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Nigerian Law Student wins $2,000 grant at Innovate Conference 2025 with Plastic-to-Paint Business
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Daniel Chukwueloka Monyei, a final-year Law student from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, emerged victorious at the recently concluded Innovate Conference 2025, taking home the coveted $2,000 grant prize with his innovative waste plastic-to-paint conversion business.
The event, which reached its climax on Saturday, April 26, 2025, saw five finalists compete for the prize money.
The finalists included Anesi Lifestyle, Mercysweet Foods, Softway Finance, Suftly, and P2P (PLASTIC 2 PAINT) – Monyei’s enterprise that ultimately claimed the top spot.
The “Innovate Pitch & Grant” program, an initiative by Crosspoint Church, aims to empower young Nigerian entrepreneurs and professionals through competitive pitching, business mentorship, networking opportunities, and a platform for showcasing groundbreaking ideas.
Speaking to the press at the event, Convener of Innovate and Lead pastor at Crosspoint church, Ladipo Soyombo emphasized the importance of supporting young talents: “Innovate is a means to foster the innovative spirit shared among Nigerian youth. We are committed to creating value for young people to benefit from. There’s youth disconnection within the economy, yet our youth have the potential, talent, and passion to drive innovation in society. Innovate was born out of our commitment to bridge the gap between Nigerian youth and economic opportunities. What we’re witnessing today is the manifestation of what happens when we create platforms that nurture innovation. The disconnect between our youth’s immense potential and their access to resources has been a longstanding challenge in our economy. Through initiatives like this, we’re actively working to transform Nigeria’s brightest minds into job creators rather than job seekers.”
Keynote speaker Kola Aina, founder of Ventures Platform and a prominent investor across Africa’s startup ecosystem, stated the need to invest in initiatives like Innovate. “What we’ve seen today represents the future of Nigeria’s economy. These young entrepreneurs are creating solutions to our most pressing challenges. All people of means, government agencies, and established corporations must recognize their social responsibility to support these dreamers with capital, mentorship, and market access. Innovation thrives where support exists, and today’s event demonstrates the incredible outcomes possible when we invest in our youth.”
Upon receiving the grant, Daniel Chukwueloka Monyei, CEO of P2P, shared his vision: “The future of P2P is that for every liter of paint purchased, you’re actually helping save the planet, you’re saving the world, and this is what we believe. The future of P2P basically involves producing more paint and eliminating more plastic. This support from Innovate will help us scale our operations and impact more communities across Nigeria.”
Monyei’s winning business model addresses two critical issues in Nigeria – plastic waste management and access to affordable paints. By implementing a community-based collection system and innovative processing technology, P2P creates an environmentally sustainable solution while offering cost-effective products to the market.
What set P2P apart in the competition was not only its innovative approach but also its remarkable impact. To date, the company has upcycled over 250 tonnes of plastic waste and prevented over 190 tonnes of CO2 emissions, significantly reducing environmental pollution across Nigeria. The company projects it will process up to 500,000 tonnes as operations scale. P2P’s paint products feature mosquito-repellent properties that remain active for six months while maintaining their glossy finish for years, addressing both environmental and public health challenges simultaneously.
A cornerstone of P2P’s success has been its community engagement model, working in partnership with 35 women and the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA) to collect plastic waste, providing economic opportunities while educating communities about environmental sustainability. Additionally, P2P trains schoolchildren about the dangers of plastic to the environment and has trained over 14 at-risk youth in artistic and vocational painting skills, equipping them to become professional painters now engaged by P2P and others seeking skilled painting services. This dual approach to social and environmental impact was a key factor in the judges’ decision to award P2P the grant.
Joining Monyei in leading P2P’s innovative approach are Abdulfattah Omisanya as Chief Marketing Officer, Idakwo Ramatu as Chief Operating Officer, and Abdulmalik Yahya serving as Chief Technology Officer. This diverse leadership team brings complementary expertise to drive the company’s mission forward.
The Innovate Conference 2025 brought together aspiring entrepreneurs, industry experts, and investors, providing a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and growth opportunities for Nigeria’s next generation of business leaders.
