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The Niger State Government has unveiled fresh measures to curb land grabbing, resolve lingering land disputes and reclaim undeveloped public land, while security agencies announced the establishment of Farmers-Herders Peace Committees across the state’s 25 local government areas to prevent violent clashes.

The Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Ahmad Bello Agwara, disclosed this during the maiden quarterly media briefing organised by the Niger State Ministry of Information and Strategy in Minna.

Agwara said the government has stopped local government councils from issuing Rights of Occupancy in designated urban areas as part of efforts to end illegal land acquisition and sanitise land administration.

He also revealed that the government had revoked land allocations granted to investors who failed to develop their properties, accusing some beneficiaries of using their Certificates of Occupancy solely as collateral to secure bank loans without carrying out the intended investments.

The commissioner, however, said genuine investors who are ready to develop their allocated land would be given another opportunity, provided they meet the conditions laid down by the government.

Speaking on security, the representative of the Commissioner of Police, the Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, assured residents that security agencies are closely monitoring the influx of Fulani herders into Niger State following the worsening insecurity in neighbouring states.

Abiodun said the police, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security stakeholders, had screened the new arrivals and found no immediate security threat.

He further announced the establishment of Farmers-Herders Peace Committees in all 25 local government areas to provide a platform for resolving disputes through dialogue and preventing violent conflicts.

According to him, the committees comprise local government chairmen, Fulani leaders, traditional rulers, the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the DSS and other relevant stakeholders.

He urged residents to channel complaints and disputes through the committees rather than resorting to self-help or violence.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Nana Obed, said the quarterly media briefing was introduced to bridge the communication gap between the government and the people.

He said the initiative would provide a regular platform for commissioners and heads of agencies to explain government policies, programmes and achievements, while giving journalists and members of the public the opportunity to ask questions and offer constructive feedback.

The commissioners reaffirmed the Niger State Government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, investment promotion and efficient service delivery in line with Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s New Niger Agenda.

Niger Govt revokes undeveloped land allocations, tightens land administration

Residents of Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State staged a protest at the headquarters of the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC), in Yola, demanding the immediate restoration of electricity after more than two months of blackout.

Under the banner of the Movement for the Transformation of Nigeria (MOTION), the protesters barricaded the entrance to the YEDC office, preventing staff from leaving the premises and customers from entering.

The demonstrators accused the company of neglecting their communities despite repeated appeals.

The Adamawa State coordinator of MOTION, Andrew Musa, said the protest was born out of frustration over the prolonged blackout and the lack of visible effort to restore electricity.

“We did not leave our homes because we enjoy protesting. We are here because we have been without electricity and there is no deliberate effort to restore power,” Musa said.

Also speaking, another protester, Hakeem Abba, said several meetings involving YEDC and security agencies had ended with unfulfilled promises.

Speaking in a similar vein, another protester, Adamu Ahmed, said he and his fellow residents had made several efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue but had received assurances that were never matched with action.

Adamawa residents protest two-month blackout at YEDC headquarters

Crystal Palace are interested in signing Takehiro Tomiyasu and have included him on their pre-season tour to Italy.

Tomiyasu is available on a free transfer and was named on the bench for their 3-0 defeat to RC Lens.

The Japan defender has been training with Pierre Sage’s squad, which is currently light on numbers with players still off after the World Cup.

The former Arsenal man left Ajax at the end of a short-term contract in June.

But he still lives in London following his stint at the Emirates, which ended in 2025.

Tomiyasu is keen to be back playing in the Premier League but already has several offers from other clubs abroad.

Transfer: Tomiyasu set to join Arsenal’s EPL rivals

National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Shehu Dikko and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi on Tuesday presented the Federal Government’s promised cash rewards to the Super Falcons following their triumphant 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

The presentation took place in Rabat, Morocco, where the team is currently preparing for the WAFCON 2026 tournament.

Justine Madugu’s side won a record-extending 10th title at the WAFCON 2024 finals, edging past hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final.

The rewards also serve as a morale booster for the Super Falcons as they embark on the defence of their continental crown in Morocco.

They will face Malawi’s Scorchers in their first game at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat tonight.

The Copper Queens of Zambia and the Cleopatras of Egypt are the other teams in the group.

Super Falcons receive rewards for historic WAFCON 2024 Triumph

The Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, has explained his absence during a recent visit to his palace by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, saying he had no blessings to offer the party but would instead have pronounced a curse over its members.

The monarch’s absence during the APC campaign visit last Tuesday generated reactions on social media, with some party supporters alleging that he deliberately avoided receiving the delegation because Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Accord candidate seeking re-election, is an indigene of Ede.

Several APC supporters argued that the traditional ruler should have received all governorship candidates in a fatherly manner, irrespective of political affiliation, and criticised what they described as unequal treatment of opposition candidates.

