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A group of concerned stakeholders from Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas of Imo State has voiced grievances over what they described as years of deliberate marginalization, despite being oil- and gas-rich areas, noting that neither area has produced a governor since the creation of the state in 1976.

At a press conference held on Thursday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the group demanded that the 2028 governorship slot be zoned to their area as a way of giving them a sense of belonging and appreciating their contributions to the growth of the state.

In a two-page communiqué released to the press and signed by Dr. John-Donald Ikegwuruka, the group stated that any charter of equity that excludes the people “who lay the golden eggs” amounts to nothing but a classroom debate, theoretical, hollow, and insulting to their people.

Recounting their many losses over the years, the group said: “We have lost countless lives and properties in our lawful struggle for recognition and repositioning. Our patience has worn thin. If Imo State is sincere about building a charter of equity that will endure for generations, then it must first adopt a charter of resources,” adding that “justice must precede rotation and contribution must precede entitlement.”

According to the stakeholders, “We demand with one voice, and in the strongest terms, that the next governor of the state must come from the oil- and gas-rich local governments of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta.”

“The stakeholders commend the excellent relationship between the state governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, and the respected leaders of our oil- and gas-rich areas. It is our earnest prayer that this time-tested partnership will now be leveraged to address our long-standing grievances and wipe the tears of our people.

“Our areas are blessed with both human and material resources to take the state and the local government areas to the next level. Governance requires men and women with God-given mission and vision to deliver. We assert boldly: the people of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta are ready, able, and willing to deliver the state to greatness,” they stated.

The stakeholders added that the two local government areas remain the mainstay of both the state and the nation, being hosts to some of the highest deposits of oil and gas in Africa, wondering why, despite their contributions, they have been systematically excluded from political power distribution.

Despite all their contributions to the nation, they said, “we lack essential amenities such as roads, hospitals, schools, and water,” stressing that “the tankers and vehicles transporting these resources routinely crash, leading to loss of lives and destruction of properties, thereby leaving our people in varying degrees of suffering.”

Ikegwuruka, therefore, appealed to the governor and other stakeholders in the state to cede the 2028 governorship slot to their area.

Stakeholders want 2028 governorship slot zoned to Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta

No fewer than 45 residents of Ogun State have been arrested by the State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) and sentenced to community service for the indiscriminate disposal of waste products.

The offenders were arrested in the Panseke, Quarry Road and Kolobo areas of the state capital after dumping their waste indiscriminately on roadsides, highways and other public places.

DAILY POST gathered that the arrests, made on Thursday, are part of efforts to enforce the state environmental laws.

Addressing them before their community service, the Special Adviser to the Governor on OGWAMA, Farook Akintunde, outlined the implications of their offences to include defacing the aesthetic beauty of the state, spreading airborne diseases, as well as contaminating underground water in the state capital.

He expressed disappointment, stressing that their behaviour was unpardonable, especially with the massive campaign mounted against indiscriminate dumping of waste in various media outlets and the need to patronize government-licensed waste collectors assigned to their communities.

Akintunde said that due to their pleas and written commitment not to run foul of the law again, as well as their immediate enrollment with the waste collectors in their areas, they would be allowed to carry out community service, warning that anyone caught again for the same offence would be prosecuted according to the state environmental laws.

He also warned other residents of the state who are still in the habit of dumping waste indiscriminately to stop forthwith or face unpleasant consequences in no distant time.

45 Ogun residents arrested for indiscriminate waste disposal

The Executive Secretary of the Bauchi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Imam Abdurrahman Ibrahim Idris, has urged intending pilgrims to safeguard their Nusuk cards while in Saudi Arabia, warning that loss of the card could result in deportation.

He explained that the Nusuk Card is a mandatory digital and physical identification card issued free of charge by Saudi authorities for the 2025/2026 Hajj.

According to him, the card serves as an official permit granting access to Makkah, the Grand Mosque, and other holy sites, including Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah.

He added that it also facilitates essential services such as accommodation and transportation, and is accessible via the Nusuk platform.

Imam Idris disclosed this during a press briefing at his office in Bauchi, where he also announced a change in the departure time for the first batch of intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj.