Manager to Juju legend King Sunny Ade (KSA), Dayo Adegeye, has dismissed rumors that the music icon was abducted.
In a statement on Tuesday, Adegeye described the claims as “malicious” and aimed at damaging KSA’s reputation.
He said, “We want to assure the public that King Sunny Ade is safe and sound. There is no truth to the kidnapping rumor.”
He added, “The King of World Beats, King Sunny Ade, is not abducted or kidnapped by anyone. The Adegeye family and King Sunny Ade’s team are working diligently to put an end to the rumor and protect his reputation.”
Dayo issued the statement after KSA’s daughter, Damilola Esther, raised alarm on Instagram, accusing him of holding their father captive and mismanaging his bookings.
She wrote, “Dad told my brother that he wants to go home. Where is he? Where are his phones? He has not been online or picking his calls. Where is he?”
Another post read, “I want Dayo (manager) apprehended. I want him to provide all the money they have been stealing from him. He has a UK visa, thinking he can run.”
Damilola also demanded an investigation into her brother’s handling of KSA’s business affairs.
As of the time of filing this report, King Sunny Ade had yet to issue a public statement.
[Guardian]
Chairmen of the eight branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Rivers State have strongly condemned a recent query issued to the Port Harcourt Branch chairman of NBA, Cordelia Eke, by the Administrator of the State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), through the State’s Ministry of Justice.
The query which was signed by the Director of Administration in the Ministry of Justice, Ebiriemg Deresima, and dated April 25, accused Eke of “serious misconduct,” alleging she co-authored a communique criticising the Ibas for “severe and brazen acts of lawlessness and impunity” and for actions deemed unconstitutional, including the dismantling of democratic institutions and attacks on peaceful protesters in the State.
The sole administrator claimed Eke’s actions violated the Public Service Rules and were unbecoming of a civil servant.
But, in a joint press statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the NBA branch chairmen described the allegations against one of them as an attempt to intimidate her and stifle dissenting voices among legal professionals in the State.
They clarified that Mrs Eke did not issue the controversial communique in her capacity as a civil servant, but rather as the elected chairman of the Port Harcourt Branch of NBA, in line with her constitutional mandate within the NBA.
The NBA chairmen argued that their collective statements — including the one referenced from April 9 — were issued following formal deliberations within the association and reflected the position of all NBA branches in the State.
They also noted that their views aligned with those of the NBA at the national level, as articulated by the Association’s President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.
The NBA chairmen further criticised the query as part of a broader effort by the Sole Administrator to suppress free speech and dismantle democratic norms under the guise of maintaining peace. They asserted their duty to uphold the rule of law and vowed not to be silenced in the face of intimidation.
“The query to our brother Chairman is nothing but a ploy by which the Sole Administrator seeks to intimidate her into discontinuing her functions and duties as Chairman of NBA Port Harcourt Branch, and an attempt to intimidate lawyers in Rivers State and by extension other good people of Rivers State from standing up and speaking against executive rascality and impunity,” they said.
“It must be noted that the main objective of the Nigerian Bar Association is the promotion of the rule of law thus, as watchdog of the society, it is our duty to speak truth to authority on behalf of lawyers and the general public and cannot be intimidated to shy aware from this sacred responsibility.
“Consequently, we, the Chairmen of NBA Branches in Rivers State, condemn in its entirety the query issued to our Brother Chairman of NBA Port Harcourt Branch and demand an immediate withdrawal of the same.
“We consider the issuance of this query to our brother Chairman as an unfortunate act the Sole Administrator has decided to use to suppress freedom of speech and constitutional rights of the good people of Rivers State against his various incidences of dismantling of peaceful democratic institutions already in existence in Rivers State and other acts and actions capable of causing breach of peace instead of maintaining the peace which was the primary claim for his appointment as Sole Administrator in Rivers State. We condemn in its entirety the query issued to our colleague and demand its immediate withdrawal,” the NBA chairmen added.
