly featured in the country’s statements at previous sessions of the General Assembly. Officials say the coming weeks of the General Debate will show how much traction the demand gains among other member states as reform conversations continue at the world body. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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AU And UN Renew Ties To Strengthen Peace Support Operations Across Africa

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The African Union and the United Nations have renewed agreements to strengthen their strategic partnership in operational support, in a ceremony held at UN Headquarters in New York. Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Selma Malika Haddadi, and Under Secretary General for Operational Support, Atul Khare, signed the renewed Memorandum of Intent on cooperation in operational support and a Memorandum of Understanding on the Knowledge and Expertise Exchange Programme. Both officials underscored the importance of moving beyond coordination toward greater strategic alignment, shared priorities and practical cooperation between the two institutions going forward. They highlighted sustained knowledge exchange and institutional capacity development as essential to strengthening the AU’s ability to plan, deploy and sustain peace support operations across the continent. Haddadi said the partnership must continue to evolve from coordination to strategic alignment, guided by shared priorities, mutual accountability and measured impact, as global and continental challenges grow increasingly complex. Khare said the cooperation has demonstrated the value of sustained and practical capacity development, adding that the renewed agreements provide an important foundation for the next phase of the partnership. The renewed agreements build on nearly a decade of cooperation under the Knowledge and Expertise Exchange Programme, established in 2016 and revitalised in 2022, with a growing focus on mission planning, supply chains and ICT. The inaugural STAR Programme, held in Algiers in July 2026, further demonstrated the value of this cooperation, bringing AU and UN expertise together to strengthen institutional capacity and operational readiness. The renewed frameworks reaffirm the importance of networked multilateralism and the AU UN commitment to African ownership and preparedness for future peace support operations. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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Two Women Arrested Over Fake Fruit Juice Racket In Badagry

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command, has arrested two women, aged 48 and 50, over the production of adulterated fruit juice in Badagry, following a five day surveillance operation. A statement by the Command’s Civil Defence Public Relations Officer, SC Oluwaseun Abolurin, said the suspects were arrested in collaboration with an Army formation in the area after being monitored producing the fake product. The statement disclosed that the suspects were reportedly producing a product known as Barkas Juice using water, artificial flavourings, sweeteners, colourants and other additives, in conditions the Corps described as unhygienic. Items recovered from the operation included a truck, cartons of the finished juice, production machinery, chemicals, drums and a gas cylinder used in the manufacturing process. The NSCDC said the product was distributed to markets in Lagos, Benin City and other parts of the country, using a purported fake NAFDAC registration number to deceive unsuspecting buyers and retailers. State Commandant, Adedotun Keshinro, said the suspects would undergo further investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law, as the Corps works to trace the full extent of the product’s distribution network. Officials say the arrests form part of ongoing efforts to protect consumers from unregulated and potentially harmful products circulating in local markets. The Command has urged members of the public to report suspicious manufacturing activities in their communities to help curb the circulation of counterfeit food and beverage products. Further updates on the case are expected as investigations into the racket’s supply chain continue in the coming weeks. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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