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Former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has vowed to abandon the 2027 presidential ticket with Atiku Abubakar and campaign for President Bola Tinubu if petrol sells for ₦600 per litre.

Amaechi made the declaration on Friday, October 2, 2026, during an interview on Channels Television, where he criticised the Tinubu administration’s economic policies and the hardship confronting Nigerians.

“If fuel comes down to 600 tomorrow, I will campaign for President Tinubu,” he said.

“Tomorrow, if you doubt, come with your camera in the morning in the house, and I will go to the fuel station, and I will buy fuel.

“If fuel has come down to this, I, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, will withdraw as the vice-presidential candidate of Atiku and campaign for President Tinubu.”

The former Rivers State governor was responding to questions about the impact of the removal of petrol subsidies and the federal government’s economic reforms on ordinary Nigerians.

He argued that the rising cost of transportation, accommodation, healthcare and other essential services had eroded the benefits of the government’s wage increase, leaving many Nigerians struggling to survive.

Amaechi cited the experience of workers at his wife’s business, claiming that some employees earning ₦70,000 monthly were spending almost their entire salaries on transportation.

“I have my wife, I have staff in her shop, and they’re asking for a salary increase. Do you know why they’re asking for a salary increase?

“Transport from where they live to the ₦70,000 you pay them in a month as wage, as their income. Transport alone takes ₦65,000,” he said.

He also expressed concern over the rising cost of accommodation, alleging that some tenants had experienced sharp increases in rent and leasing charges.

“What about house rent? That loan has increased its rent by 300%. I have somebody call me up in Lagos and tell me they’ve increased my leasing by 100%,” he said.

The ADC chieftain further argued that higher wages had failed to provide sufficient relief because of increasing living expenses and what he described as the heavy tax burden on workers.

He also highlighted the difficulties Nigerians face in accessing healthcare, claiming that he had received numerous appeals from people unable to afford prescribed medicines and medical treatment.

“How many people have died because they can’t afford drugs? How many people have called me, sent me texts asking me to pay for their drugs?” he asked.

Amaechi said the economic situation had become a major issue ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting that Nigerians should prioritise their survival over ethnic, regional and other political considerations.

He described the forthcoming election as a critical decision about the country’s future, warning against Tinubu’s re-election.

“The people have not two choices, one choice to make, the choice to be alive, because Tinubu presents the choice of death,” he said.

He added that Nigerians would face further difficulties if Tinubu secured a second term, claiming that the president’s re-election could threaten the country’s future.

“The people are tired. They are hungry. The president can only help them by giving them food,” Amaechi said.

Despite his harsh criticism of the president’s policies, the former minister insisted that his position was not motivated by personal hostility towards Tinubu.

“Nobody hates Tinubu. I love Tinubu. He knows,” he said.

Amaechi’s remarks came a day after former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar criticised the Tinubu administration, accusing it of worsening poverty and urging Nigerians to vote for a change of government in 2027.

Tinubu, however, defended his administration’s economic policies during his October 1 Independence Day address, arguing that the reforms were beginning to deliver economic gains.

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Academic and non-academic staff of four Lagos State-owned universities have threatened to embark on an indefinite strike from October 3 over nine months of unpaid arrears and the alleged failure of the state government to honour agreements reached with their unions.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the affected institutions announced the planned industrial action during a media briefing on Friday, warning that its members would withdraw their services if the Lagos State Government failed to meet their demands before the deadline.

The committee comprises the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

The affected institutions are Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) and Lagos State University of Education (LASUED).

JAC Chairman, Prof. Ibrahim Bakare, said the strike would begin at midnight on Saturday, October 3, following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the state government.

Bakare blamed the impending shutdown on months of unsuccessful negotiations, administrative delays and what he described as repeated reversals by government officials over the implementation of the signed 2026 Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN)/staff unions’ agreement.

He disclosed that both parties had reached a resolution on August 31, covering revised allowance structures, tax-exempt benefits and the payment of outstanding arrears alongside September salaries.

However, the unions alleged that the state government failed to implement the agreed adjustments when September salaries were paid, leaving workers without the promised benefits and outstanding payments.

According to Bakare, the unpaid arrears have accumulated to nine months, covering January to September 2026.