The press statement was signed by Dr. Hilda Desmond-Ihekaire, Chairman, Ahoada Branch; Simple Dioha, Esq., Chairman, Isiokpo Branch; Abiye Abo, Esq., Chairman, Degema Branch; Dr. N. A. Duson, Chairman, Bori Branch, and Dr. Celestine Nwankwo, Chairman, Okehi Branch.
They reaffirmed their commitment to resist any harassment or persecution targeting NBA leadership, lawyers, or the wider public in Rivers State.
[Leadership]
The Corporate Affairs Commission has issued a six-week ultimatum to all businesses operating in Nigeria with unregistered names or acronyms, warning that failure to comply with registration requirements may result in prosecution and possible imprisonment.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the CAC on Tuesday titled, “Public Notice: Carry on Business in Nigeria Under an Unregistered Name or Acronym.”
The development comes amid the collapse of the fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme known as “CBEX,” which defrauded Nigerians of approximately N1.3 trillion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had emphasised that although ST Technologies International Limited—promoter of CBEX—was registered with the CAC, it was not licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission to operate as an investment platform.
In the statement posted on its social media platforms, the CAC informed the general public that it is a criminal offence under Section 863 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, to carry on business in Nigeria as a company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership, or under a business name without registration. It is also an offence to operate under a name (or acronym) other than the one registered under the Act.
The public was further advised that Section 729 of the Act requires every registered company to display its registered name and registration number at every business location.
The statement read, “The Commission wishes to inform the General Public that it is a criminal offence under Section 863 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 to carry on business in Nigeria as a Company, Limited Liability Partnership, Limited Partnership or under a Business Name without registration under the Act or by a name (or acronym) other than the name (or acronym) by which the business was registered under the Act.
“The General Public should note that Section 729 of the Act requires every Company registered under the Act to state its name as registered and its registration number outside every place where it carries on business. In addition, the Company is required to state its registered name and registration number on all its official publications, including its letterhead, signage(s), marketing and publicity materials.”
The CAC emphasised that non-compliance with business registration requirements may result in prosecution and a conviction that carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment.
The statement continued, “In particular, the general public should note the provisions of Section 862 (1) of the Act, which state that any person who, in any document required under the Act (including the aforementioned official publications of a company), knowingly makes a false statement in any material respect commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of two years, in addition to a daily fine imposed on the company for every day the offence continues.”
In light of the above, the CAC stresses that all companies, limited liability partnerships, limited partnerships, and business name proprietors must comply with the provisions of the Act within six weeks of this notice.
Failure to comply will result in enforcement actions, including prosecution, the CAC stressed. Stakeholders are advised to visit the CAC website: http://www.cac.gov.ng for updates.
“In view of the foregoing, every Company, Limited Liability Partnership, Limited Partnership and Business Name proprietor(s) is hereby required to ensure full compliance with the above requirements of the Act within six weeks of this notice failing which the Commission shall take all necessary steps (including prosecution) to enforce compliance,” it stated.
Following the collapse of the CBEX scheme, the EFCC clarified that possession of a Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering certificate does not equate to legal authorisation to operate in Nigeria.
In a statement released, the EFCC noted that although ST Technologies (not CBEX) is registered with SCUML in accordance with Section 17 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, this does not authorise it to offer investment services.
[Punch]
President Bola Tinubu has approved the redeployment of four Federal Permanent Secretaries.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is part of ongoing efforts to reposition the Federal Civil Service for improved performance and service delivery.
Mrs Esther Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), announced the redeployments in a statement by Mrs Eno Olotu, Director of Information and Public Relations, in her office in Abuja on Tuesday.
Walson-Jack said that the exercise was aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, fostering innovation, and aligning the service with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.
She listed the affected Permanent Secretaries and their new postings as follows: Dr Mary Ogbe – Redeployed from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to the Ministry of Regional Development.
Also, Faruk Yabo, who moved from the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
Dr Emeka Obi is transferred from the Ministry of Budget and Economic Development to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, while Mr Ogbodo Nnam is posted from the Special Duties Office in the Office of the HCSF to the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
The Head of Service described the redeployment as a routine administrative procedure meant to reinvigorate the civil service by deploying top officials to strategic areas of need.
