Day: October 4, 2026

NCC Forum Urges FG to Fast-Track 90,000km Fibre Backbone, Expand Digital Connectivity

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called on the Federal Government to accelerate the delivery of the 90,000-kilometre national fibre backbone under Project BRIDGE to address Nigeria’s middle-mile connectivity gap and attract more investment into digital infrastructure.   The recommendation was contained in the communiqué issued at the end of the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum 2026, organised by the NCC in partnership with Swedfund and Ookla at Onomo Allure Hotel, Abuja, on September 29 and 30.   The forum, held under the theme, “Unlocking Infrastructure Investment through Data, Transparency…

Legitimacy Before Reform: The Rule of Law Must Prevail By Cllr Taslim Gbaja-Biamila

Emporium Reporters

The recent article by Collins Nweke, “Fixing NIDO Requires a Reform Compact Facilitated by an Impartial NiDCOM,” is a welcome contribution to the debate surrounding the current challenges facing NIDO. Its tone is measured, and its desire for unity is commendable.   However, it arrives at the wrong conclusion because it starts from the wrong premise. The crisis confronting NIDO is not primarily a failure of mediation, dialogue, or reform. It is a crisis of legitimacy. Until that issue is resolved, every other discussion is premature.   The article proposes…

2027: Kwande APC Stakeholders Endorse Tinubu, Udende, Ugbor for Second Term

Lukman Laleye Babalola

All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Emmanuel Memga Udende and Hon. Terseer Ugbor for re-election in the 2027 general elections.   The stakeholders also endorsed Hon. Tsavtim Silas as the party’s candidate for the Kwande East State Constituency, while pledging allegiance to the leadership of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.   The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting held on October…

NIS Charges 77 Graduates to Embrace Smart Borders, Technology-Driven Migration Management

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has charged 77 officers who graduated from the 14th Command Course of the Immigration Command and Staff College (ICSC), Sokoto, to embrace technology-driven migration management and strengthen border security through innovation and inter-agency collaboration.   The Comptroller-General of Immigration, KN Nandap, gave the charge at the graduation ceremony held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, under the theme, “Smart Borders: Leveraging Technology for Efficient Migration Control and Border Management.” She was represented at the event by the Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of the Human Resources Directorate,…

NNPC Retail Offers ₦66 Fuel Discount to Mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary

Lukman Laleye Babalola

NNPC Retail Limited has commenced a week-long fuel promotion offering customers a ₦66 discount on every litre of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) purchased through the NNPC Fuel App. The promotion, which began on October 1, 2026, is part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary and will run through October 7 at designated NNPC Retail mega stations. Management and staff of NNPC Retail were at the mega station on the commencement day to engage customers and create awareness about the promotional offer. Speaking on the initiative, NNPC Retail’s Director, Operations,…

Nigerian Navy Disrupts Two Illegal Refineries, Recovers 58,000 Litres of Stolen Crude in Rivers

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Navy has disrupted two illegal refining sites and recovered approximately 58,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Rivers State. The operation was carried out on Saturday, October 3, 2026, by NNS PATHFINDER, a unit under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, at Okarki Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state. The naval team acted on credible intelligence indicating the presence of suspected crude oil theft and illegal refining activities within the area of operations. According to the…

FCT Police Order Arrest, Prosecution of Motorists Using Concealed, Fake Number Plates

Emporium Reporters

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has ordered the arrest and immediate prosecution of motorists found using vehicles without valid licence plates, concealed or defaced number plates, and fake diplomatic registration numbers.   The directive was issued by the Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, PhD, FCAI, following concerns over the proliferation of vehicles being operated in violation of existing regulations.   The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, ANIPR, MIPRA, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, warning motorists against the use of vehicles…

Tinubu Urges Ethiopia, Eritrea to Avert War, Calls for Stronger African Cooperation

Lukman Laleye Babalola

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on African leaders to prevail on Ethiopia and Eritrea to de-escalate rising tensions and embrace diplomacy to prevent a possible armed conflict between the two countries.   Tinubu made the appeal in Nigeria’s national statement delivered by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, at the NEPAD Founding Member States’ Summit in Alamein, Egypt.   The summit, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, marked the 25th anniversary of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).   The President stressed that…

Will the Rainbow’s Collision with Governors Sound the Death Knell for APC? By Hassan Gimba

Emporium Reporters

Nyesom Wike is not a man who shies away from any fight. And controversies. So far, he has won them all. Well, almost all. The PDP held a national convention to nominate its presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections on 28 and 29 May 2022 at the National Stadium. Wike was so confident he would win that he said he would behave a certain way if he lost, apparently assuming that would make those he believed he would defeat adopt the same line. He promised to support “whoever emerged”…

Strengthened by the Word: Rev. Idowu Declares God’s Word the Ultimate Power for Life’s Battles

Emporium Reporters

By Afolabi Olajuwon The Senior Pastor and District Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church, Wuse District Headquarters, Abuja, Rev. Dr. Babatunde Idowu, has urged Christians to draw their strength from the Word of God, declaring that divine strength remains superior to political influence, intellectual ability, financial power and every form of human advantage. Speaking during the Sunday worship service on October 4, 2026, on the theme, “Strengthened by the Word,” Rev. Idowu said believers living in an increasingly competitive and challenging world must recognise that lasting strength comes not merely from…