A Facebook user, Awwal Tunde Alawo, had criticised the monarch’s absence, writing, “I think Baba Kabiyesi Timi of Ede should display a more fatherly role to all. The first one was his closure of his gate against the ADC governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam, two weeks ago. Now, against the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Oyebamiji, too, today.”

The social media user added that while Governor Adeleke had been warmly received by other traditional rulers in the state, Oba Lawal had not extended a similar reception to his political opponents.

“This isn’t a good gesture from the Timi. Baba should behave more maturely and be a father to all,” he wrote.

Responding to the criticism, a member of the Osun State APC Elders Caucus, Alhaji Gbedebo Ajao, said the monarch’s absence was unrelated to politics.

He explained that the Timi had travelled to Ile-Ife for an official engagement with the Ooni of Ife.

According to Ajao, “The monarch and other traditional rulers from the Ede/Egbedore Traditional Council attended a scheduled meeting with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to commiserate with him over the death of his elder brother.

“We were duly informed, and we fact-checked this information to be true. They even requested a new date.”

However, speaking during an Accord campaign rally in Ede on Tuesday, Oba Lawal dismissed suggestions that he intentionally left the palace to avoid the APC delegation, saying he had actually anticipated their visit.

The monarch, speaking in Yoruba in a video circulated by Arise TV, linked his position to the slogan “E Pana Ede”, allegedly used by APC supporters during the ongoing governorship campaign. The expression translates as “Off Ede Light.”

“There is a rumour that I left the palace on the day the APC people came to visit me. I was actually waiting for the day they would come to the palace so I could ask them why they said ‘E Pana Ede’,  ‘Off Ede Light.’ What do they expect from me? It would have been a curse,” the monarch said.

The slogan, “E Pana Ede, E Tan Ti Ikire,” meaning “Off Ede Light, On that of Ikire,” has circulated widely on social media ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Governor Ademola Adeleke is from Ede, while the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, is an indigene of Ikire.

APC visit would have received royal curse — Timi of Ede, Oba Lawal

Albert Hilary has joined Cypriot side Karaoglanoglu Sports Club for the 2026-27 season, DAILY POST reports.

Hilary joined the club from Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Plateau United.

The forward scored 20 goals in 50 NPFL appearances for the Peace Boys.

The move marks Hilary’s first stint outside Nigeria after three seasons in the NPFL.

Hilary was one of Plateau United’s most consistent attackers over the past two seasons.

Plateau United are expected to shop for a formidable replacement before the close of the transfer window.

Transfer: Albert Hilary joins Cypriot side Karaoglanoglu Sports Club

Ipswich full-back, Somto Boniface, has joined Leyton Orient on loan for the 2026/27 season.

The 20-year-old moved to the Championship from Chelsea in February 2025.

He was then intergrated into the first-team squads under Kieran McKenna.

Boniface is highly rated defender that operates from left-back.

He will however spend the next year with the League One club, to get enough playing time under his belt.

Following his loan move, Boniface could feature in Leyton’s preseason friendly against Antwerp on August 2.

Transfer: Boniface joins Leyton Orient

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan, has appealed for the support of traditional rulers in ensuring a peaceful, credible and violence-free governorship election in Osun State in August.

Prof. Amupitan made the appeal on Tuesday during a visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, in Ile-Ife.

He expressed concern over the political atmosphere in the state, urging traditional rulers to appeal to politicians and political parties to conduct issue-based campaigns devoid of rancour and violence.

“The blood of Nigerians is not worth the ambition of any politician,” Amupitan said.

Amupitan said the visit was to formally notify the Ooni of the forthcoming governorship election and to seek royal prayers and blessings ahead of what he described as one of Nigeria’s most significant off-cycle elections.

“The visit is to formally announce to you that the Osun governorship election is coming up on Saturday, August 15, 2026,” the INEC chairman said, adding that Osun occupies a special place in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

The INEC chairman also called for proper verification of information to prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation, warning that false information could fuel unnecessary violence before, during and after the election.

Amupitan said restoring public confidence in the electoral body remained one of his priorities, stressing that the commission was committed to conducting elections that were credible, free, fair and transparent.

“We have decided that one of the ways we can build trust is to ensure that elections must be credible, free, fair and transparent,” he stated.

He explained that INEC, as a creation of the Nigerian Constitution, is responsible for conducting elections into elective offices across Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as registering and deregistering political parties, conducting referendums and maintaining the national voters’ register.

The INEC chairman also announced that the 2027 general elections would commence with the presidential and National Assembly polls on January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State House of Assembly elections would be held on February 6, 2027.

He noted that earlier off-cycle and by-elections had delayed his visit to Ile-Ife.

Describing the Osun governorship poll as “the most consequential off-cycle election in Nigeria,” Amupitan said it would serve as a mirror for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.

He urged traditional rulers to work towards ensuring that the election was peaceful, commenced on schedule and had a timely declaration of results.