She charged the Permanent Secretaries to bring their experience to bear in their new assignments and ensure effective and seamless service delivery.
According to her, all handover and takeover processes are to be concluded on or before May 2.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building a world-class civil service that upholds professionalism and drives national development.
[Vanguard]
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed recently resigned his appointment as Political Adviser to the President in the Vice President’s Office. The former Publicity Secretary of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, who has been a critic and vocal voice against bad governance, in this interview, revealed that he never had a place in the Bola Tinubu administration.
He also speaks on the 2027 election, why Nigerians should not trust the drivers of the planned coalition and what is expected of Nigerians. Excerpts:
As a Political Adviser to Mr. President, in the office of the vice president, what were some your experiences?
I did my job as best as I can when I worked with the Vice President.
I believed the administration could have used people like me better, we were never in the mainstream of policy design, policy implementation, policy monitoring, mitigation of aura, steps and errors, building bridges with the communities and more importantly giving advice consistent with my mandate which is to give advice on political matters, I don’t think the administration had enough interest in what we could do.
But to the degree that I was available and I was there, I did my best and at the the end, I found that I really had no place in the administration. Many things that I could have advised on were going on, it didn’t look like my advice was necessary and I also disagreed with many of the things that were going on and the best way to deal with this kind of thing is to leave. But I left, I expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve my country through the administration. I got to respect a lot of people in the government, forgive me if I don’t mention names. And ifI am also to be honest with you, I was disappointed that the administration has an opportunity to correct the ills and mistakes of the Buhari administration and it hasn’t, that’s all.
Can we know some of the pieces of advice that you gave to the government as political Adviser that were ignored?
No, maybe perhaps you read my open letter to the President wrongly. I never said I gave advice which were ignored. I said those who were involved in advising government or implementing the policies of the government were not of the calibre and the quality that an administration like President Tinubu’s, which was dealing with a very bad inheritance and which faced a lot of challenges which has created its own challenges, should have.
It wasn’t formed by the realities on the ground and he (Tinubu) and the presidency itself was isolated to be available to be advised, I think that was the point I made.
What are the areas you think that if the government takes positive steps to address will improve the lives of the citizenry?
I think they need to review their entire mandate, they should look at Nigeria as it is now and not just simply push out press releases and press statements.
They are spending a huge amount of energy celebrating, getting people who have brought the country to its knees to now join them. If this government thinks that getting defectors from parties that have failed the country, people, who have failed the country who are now looking for refuge and getting them to join their party, they are making a terrible mistake.
The future doesn’t look healthy with the APC which is overburdened by its own liabilities as well as the liability from other parties. They should look at where they are now. They still have two years, they can work very hard but the most important advice I gave in my open letter is that President Tinubu should work very hard to address the current challenges, to find younger people, more energetic people, people with the vision to fix the country.
People who recognise the fact that the future belongs to them and assure them. And then create a generation of politicians that will take over from him and people like him who just live in a small room called APC. All these huge number of people who have questions to answer on the way they run this country, have no business asking us to trust them again. They should look for younger people, people with more experience, people with more knowledge, people with the vision and passion to fix Nigeria. Those are the people I think President Tinubu should encourage his party to entrust the responsibilities .
As a seasoned politician are you ready to join the coalition so that the country will perhaps get it right?
Let me correct you, I am not a seasoned politician, I have been a public servant, what other people call as a technocrat virtually all my life. I have also been a critic of poor and bad administration. I am not interested in joining any coalition of people who have wrecked the country and who are looking for refuge and other opportunities to continue to do what they were doing before, I am not interested in that kind of politics.
Nigerians bear the brunt of any good or bad government, as the 2027 election draws near, what is your advice to them?
I will tell them to open their eyes and be very careful. 2027 will be a very, very important and decisive election. It will determine whether we will continue to sink under the incompetence and indifference of the last 12 years, eight years of Buhari and now four years of Tinubu, or we want to recreate Nigeria and re-engineer it so that it can address the problems of insecurity and poverty and deterioration of inter community relationship.