He said the flight is now scheduled to depart at 4:50 pm on May 7, instead of 8:29 pm, due to operational adjustments.

The Executive Secretary stated that screening procedures will commence after the state governor, Bala Mohammed, delivers the farewell address.

Idris further advised pilgrims to secure their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) to avoid loss.

He noted that pilgrims are required to pay for Hadaya (sacrificial offering) through Ja’iz Bank, at a cost of approximately N180,000.

He also appealed to the relatives of pilgrims to refrain from parking vehicles at the Hajj camp and airport, citing new security measures that restrict vehicular access to designated areas.

DAILY POST reports that the inaugural flight will convey a total of 485 pilgrims, including 323 from Bauchi State and 162 from Plateau State.

Bauchi pilgrims advised on Nusuk cards, Hajj BTA, travel regulations

The Nasarawa State Police Command has intensified security operations following the abduction of several students from an off-campus lodge in Gudi, Akwanga Local Government Area.

The incident, which occurred on Tuesday night, was said to have taken place at a students’ residence located in Anguwar Ninzo on the outskirts of Gudi.

According to the command’s spokesperson, SP Ramhan Nansel, unidentified gunmen stormed the lodge at about 9:00 p.m. and whisked away some occupants to an unknown destination.

Nansel confirmed that six of the abducted persons are students of the Faculty of Engineering, Gudi Campus of Nasarawa State University, while another victim was reportedly visiting one of the students at the time of the attack.

In response to the development, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Shetima Jauro Mohammed, visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment and assured residents and members of the university community that efforts were underway to secure the safe return of the victims.

“The Command remains fully committed to the safe rescue of the abducted victims, while all necessary security measures are being intensified to ensure those behind the act are apprehended,” the police commissioner stated during the assessment visit.

As part of measures to strengthen the operation, the police command redeployed the Area Commander in Akwanga to coordinate ongoing field operations in the area pending the rescue mission.

The police also disclosed that a joint security task force involving operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Military, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), local vigilante groups, and other tactical units had been mobilised to comb surrounding areas in search of the abductors and the victims.

Residents have been urged to remain calm but vigilant and to report any useful information to security agencies to aid ongoing investigations and rescue operations.

Police intensify search as gunmen kidnap students in Nasarawa community

An energy expert and accountability advocate, Tekeme Umukoro has demanded accountability from Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited over funds spent on the turnaround maintenance of Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries.

He made this known in a statement on Thursday.

This comes as NNPCL recently announced a memorandum of understanding with Chinese firms to restart Nigerian government-owned refineries.

Reacting, Umukoro said NNPCL should first give an account for the alleged $3.5 billion spent on Nigerian refineries before beginning another ‘jamboree’ in the name of an MoU with Chinese firms.

He criticized NNPCL for the recurring cycle of waste, opacity, and unfulfilled promises in Nigeria’s refinery sector.

Umukoro said the latest agreement raised serious accountability concerns, especially in light of previous billions committed to refinery rehabilitation with no visible results.

“We have gathered here today because Nigeria can no longer continue to tolerate a dangerous cycle of waste, opacity, and endless promises in the management of the nation’s refineries,” he said.

“Nigerians have repeatedly been told that the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries were being revived, only for those promises to collapse under the weight of poor execution, secrecy, and lack of accountability,” he added.

‘NNPCL must account for $3.5bn wasted refinery funds before restart jamboree’ – Umokoro

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has cautioned against the misuse of social media and other digital platforms, warning that unregulated online engagement could compromise operational security, undermine institutional integrity, and negatively affect ongoing military operations.

He further charged Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) of the Nigerian Army to deepen and reinforce the warrior ethos as a strategic imperative for sustaining combat power, enhancing operational effectiveness, and ensuring mission success across all formations and units of the Nigerian Army.

Colonel Appolonia Anele, acting Director, Army Public Relations, in a statement said the COAS gave the charge on Thursday, May 7, 2026, during the closing ceremony of the First Regimental Sergeant Majors’ Convention 2026 held at the JN Garba Hall, Postgraduate School, Old Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

The convention, themed “Empowering Regimental Sergeant Majors to Drive Combat Readiness and Professional Excellence,” provided a critical platform for professional engagement, exchange of operational experiences, and strategic discourse focused on strengthening leadership capacity, mentorship culture, and regimental standards in support of the transformation drive of the Nigerian Army.

Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu highlighted the strategic importance of RSMs as custodians of discipline, regimentation, and military tradition, stressing that their leadership influence remains vital in sustaining troop morale, operational cohesion, and esprit de corps, particularly among personnel deployed across various theatres of operations.

He noted that the cultivation of a strong warrior ethos remains central to building resilient, disciplined, and mission-oriented forces capable of effectively confronting emerging and asymmetric security threats.

He, therefore, urged RSMs to lead from the front by enforcing responsible digital conduct, strengthening information discipline, and ensuring strict compliance with established communication protocols within their respective units and formations.

COAS warns against social media misuse

The Corporate Affairs Commission has introduced a direct payment option on its registration portal as part of efforts to simplify business filing processes, improve service delivery, and strengthen transparency in government revenue collection.

In a statement posted on its official X handle on Wednesday, the Commission said customers can now make payments directly on its Intelligent Company Registration Portal (iCRP) through the Revenue Optimisation and Assurance Project (REV-OP) platform.

“The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) wishes to notify its esteemed customers that payments for the following filings can now be conveniently made directly on our portal via ReVOps on the Intelligent Company Registration Portal (iCRP),” the statement said.

The development marks a significant shift in the Commission’s digital transformation drive, aimed at reducing bottlenecks associated with company registration and post-incorporation filings while enhancing the efficiency of its online services.

Under the new arrangement, users can now process payments directly for services including Annual Returns Filing, Change of Business Address, Cessation of Business, Change of Name, and Change of Objects.

Other filings covered include changes to Proprietor or Partner details as well as requests for Certified True Copies.
Before the introduction of the new payment option, the Commission relied mainly on the Remita payment gateway, which supported transactions through debit cards, bank transfers, and branch payments.

Industry observers say the transition to direct portal payments could shorten processing timelines, improve transaction tracking, and reduce payment-related delays often experienced by businesses and legal practitioners using the Commission’s platform.

The REV-OP initiative, launched by the Federal Government last year, is designed to strengthen public financial management systems by blocking revenue leakages, improving accountability, and promoting greater transparency across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

The project is anchored on three major pillars, transparency, efficiency, and digital transformation, with a focus on leveraging technology to modernise government revenue administration.

Analysts note that the CAC’s adoption of the platform aligns with the Federal Government’s broader digitalisation agenda, which seeks to improve internally generated revenue collection through technology-driven systems and real-time monitoring mechanisms.

The Commission said the integration would also support data-driven decision-making and create a more seamless experience for businesses interacting with the agency’s online registration services.

CAC Rolls Out Direct Payment Gateway For Business Services is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Flutterwave has announced that its Head of Marketing, Yewande “Wendy” Akomolafe-Kalu, and Senior Manager, Branding and Storytelling, Noel Ozoemena, have been recognized in the first edition of the Top 100 Content Leaders in UK Banking Technology.

This global list, curated by Influential Index and sponsored by FirstWord Media, celebrates marketing leaders who consistently deliver persuasive B2B content that builds brand recognition and drives business in complex, highly regulated industries.

The list brings together some of the most influential voices shaping marketing across financial technology, featuring leaders from globally recognized companies such as Mastercard, PayPal, Binance, Wise, and Checkout.com.

Being recognized alongside these industry leaders underscores how the narratives emerging from Africa’s fintech ecosystem are increasingly resonating on a global level.

At Flutterwave, storytelling and marketing are a strategic growth engine, driving product adoption and shaping how African fintech innovation is understood globally.

Akomolafe-Kalu and Ozoemena have helped translate complex payment infrastructure into narratives that resonate with businesses, developers, and partners across continents. Their work sits at the intersection of creative storytelling and commercial impact, bridging product complexity with human understanding.

Akomolafe-Kalu leverages her background in psychology to craft campaigns that inspire audiences, build trust, and directly meet commercial goals.

Working closely under her leadership, Ozoemena has been instrumental in driving the go-to-market strategies and brand storytelling that anchor Flutterwave’s expansion across Africa, North Africa, Europe, and North America.

