ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has said the Idu Industrial Area in Abuja will soon enjoy a 24-hour electricity supply through the Federal Government’s 50-megawatt electrification initiative.

Tegbe made this disclosure on Thursday at an event in Abuja.

According to him, the Federal Government is conducting comprehensive technical audits across major industrial corridors nationwide, prioritising the Lagos industrial axis, the Abuja-Kaduna corridor, and the Enugu-Onitsha axis.

He noted that the first phase of the Idu industrial electrification project is expected to deliver 10MW by December 2026, while the remaining 40MW will be rolled out through 2027.

Tegbe added that the Lagos industrial corridor accounts for approximately 40 percent of national electricity demand, adding that government interventions in the zone aim to create or secure around 180,000 jobs over the next six months.

“Our target is that within six months we will fix the issues in the Lagos/Sagamu corridor regarding infrastructure and then move on to Abuja and then the Enugu-Onitsha axis,” Tegbe declared.

“We need to ensure the transmission happens. And then even distribution. I am sure Abuja Disco is represented here, because if you want to effectively distribute to the industrial end users, there must be a handshake.”

On his part, the Minister of State for Industry, John Owan Enoh, emphasised that the government’s broader industrial strategy centres on promoting local production, value addition, economic diversification, and the integration of Nigerian industries into global markets.

“When you produce locally, you contribute to job creation and provide our abundant youth with a pathway for employment,” he stated.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Ahead of the 2027 general election, Kwara State ADC gubernatorial candidate, Hon Zakari Mohammed has urged voters in the State of Harmony and across the country not to trade their moral judgment, values and civic duties for momentary financial gains or gifts from the politicians.

Speaking during a high-stakes meeting with party stakeholders from Oyun and Offa local governments in Ijagbo, on Thursday, Hon Zakari Mohammed warned that accepting bribes at the ballot box yields only short-term relief while producing a bad leadership that will cripple the nation for years.

The citizens, he added, should prioritize experience and competence when electing the country’s next crop of leaders.

Launching a sharp critique against the federal government’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy, which has according to him inflicted severe financial hardship on ordinary Nigerians, Hon Zakari Mohammed condemned the President Bola Tinubu administration’s reliance on palliatives, arguing that the government has systematically reduced Nigeria to a welfare state centered around a single commodity.

‘If there is any calamity anywhere, they distribute rice. If people complain of economic hardship, they will distribute rice. If anything happens anywhere, they distribute rice. During elections, they will distribute rice, sadly, we have been turned into a ‘rice country’, Mohammed lamented.

While urging voters to reject political manipulation, he also offered a pragmatic take on the hand-outs that usually surface on Election Day saying ;‘reject their money and vote for our party. But if you want to collect it, you can do so, it is a transaction with no receipts. We actually need to show them that we can determine and take decisions on who should emerge as our leaders’.

Focusing on regional representation, Hon Zakari Mohammed urged the people of Ibolo axis to cast their votes solidly for the ADC pointing out that the party has demonstrated its deep respect for the Ibolo people by choosing their kinsmen as House of Representatives candidate and deputy gubernatorial candidate.

He further assured the electorate that his administration would reject the traditional sidelining of ‘secondary leaders’ promising that his running mate will not function as a ‘spare tyre’ but would be a fully empowered deputy governor capable of driving governance and delivering tangible results.

Hon Zakari Mohammed also called for absolute determination and commitment from Kwarans, emphasizing that the real change will only come when citizens collectively resolve to vote for a better future.

The ADC guber candidate also urged Kwarans and other Nigerians not to feel intimidated or fear the much-talked-about ‘federal might,’ saying the people’s will must prevail.

Hon Zakari Mohammed asserted that he is the most experienced among the guber candidates, having served in the legislative and executive arms of government for 16 years. This, he noted, will make him hit the ground running as he will not need to be tutored.

Hon. Zakari Mohammed, who was accompanied by the Kwara South ADC senate candidate, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo; the state Deputy Chairman; former Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Abubakar Idris; and other party bigwigs, had earlier in the day appeared as a guest on TNT’s Oro Ilu programme.

TNT is a private radio station located in Ijagbo, Oyun local government.

The ADC gubernatorial candidate also stopped over in Ajase-Ipo to meet with party stalwarts in the axis including the Ward Chairman, Mr. Tayese Tajudeen, and Alhaji Ganiyu Folorunso.

Addressing party members at both locations, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo emphasized the need for the people of the state to prioritize electing an educated, competent governor who understands how to deliver good governance while urging the electorate to ensure a straight-ticket voting in the upcoming general election in order to truly enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Noting that this is the first time he and Hon. Zakari Mohammed will belong to the same political entity, he added that well-meaning people from various political organizations left their former parties to join the ADC to bring about positive change in the country.

He also said anyone who votes for the APC or PDP in the state during the upcoming elections does not want freedom for Kwarans, saying; ‘Let us work together for victory and enjoy it’.

Party members Opeyemi Okikiola and Oguntokun Foluke, alongside the ADC chairman in Offa local government, Hon. Abdulrauf Idowu, also spoke at the event and in their separate speeches, they noted that Hon. Zakari Mohammed is the only candidate from a major political party without a political godfather, while urging everyone to support his candidacy-

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has confirmed the death of some suspected illegal miners arrested during enforcement operations in Niger State and constituted a high-powered team to investigate the incident.

The suspects were arrested during a coordinated operation by the Niger State Command in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis on September 15 and 16, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining and protect the nation’s natural resources.

The deaths were discovered in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, triggering a national directive from the Corps headquarters.

In a press statement issued on Thursday and signed by the National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi, the Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Audi, directed the immediate constitution of a high-powered investigative team led by the Deputy Commandant General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation.

According to the Corps, the team has been mandated to undertake a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances leading to the deaths, including the condition of the suspects upon arrest, their period in custody, conditions of detention, medical attention provided, and other relevant circumstances.

The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination and determination of the actual cause of death.

The Corps is also working with relevant health authorities and sister security agencies to ensure appropriate medical and public-health measures are taken, while the health and welfare of all persons currently in custody is being given utmost priority.

The national headquarters of NSCDC however cautioned against speculation on the cause of death, while the Niger State Command attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, the headquarters clarified that reports linking the deaths to any specific disease remain subject to medical and laboratory confirmation.

“The Corps will therefore refrain from speculation until the outcome of the medical examination is established,” the statement said.

While the official statement refers to “some” deaths, reports from the Niger State Command put the figure at 33 suspected miners who allegedly died after being among about 40 persons detained in the male section of the cell.

The state command had said the arrests followed a “burst operation” against illegal mining. Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command has also ordered a separate investigation.

The Commissioner of Police directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Minna, to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The NSCDC extended condolences to the families of the deceased and assured that the incident will be thoroughly investigated and appropriately addressed based on established facts.

The Corps urged members of the public to remain calm and allow investigative and medical processes to take their course, assuring that further updates will be provided as verified information becomes available.