Nigeria can survive and can overcome its problems but it certainly cannot do so under the present leadership or the kind of coalitions of all these politicians who are desperately clinging to power, making it to appear as if the future belongs only to them. The future belongs to Nigerians. Nigerians should be very careful, they should not be carried away by all this business of North and South, ethnicity and religion. Everybody is a victim of the same problem created by the same people who are now asking us to trust them, they should not trust them.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has ordered all banks in Nigeria to immediately identify and close any tax and levy collection accounts not authorised under the agency’s TaxPro Max system.
This directive, announced through a public notice issued by the Executive Chairman of FIRS, Zacch Adedeji, and circulated to journalists on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dare Adekanmbi, forms part of ongoing reforms by the agency to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in Nigeria’s tax collection framework.
According to the notice, all tax and levy collections must now be processed exclusively through the TaxPro Max platform, the digital solution introduced by the FIRS to centralise and automate tax administration processes.
What the FIRS is saying
The notice, titled “Directive to close unauthorised FIRS tax collection accounts”, emphasised that any accounts outside the TaxPro Max system are considered unauthorised. Consequently, banks are expected to discontinue the use of such accounts without delay and ensure strict adherence to the new collection procedure.
“Effective immediately, all tax and levy collections on behalf of FIRS must be processed exclusively pursuant to an assessment raised on the TaxPro Max platform.
“All banks participating in the FIRS Collection, Remittance and Reconciliation Scheme are hereby advised to comply with this directive within the stipulated period.
“We count on your cooperation to ensure a smooth transition to this centralised system, thereby contributing to a more transparent and efficient tax collection process,” the notice stated.
FIRS further reiterated that banks participating in its Collection, Remittance, and Reconciliation Scheme must only process transactions originating from TaxPro Max-generated assessments.
The agency noted that the move would also enhance real-time reconciliation of collections, minimise revenue leakages, and support its broader digitalisation agenda.
TaxPro Max system
The TaxPro Max platform, developed locally, is a comprehensive digital tax administration solution designed to facilitate end-to-end tax activities. These activities include taxpayer registration, filing of returns, payment processing, automatic issuance of receipts, and the generation of tax clearance certificates.
Since its deployment, TaxPro Max has become central to the FIRS’s strategy to modernise Nigeria’s tax administration infrastructure, reduce human contact in tax processes, and improve ease of compliance for taxpayers.
By mandating exclusive use of the platform, FIRS aims to eliminate the proliferation of multiple collection accounts and bring uniformity to how taxes are assessed, collected, and reconciled.
Implications for banks and taxpayers
With this directive, banks are expected to align their internal tax collection mechanisms with the TaxPro Max system to avoid regulatory breaches. Financial institutions that fail to comply with the directive risk sanctions or exclusion from participating in future FIRS tax collection activities.
For taxpayers, the transition means that all payments to FIRS must now be based strictly on assessments raised via the TaxPro Max portal. Payment through any unauthorised channel or to any unauthorised account will be invalid and could expose taxpayers to penalties.
To support the transition, the FIRS encouraged taxpayers and banks seeking clarification or assistance to reach out to its Revenue Accounting and Refund Department (RAAD).
The directive by the FIRS marks a significant step towards tightening Nigeria’s tax collection processes and minimising leakages through unauthorised accounts. It also highlights the agency’s commitment to leveraging technology to drive transparency and accountability across the tax ecosystem.
[Nairametrics]
The eight branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Rivers State have firmly rejected a query issued to the Chairman of the Port Harcourt Branch, Cordelia Eke, by the Sole Administrator of the state via the Ministry of Justice.
The query, dated April 25 and signed by Director of Administration at the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Ebiriemg Deresima, accused Eke of engaging in “serious misconduct.”
It alleged that she co-signed a communique which criticised the state administration for acts described as “severe and brazen acts of lawlessness and impunity,” including the alleged dismantling of democratic structures and suppression of peaceful demonstrations.
The query further claimed that such actions violated the Public Service Rules and were considered inappropriate for a civil servant.