“We have demonstrated unprecedented patience, maturity and commitment to peaceful dialogue. However, our patience has been pushed to the absolute limit. We have exhausted every possible administrative channel to avert this crisis,” he said.

The JAC chairman maintained that the unions’ demands were legitimate and within the financial capacity of the Lagos State Government.

Among their key demands are the full implementation of the signed 2026 agreement across the four institutions, immediate payment of the nine-month arrears and compliance with the agreed tax-exempt status of negotiated allowances.

The unions are also demanding the implementation of a 15 per cent Lagos Factor allowance, which they say is necessary to cushion the economic pressures associated with living and working in the state.

Additionally, they want the government to fulfil previous commitments attributed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, including a 20 per cent salary increase announced in 2023 and the provision of five Marcopolo buses for transporting students and staff.

As the strike deadline draws closer, the unions appealed to students, parents and civil society organisations to hold the state government responsible for any disruption to academic and administrative activities resulting from the planned industrial action.

Bakare, however, expressed the committee’s willingness to suspend the strike if the government intervened before the deadline.

“We remain open to immediate executive action before the midnight deadline tonight,” he said, urging Governor Sanwo-Olu to take urgent steps to prevent a shutdown of the affected universities.

The proposed strike threatens to disrupt lectures, examinations and administrative operations across the four state-owned institutions if the dispute remains unresolved.

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A Federal High Court in Lagos has denied bail to social media influencer and businessman, Afolabi Michael Kazeem, popularly known as KC Luxury, and two alleged accomplices over their alleged involvement in the trafficking of 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine valued at approximately ₦39 billion.

Justice Musa Kakaki ordered the remand of Kazeem, Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) after dismissing their bail applications.

The defendants were arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a second amended 22-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, cocaine trafficking and money laundering.

All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their arraignment, their respective defence lawyers, including Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal (SAN), Uche Okoronkwo and Chief Benson Ndakara, urged the court to grant them bail.

However, NDLEA counsel, Abu Ibrahim, opposed the applications, urging the court to reject the defendants’ requests for temporary release.

In his ruling, Justice Kakaki held that the bail applications lacked merit, citing the seriousness of the alleged offences, the potential punishment upon conviction and the risk of the defendants fleeing from justice.

The judge described drug trafficking as a major threat to society, particularly given the substantial quantity of cocaine allegedly involved and its purported international destination.

He subsequently dismissed the applications, ordered an accelerated hearing and fixed November 2, 3, 4 and 5 for trial. The defendants are to remain in custody pending further proceedings.

According to the charge marked FHC/LAG/CR/755/2026, the defendants allegedly conspired with two other suspects, Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, who were earlier arrested in London, United Kingdom, in connection with the case.

The prosecution alleged that the group arranged the export of 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in five separate consignments and shipped through a courier company operating in Lagos.

The consignments reportedly carried Airway Bill Numbers 2079998314, 8224082370, 2079973571, 7181131742 and 2211893902.

The shipments were allegedly made under the name Yemi Ejide, an identity the prosecution claimed was an alias used by Kazeem.

The NDLEA further alleged that Boniface recruited Ikechukwu to facilitate the export operation, while Kazeem allegedly engaged a staff member of BOT Express Logistics on Lagos Island to process the shipments.

Kazeem was also accused of unlawfully possessing the cocaine before its intended export.

Investigators reportedly traced a payment of ₦13.2 million from a Zenith Bank account belonging to Mallamawa Ventures to the logistics company, allegedly in connection with the shipment.

Beyond the drug trafficking allegations, the 22-count charge includes several money laundering offences under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The prosecution accused Kazeem of allegedly moving substantial sums through several companies and personal accounts, including Mallamawa Ventures, Fateey Man Multi-Purpose Nig. Ltd, Patonifa Ltd, Ade-Lak Resources, Holmestas Global Services Limited and La Capital Enterprises.

The funds were allegedly channelled into the acquisition of luxury vehicles and landed properties as part of an alleged scheme to conceal proceeds from the suspected illegal drug trade.

He was also accused of failing to declare his assets to the NDLEA as required by law.

Kazeem, who is also known by the names KayCee Luxury, KC, Mr Luxury and Yemi Ejide, was arrested by NDLEA operatives on August 13, 2026, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

According to the agency’s allegations, he was attempting to leave Nigeria for Paris on a business-class flight when he was apprehended following the interception of the cocaine shipment.