Annette Akpolo, Head of People and Culture, Flutterwave, said: “At Flutterwave, we pride ourselves on building an environment where top-tier talent can do their best work. Under Wendy’s leadership, both she and Noel have excelled at doing exactly that.

“However, this milestone also belongs to the incredible professionals across our broader Marketing team. Their combined creativity and strategic execution are what truly allow our brand to resonate across continents,” Akpolo added.

Flutterwave marketing leaders named among Top 100 Content Leaders in UK Banking Technology

House of Representatives aspirant for AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency, Hon. Sarah Ivie Adidi, on Thursday commenced her grassroots ward tour across Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) with strategic visits to Kawu, Shere, and Igu wards, where she met extensively with ward executives and community stakeholders.

The tour, which marks the beginning of direct consultations at the ward level, was warmly received by party leaders and grassroots stakeholders who commended the aspirant for personally visiting them in their local communities rather than summoning them to town meetings.

In Kawu Ward, Hon. Adidi first paid a respectful visit to representatives of the Chief before proceeding to hold aSarah meeting with the ward executives. The ward leaders praised her humility, sincerity, and commitment to grassroots politics, noting that she was the only aspirant who deemed it important to come directly to their locality to engage them personally.

The same sentiments were echoed in Shere Ward, where party executives openly declared their support for her aspiration. They commended her accessibility and described her consultation style as a refreshing departure from the norm, emphasizing that her willingness to meet them on their home ground demonstrated genuine respect for the people.

At Igu Ward, executives noted that Hon. Sarah Ivie Adidi is the first female aspirant to personally visit and engage with them at the ward level. They applauded her courage, determination, and people-centered approach, assuring her of their readiness to mobilize support for her across the ward.

Across all three wards visited, stakeholders consistently described Hon. Adidi as sincere, grassroots-oriented, and deeply committed to inclusive representation. They pledged to rally behind her aspiration and work collectively toward ensuring her success in the forthcoming elections.

Speaking during the engagements, Hon. Adidi reiterated her commitment to servant leadership, inclusive governance, and sustained grassroots engagement. She emphasized that meaningful representation begins with listening directly to the people and understanding their needs firsthand.

The ward tour is expected to continue across other wards in Bwari Area Council in the coming days as consultations intensify ahead of the elections.

Adidi Begins Bwari Grassroots Tour, Gains Massive Ward-Level Support is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has hit back at critics regarding the allocation of land to diplomatic personnel, accusing them of hypocrisy for questioning policies from which they had previously benefited.

In a response to recent criticisms that the government is prioritizing foreign diplomats over “ordinary” Nigerians, the minister argued that land allocation is a standard government procedure designed to drive investment and urban development.

Addressing journalists during a project inspection on Thursday, Wike emphasised that media houses operate as profit-driven businesses rather than charitable organizations.

He noted that these organizations charge for adverts, live coverage and commercial news to fund their operations and salaries.

The minister specifically named major media outlets such as Channels TV and AIT, stating that they currently operate from headquarters built on land allocated by the FCT government rather than purchased from the open market.

“When you are living in a glass house, don’t throw stones.

“You were given land, and you are not among the poor, so why are you complaining now?” he stated.

The minister sought to dispel misconceptions regarding the “sale” of land in the FCT, clarifying that the government allocates land based on developmental agreements.

He said: “The FCT does not sell land; it allocates it based on specific conditions and investment proposals.

“All allottees, including diplomats, are required to pay procedural fees for the processing of their Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).”

Wike noted that many of the allocations being questioned were made by previous administrations, as government is a continuous entity.

The minister warned that land allocated for development must be used as agreed.

He cited the case of Jabi Lake, where land allocated 20 years ago for entertainment and tourism hubs remained undeveloped and was reclaimed by the government for new investors.

Wike dismissed the “emotional” arguments that land should only go to the poor, stating that high-value areas require significant investment to transform into world-class facilities and tourist attractions.

He vowed to “always stand by the truth,” maintaining that his administration would prioritize realistic urban development and investment over playing to the gallery.

Critics are hypocritical – Wike clarifies FCT land allocation policy