Reacting in a joint press release on Monday, the chairmen of the Rivers NBA branches described the move as a clear attempt to intimidate Eke and other legal professionals in the state.
They emphasised that the communique in question was not authored by Eke in her capacity as a public servant but as the elected Chairperson of the Port Harcourt Branch of the NBA — a role that empowers her to express the collective stance of the branch.
According to the statement, the communique dated April 9 was a product of formal NBA deliberations and conveyed the consensus of all NBA branches in Rivers State.
The chairmen also stated that their position was consistent with that of the NBA at the national level, as outlined by the Association’s President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.
They went on to describe the query as part of a broader campaign by the Sole Administrator to silence opposing voices and dismantle democratic principles under the pretext of fostering peace.
“The query to our brother Chairman is nothing but a ploy by which the Sole Administrator seeks to intimidate her into discontinuing her functions and duties as Chairman of NBA Port Harcourt Branch, and an attempt to intimidate lawyers in Rivers State and by extension other good people of Rivers State from standing up and speaking against executive rascality and impunity,” they said.
“It must be noted that the main objective of the Nigerian Bar Association is the promotion of the rule of law thus, as watchdog of the society, it is our duty to speak truth to authority on behalf of lawyers and the general public and cannot be intimidated to shy away from this sacred responsibility.
“Consequently, we, the Chairmen of NBA Branches in Rivers State, condemn in its entirety the query issued to our Brother Chairman of NBA Port Harcourt Branch and demand an immediate withdrawal of the same.
“We consider the issuance of this query to our brother Chairman as an unfortunate act the Sole Administrator has decided to use to suppress freedom of speech and constitutional rights of the good people of Rivers State against his various incidences of dismantling of peaceful democratic institutions already in existence in Rivers State and other acts and actions capable of causing breach of peace instead of maintaining the peace which was the primary claim for his appointment as Sole Administrator in Rivers State. We condemn in its entirety the query issued to our colleague and demand its immediate withdrawal,” the chairmen stated.
The statement was signed by the chairpersons of various NBA branches in the state: Dr. Hilda Desmond-Ihekaire (Ahoada), Simple Dioha, Esq. (Isiokpo), Abiye Abo, Esq. (Degema), Dr. N. A. Duson (Bori), and Dr. Celestine Nwankwo (Okehi), among others.
Reaffirming their stance, they pledged to continue resisting any acts of intimidation or victimisation against NBA leadership, members of the legal profession, or the people of Rivers State.
[NaijaNews]
Former Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has faulted Senator Bukola Saraki’s comment about his defection, saying the former Senate President has no moral right to criticise his decision.
On Monday, key political stakeholders in Delta State, including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor, Okowa and political appointees in the state, officially defected to the All Progressives Congress.
Following the gale of defection which emptied the Peoples Democratic Party’s structure into the APC, Saraki, in a strongly worded statement, said Okowa’s defection to the APC is an indication of how low politics has become in Nigeria.
Given the fact that Okowa was the PDP’s Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Saraki said the ex-governor’s move was “unprecedented” and symptomatic of a deeper leadership crisis.
“It is shocking and unbecoming. It’s simply a sign of how low we have sunk as a polity,” Saraki said.
Reacting, Okowa, while speaking on Arise Television’s “The Morning Show” on Tuesday, said he does not expect someone like Saraki to comment about his decision to move to another political party.
Okowa maintained that Saraki should not have the moral right to comment about defection because he, too, had once abandoned the PDP for the APC.
“I did not expect that someone like Senator Bukola Saraki should be able to speak concerning me, because he knows that he had also moved to APC before and eventually return. So he has had movement to and fro. So, I don’t think that he has the moral right to even speak about my defection at all,” Okowa said.
Okowa stressed that the gale of defection in Delta State was a collective decision of all political stakeholders in the oil-rich state, adding that their decision to defect was motivated by the lingering crisis in the PDP.
According to him, recent communication from the party’s leadership showed that the party is not the proper political vehicle for Delta State ahead of the 2027 election.