He disclosed that all 12 National Commissioners of INEC, representing the six geopolitical zones, accompanied him on the visit, saying the commission considered it important to pay homage to the Ooni in recognition of Ile-Ife as the ancestral cradle of the Yoruba race.

Responding, the Ooni of Ife said traditional rulers in Osun had remained above partisan politics despite growing political tension in the state.

“The traditional rulers have resolved to tell politicians the truth and encourage them to do what is fair and right because the political tension is becoming unbearable and worrisome,” the monarch said.

The Ooni urged INEC to remain impartial and allow the electorate to freely choose their preferred candidates, while commending President Bola Tinubu for strengthening the commission’s independence.

He appealed to the electoral body to “do what is right, just and fair,” stressing that the interest of traditional rulers was beyond politics and centred on the peace, stability and progress of Osun State.

INEC chairman seeks royal support ahead of Osun guber

Nigerian singers, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, and Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, also popularly known as Ayra Starr…

The post Tems, Ayra Starr feature in ‘Children of Blood & Bone’ teaser appeared first on Tribune Online.

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has commended President Bola Tinubu for the Federal Government’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) penetration initiative, describing it as a bold step towards improving the welfare of Nigerians.

Diri also said the scheme, which targets the distribution of compressed cylinders gas to vulnerable Nigerians that have long relied on firewood for cooking, would reduce wood logging, deforestation and the attendant environmental impact.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the Bayelsa governor as giving the commendation at the launch of the Decade of Gas: National Grassroots LPG Penetration Programme in Tuesday at the Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, where Bayelsa became the first state to benefit from the state-level rollout of the initiative.

The scheme is expected to cover no fewer than 27,000 beneficiaries in the state.

Diri said the programme marked a significant shift in the Federal Government’s approach to ensuring that communities that produce the nation’s oil and gas resources also enjoy the benefits of cleaner and safer energy.

He noted that for decades, communities in the Niger Delta suffered environmental degradation, poverty and neglect despite contributing immensely to the nation’s economy, stressing that the LPG initiative signals the beginning of a positive change.

He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas), development partners and sponsors for bringing the programme to Bayelsa, saying the initiative aligns with the state’s commitment to improving the quality of life of its people.

He explained that the transition from firewood to gas would not only reduce environmental degradation but also improve public health by limiting exposure to harmful smoke associated with traditional cooking methods.

The governor urged residents to embrace clean cooking energy and discard the misconception that food prepared with firewood was superior.

While applauding the decision to provide beneficiaries six free cylinder refills, Diri appealed for a review of the implementation framework to allow for a longer transition period before states assume the responsibility.

He proposed that the refill arrangement be extended to a two-year grace period to enable states adequately plan, engage stakeholders and make budgetary provisions that would guarantee sustainability of the programme.

The governor reaffirmed the state government’s readiness to partner with the Federal Government in expanding access to clean energy and improving the welfare of citizens.

In his address, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the launch as a historic milestone, noting that Bayelsa becomes the first state to host the state-level LPG cylinder distribution programme.

He said the programme was designed to make clean cooking energy more accessible to households, reduce dependence on firewood and charcoal, improve public health, protect the environment and stimulate economic opportunities along the LPG value chain.

Ekpo stated that the initiative is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Tinubu administration.

He also assured beneficiaries that refill centres would be established closer to communities to make access to LPG more convenient, while reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that gas prices remain affordable for ordinary Nigerians.

In an earlier address, the Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Initiative, Mr. Ed Ubong, stated that the Federal Government aims to transition five million Nigerian households to LPG for cooking by 2030 under the programme.

Ubong said the initiative targets one million households annually and described Bayelsa as the ideal starting point for the programme as hosts to one of Africa’s largest gas processing facilities and holding a significant place in Nigeria’s oil and gas history.

Earlier, during the minister’s courtesy visit to his office, Governor Diri acknowledged that Bayelsa was endowed with more gas deposits than crude oil.

He described as an aberration a situation where revenues that ought to accrue to the state from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company such as personal income tax and other revenues were remited to other states, and urged President Tinubu to address the injustice.

His words, “About 60 per cent of the gas to the NLNGC is derived from Bayelsa State. But guess what? No tax is paid to the government of Bayelsa. All the taxes are paid to other state governments. What is the benefit of the people from where this gas is collected?“

He maintained that Bayelsa had been shortchanged for decades, which he said was largely responsible for the state’s low internally generated revenue base.

The state’s helmsman also bemoaned the health hazards suffered by the people of the Niger Delta coupled with the environmental degradation caused by decades of oil exploration and gas flaring.

According to him, the situation prompted his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson, to establish the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission (BSOEC) to look into the effects of oil spills and gas flares by oil companies operating in the region.

Diri Hails Tinubu’s LPG Drive, Seeks Two-Year Grace Period For States is first published on The Whistler Newspaper