In a bid invigorate the gaming industry in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), alongside the Director-General of the newly established FCT Lottery Regulatory Office, Lanre Gbajabiamila, has inaugurated a new office.

At a briefing, Gbajabiamila announced the office’s readiness to begin full regulatory oversight of all lottery and gaming operations within the territory, urging operators to begin submitting applications for new licences.

The FCT-LRO became necessary following the Supreme Court judgment in AG Lagos & Ors vs AG Federation & Anor SC/1/2008, which clarified that the FCT has the constitutional right to regulate gaming and lottery activities within its boundaries.

Gbajabiamila promised a regulatory environment built on clarity, stability, and global best practices.

According to him, the office aims to unlock the economic potential of the gaming sector, while boosting investor confidence and increasing internally generated revenue (IGR) for the FCT.

“Our priorities include collaboration with the Office of the FCT Minister and the FCT Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) to ensure proper oversight, fair practices, and prompt revenue remittance,” he said.

He further reassured existing operators that all licenses previously issued by the now-defunct National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) remain valid until expiration, and renewal fees remain the same under the new FCT Lottery Regulatory Office.

Acting Executive Chairman of the FCT-IRS, Michael Ango, praised the initiative as a strategic tool for economic growth.

He said it aligns with the broader vision of the Wike-led FCT administration to transform Abuja into a world-class capital.

“Abuja is fast emerging as a major tourist and leisure destination. The gaming sector is a vital piece of that puzzle, with huge potential to attract investment, create jobs, and boost economic activity,” Ango said.

He emphasised that the collaboration between the IRS and the FCT Lotteries Office will ensure efficient revenue generation and foster a responsible gaming environment that benefits both operators and residents.

With this development, the FCT is staking its claim as a serious player in Nigeria’s gaming industry, determined to regulate, grow, and profit from a sector long marked by inconsistency and underutilised potential.

Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, has said that soon people would understand the reason for mass defections from other political parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Recall there has been a gale of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

Former presidential running mate of the PDP, Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and all PDP members in the House of Representatives from Delta State, defected to the APC.

Similarly, three PDP senators from Kebbi State defected to the APC.

In an interview with AIT’s ‘Focus Nigeria’, Moro said those party members who defected to the APC have sinned and are looking for forgiveness.

He said, “When history unfolds, we are going to have the privilege of knowing the main reasons why people are moving from PDP to the ruling party.

“It has always been the practice though, people don’t want to stay outside the corridors of power and so they quickly begin to realize that in the opposition, they won’t be getting as much as they want to get.

“Some of them who have been helmsmen at their various levels in the states, LGs, and Senate certainly have more reasons than Mets the eyes to moving to the ruling party.

“Don’t forget that a chieftain of the APC at one point said, if you move from your party to the APC, your sins are forgiven – so given the antecedents of some of the characters that are moving now – you can only conclude that they are only attesting to this assertion.

“They have sins and are looking for forgiveness, politically, these displaced persons may be going to the ruling party to ask for forgiveness, but is it in the interest of this country? Is it in the interest of democracy? Is it in the interest of the political development of this country that people continue to move from one political platform to the other?

“Where have principles taken flight to? Where has value taken flight to? You were elected on the platform of a political party and as the Supreme Court ruled, its political parties that people vote for, then you suddenly decide that you want to move to another political party which is predicated on the nebulous excuse that you are doing that in the interest of your constituency.”

No fewer than 10 people have been killed and several cows rustled in renewed violence in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The recent escalation of violence in Riyom stems from farm destruction, cattle rustling, and attacks on livestock carried out by individuals from both Fulani and Berom communities.

According to a statement from Operation Safe Haven, the recent insecurity in the council area began on Monday, May 12, 2025, when suspected youths slaughtered and rustled cattle that had encroached on their farms in Dayan village, Riyom Local Government Area.

In retaliation, suspected Fulani herders attacked Danchindo village on the evening of May 13, killing four people before fleeing ahead of security operatives’ arrival.

On May 14, 26 cows were killed and several others injured in the Darwat community, allegedly in reprisal for the earlier killings of locals. Later that day, suspected Fulani militias retaliated by attacking an isolated settlement near the Wereng Kam community, killing six locals.

Upon receiving reports of rising tensions in Riyom, officers of the Joint Security Task Force engaged community representatives to broker peace and warned against actions that could further destabilise the fragile situation.

In response to allegations of cattle rustling and slaughtering, one suspect has been arrested and is currently under investigation, while 130 cows have been recovered and returned to their owners.

The statement added that the troops’ swift response prevented the assailants from completely burning down Wereng village. A mop-up operation was launched to neutralise fleeing militants, as troops continue to maintain a strong presence to restore order.

Major General Folusho Oyinlola, commander of Operation Safe Haven and General Officer Commanding 3 Division, visited the area and met with stakeholders and community leaders. Normalcy has returned, supported by the presence of security operatives working to maintain law and order.

This Riyom incident is coming four days after five traders who are residents of Dogon Ruwa community in Bashar district of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State were abducted during a bandits’ attack on a market in the area.

The incident occurred on Monday morning, the market day, with an influx of traders and buyers from neighbouring communities conducting business activities.

According to residents who escaped the onslaught, the invaders came in large numbers on motorcycles at the peak of business transactions.

They shot sporadically as traders and residents scampered to safety, forcing people to flee the market and their homes.

In the past few months, hundreds of people have been killed and many more displaced after gunmen attacked several communities in the North-Central state.

In the wake of the renewed attacks, Governor Caleb Muftwang labelled them genocidal and an attempt at land grabbing.