“Several things have been going on in the party. While I do not want to join issues with people, as stakeholders, our leaders in this state have sat down to look at the events in the last several months, and because of the events that we see and the communications coming out from the leadership of the PDP at the moment, it did not appear to us that that was a proper political vehicle for us to continue in, Okowa stated.
Okowa asserted that the PDP governors’ rejection of a coalition coupled with the leadership crisis in the party suggested that the opposition party is not ready for competition.
[Punch]
At least 26 people have been killed as a truck hit an improvised explosive device in Nigeria’s restive northeast.
The blast on Monday killed men, women and children in Borno State, near the border with Cameroon, according to the military and residents. The region has been plagued for decades by armed groups including the ISIL affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram, with violence flaring up in recent days.
“Twenty-six people died in the blast, comprising of 16 men, four women and six children,” a military officer speaking on condition of anonymity told the AFP news agency, adding that three further passengers were severely injured.
Borno State police offered no immediate comment.
The International NGO Safety Organisation, which provides security to foreign nongovernmental organisations in northeast Nigeria, said in an internal memo seen by the Reuters news agency that vehicles moving between the towns of Rann and Gamboru Ngala hit an IED.
“I took part in the funeral of the 26 people killed in the explosion; most of them were burned beyond recognition,” Akram Saad, a resident of the nearby town Rann, told AFP.
A video showed rows of bodies in white plastic bags laid on the floor of the morgue at Rann’s general hospital.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. But Abba Amma Muhammad, whose mother was killed, blamed the incident on Boko Haram.
More...
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested popular Lagos socialite, Emeka Okonkwo Daniel, also known as E-Money, for allegedly abusing the Naira.
Vanguard gathered that he was picked up by operatives of the commission on Monday night at his residence in Lagos.
The socialite is facing allegations of Naira abuse and the defacement of foreign currencies, linked to his alleged act of spraying US dollars—an offence under Nigeria’s Foreign Exchange Act.
The EFCC stated it has commenced preliminary investigations and plans to charge E-Money to court upon conclusion of its inquiry.
Vanguard also learnt that he has been flown to Abuja for further interrogation by EFCC investigators.
The alleged currency spraying reportedly took place at a social event in Lagos, although specific details of the occasion remain undisclosed.
When contacted, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale declined to comment. However, credible sources within the Commission have confirmed both the arrest and the ongoing investigation.
[Vanguard]
Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna state, says the opposition coalition can defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027 without support from governors.
Speaking to journalists on Monday in Kano, el-Rufai said the coalition’s strategy should be focused on grassroots mobilisation rather than courting political bigwigs.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors’ forum recently rejected any alliance or merger talks.
“We are trying to offer Nigerians a real alternative — something different from what they have seen before,” Daily Trust quoted el-Rufai as saying.
“A governor has only one vote. Nigerians have many more votes than one governor or even 36 governors combined.
“It doesn’t matter if you gather all the governors together; if the people of Nigeria say they are not with you, it is over.
“The president had a sitting governor in Lagos — and still lost Lagos. So, what is the real value of a governor?
“I was the governor of Kaduna state. I fought hard to deliver President Tinubu in my state, but I lost. That taught me a hard lesson — that elections are ultimately decided by the people, not by political figures.”
He asked the Social Democratic Party (SDP) — his new political platform — to reinforce the message to Nigerians.
El-Rufai also said the coalition’s original plan did not include uniting with the main opposition party.
“From the beginning, our intention was never to merge with the PDP. We have been very clear about that. The PDP is a spent force. It is a party targeted for destruction, and, frankly, it has almost succeeded,” he said.
“We are not looking at political parties that are already ravaged by internal conflicts. We are building something fresh, something that will inspire hope.
“When Nigerians look at the faces involved, they will hopefully say: ‘Yes, maybe this time it will be different’. That is the goal, and it is ongoing.
“Our objective is not to merge political parties. We have been through that before, and we know how long and complicated that process is.
“What we are trying to do is bring like-minded people — who believe Nigeria needs real change — under one umbrella.”
