General
Bad Roads: Governor Abiodun Blames Political Opponents for Public Outcry
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Governor of Ogun State, Mr Dapo Abiodun, has advised residents of the state not to allow themselves to be used by his political opponents for their selfish gain.
He said this while reacting to the public outcry over the poor state of roads in some parts of the state, especially the Ota–Itele–Lafenwa road, which many described as a death trap, particularly when it rains.
It is a link road to Lagos State. The Lagos end of the road at Ayobo is good, while the Ogun end from Mopol Junction is in a deplorable state.
In a message to residents of Ogun State on Tuesday, the Governor said his administration was working tirelessly to ensure no part of the Gateway State is “left behind in our ongoing drive for inclusive and balanced development.”
However, he said some persons not happy with the government are bent on painting the state bad in their quest to grab power.
“We recognize the people’s right to demand the dividends of democracy, but we urge residents to be wary of those who seek to mislead the public for political gain.
“The truth is that many of these roads were in deplorable condition long before we came into office in 2019, and we have since turned several of them into active construction sites with visible progress,” he stated.
He noted that, “Beyond roads, Ogun State is breaking new frontiers with landmark achievements, from our world-class Gateway International Airport to the new Sports Complex and the largest cement factory in West Africa.”
Mr Abiodun assured residents that his administration would “continue working tirelessly until every part of Ogun feels the impact of good governance and sustainable development.”
He disclosed that, “From the Sango–Ijoko–Agbado–Oke Aro–Lambe–Akute road to the Sango Ota–Papalanto–Abeokuta and Sango–Idiroko highways, we have recorded over 50 per cent progress in most cases, and our commitment remains unshaken.”
“Our administration is currently executing infrastructure projects that cut across the three senatorial districts, ensuring that every community benefits from our vision to build a modern, connected, and prosperous Ogun,” he further stated.
“In the Ifo–Sango Ota–Idiroko axis, we are simultaneously working on four major highways, including the 140-kilometre Abeokuta–Lagos Expressway, which we are fixing despite its federal status, and the Sango–Idiroko road, where construction is steadily ongoing.
“Similarly, we have completed over 22 kilometres of roads linking Ijoko, Agbado, and Alagbole, while the 24-kilometre Ota–Itele–Lafenwa stretch has already been captured in our proposed 2026 budget. This reflects our unwavering resolve to extend development to every corner of the state,” he said.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr Tony Elumelu, expressed his displeasure over the way he was addressed by one of the company’s graduate trainees at an interactive session in a viral video.
The financial institution organised a Graduate Management Accelerated Programme graduation ceremony on Thursday, and the former banker was in attendance.
During a question-and-answer session, one of the graduating trainees stood and called Mr Elumelu by his first name, Tony.
“Good morning, Tony,” she said.
Mr Elumelu initially thought the lady meant to say Toyin, but she repeated “Good morning, Tony,” a development the UBA chairman was not happy about.
He quickly responded by saying, “No, you won’t call me Tony. You’ll call me Mr Elumelu or TOE. You won’t call me Tony, or Chairman. I don’t subscribe to that kind of… Oyinbo life, okay?”
Though without offering any apology for the error, the female graduate trainee subsequently corrected herself, saying, “Good morning, Mr Elumelu,” before proceeding with her question.
The video clip from the event has already generated mixed reactions, with many happy that the business mogul quickly rebuffed the lady.
They described her as rude, fearing she could lose her job for being disrespectful to the chairman of the organisation.
However, some others said calling colleagues by their first names in a corporate ecosystem is not new, as such happens in the banking sector.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has promised to return the payment of subsidies for premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, if he is elected President in 2027.
Mr Atiku is seeking to become Nigeria’s President next year. He is contesting for the position under the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The presidential election is slated for January 16, 2027.
Answering questions in a trending interview on social media, the former second citizen of the country said the removal of the fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu in 2023 has not done Nigerians any good.
According to him, the economy has been in shambles, noting that the subsidy removal is responsible for high living costs in Nigeria.
On Wednesday, the Minister of Finance, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed that the nation saved about N15.8 trillion between June 2023 and December 2025 from the policy, noting that over N10 trillion was made available to the 36 state governments and the 774 local government areas from the savings.
But the ADC presidential candidate was not impressed with this explanation, stressing that there is nothing to show for the purported gains of the policy.
“I initially did not oppose the removal of the fuel subsidy. But now that it has been removed, where is the money? Where has the subsidy money gone? Has it been used to improve healthcare, education or security?” he queried.
“If I win the presidential election, I will restore the subsidy. And anyone who stole Nigeria’s subsidy funds must return the money,” he declared.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Army has arrested 18 suspected illegal miners at a mining site in Izom, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, recovering equipment and N2.47 million in cash from the operation.
The suspects were arrested by troops of the 102 Guard Battalion during a routine operation in the area, where the soldiers reportedly discovered unauthorised mining activities.
Following the arrests, the army handed over the suspects and recovered items to the headquarters of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Mining Marshals in Sauka, Abuja, in line with established inter-agency procedures.
The operation is part of intensified efforts by security and regulatory agencies to curb illegal mining, which has been linked to revenue losses, environmental degradation and the unlawful exploitation of Nigeria’s mineral resources.
Reacting to the development, the Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps John Onoja Attah, commended the Nigerian Army for what he described as a strong demonstration of professionalism and commitment to protecting the country’s mineral wealth.
“The Nigerian Army has once again distinguished itself through professionalism, discipline and patriotism. The swift arrest of the suspects and their prompt handover to the Mining Marshals reflect a commendable commitment to the rule of law and the protection of Nigeria’s solid mineral resources,” he said.
Preliminary investigations by the Mining Marshals indicated that the suspects allegedly operated without licences, permits or any affiliation with a registered mining company. Investigators also said they could not produce evidence of valid mineral titles or authorisation from the relevant regulatory authorities.
Items recovered from the mining site included motorcycles, pumping machines, crusher engines, communication devices and cash totalling N2,468,750.
Mr Attah said the Mining Marshals would continue to pursue individuals involved in illegal mining and strengthen intelligence-led operations against activities that undermine the formal mining industry and deprive government of legitimate revenue.
He added that the Corps, under its Commandant-General, Mr Ahmed Audi, remained committed to enforcing the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act and protecting Nigeria’s mineral resources from unlawful exploitation.
The Mining Marshals said the investigation had been concluded and that the 18 suspects were being processed for prosecution under the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.