The ex-federal capital territory (FCT) minister said the SDP was chosen following a thorough review of parties expected to remain registered after INEC’s post-election de-registration exercise.
“As you know, INEC now has the power to deregister parties without any elected member at the state assembly level,” he said.
“We assessed the ones that cannot be deregistered, and concluded that the SDP ranked highest. It has pedigree, it has history — but it still needs building.
“Forming a party is easy. Building a party — registering members, holding congresses, building leadership from the polling unit to the national level — is the real work.”
He added that previous parties failed due to weak internal democracy and dominance by powerful figures, harping on the need for an inclusive platform free from individual control.
[TheCable]
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has directed the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to refund consumers who have spent their own money on transformers, poles, cables, and other electrical infrastructure.
This directive was issued during the FCCPC Electricity Consumer Forum held in Ota, Ogun State. The Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Tunji Bello, represented by FCCPC official Mrs. Bridget Etim, emphasized that it is not the responsibility of consumers to provide electricity infrastructure, and any such expenditures must be reimbursed by the distribution company.
During the forum, held in the Ilogbo, Oju-Ore area of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, various community leaders from local development committees expressed frustration over IBEDC’s alleged neglect of their complaints. The Zonal Chairman of the Ado-Odo/Ota CDC, Olatunji Onaolapo, criticized IBEDC’s perceived indifference, stating that despite numerous letters, the company had not responded to community concerns.
“In Itele Ota alone, residents have bought about 80 transformers without any contribution from IBEDC,” Onaolapo said. “Even after paying for energisation, we still have to beg IBEDC to come and install the transformers they should have provided in the first place.”
In response, Abdulrasaq Jimoh, IBEDC’s representative in Ogun State, claimed that the communities erred by purchasing equipment without formally notifying the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
However, FCCPC’s Etim countered this claim, stating that IBEDC has a duty to escalate such investment plans to the regulator on behalf of the communities. She cited Jos Electricity Distribution Company as an example, noting that it refunded consumers for similar investments without prior approval from either NERC or FCCPC.
“We are not going to accept that excuse,” Etim said. “For any future investments made by consumers, IBEDC must ensure refunds are provided. Prior cases may not have been well documented, but going forward, the process must be followed.”
She urged communities to inform the FCCPC of any planned investments in electricity infrastructure to ensure proper documentation and facilitate refunds through energy credits.
In her presentation of the EVC’s opening remarks, Etim highlighted that the three-day forum was organized under Sections 17, 127, 130, and 151 of the FCCPA 2018. The goal, she said, was to bridge the gap between electricity consumers and service providers.
“Electricity is more than a commodity — it’s a critical service that supports daily life, businesses, and economic progress,” she said. “The sector still faces major issues, including poor metering, billing errors, and inadequate infrastructure, which must be addressed through open dialogue and collaboration.”
She added that the forum offers a non-confrontational space for consumers to understand their rights and for IBEDC representatives to address complaints on the spot, in line with FCCPC’s mandate to ensure practical, accessible, and responsive consumer protection.
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has approved the appointment of 168 political aides to reinforce the machinery of government and improve service delivery across the state.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Governor’s Media Adviser, Mukhtar Gidado, revealed that the appointments span multiple roles, including Principal Special Assistants, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, and Personal Assistants.
Naija News gathered that the appointments include five Principal Special Assistants tasked with Political and Community Relations, with one specifically assigned to handle Pension Matters.
Additionally, the list features one Senior Special Assistant on Labour Matters, 60 Special Assistants focusing on Political and Community Relations, and 63 Personal Assistants in the same category.
Gidado emphasised that the appointments align with the administration’s goals of promoting inclusivity and ensuring that the diverse interests and aspirations of Bauchi’s residents are reflected in governance.
He noted that most of the appointees are seasoned political officeholders with vast experience at various levels, carefully selected based on their merit, political experience, and leadership qualities.
Governor Mohammed congratulated the newly appointed aides and urged them to approach their duties with dedication, loyalty, and a focus on people-oriented governance.
He expressed confidence that these new appointments would help build on the administration’s existing achievements and drive sustainable development in the state.