The All Progressives Congress in Lagos State has concluded the screening of 27 aspirants from each of the state’s 20 local government areas ahead of its local government congress scheduled for Saturday, February 21.

The screening exercise was conducted at the party’s state secretariat in Ogba under the supervision of members of the Local Government Area Ward Congress Committee.

Speaking after the exercise, the committee chairman, Barrister Mungji B. Salama, described the process as orderly and hitch-free, noting that no aspirant was disqualified. He explained that consensus arrangements would be honoured where stakeholders reached agreement, adding that such outcomes would only require formal ratification.

“There is consensus if people agree. They will only need to ratify it,” Salama said, stressing that the full outcome of the screening would be known when the results are officially displayed.

He added that only aspirants who successfully passed the screening would be eligible to participate in the congress, urging those who did not make the final list to remain loyal to the party.

“For those that didn’t qualify, there is always another time. Let us do it without any rancour,” he appealed.

Salama also commended the Lagos APC leadership for creating an enabling environment for the exercise, describing the state as a pacesetter in party organisation and adherence to guidelines.

In his remarks, the Lagos APC Chairman, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, said the screening marked the final phase of preparations for the LGA congress. According to him, the party remains committed to transparency and internal democracy.

“We started the process of the screening, and tomorrow we are rounding off in preparation for the local government congress,” Ojelabi said.

He noted that the APC distinguishes itself by consistently inviting the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and members of the media to observe its congresses, emphasizing its commitment to openness and accountability.

Ojelabi also emphasised the importance of strict compliance with the Electoral Act, particularly for officials who will oversee party affairs at the local government level.

“The content of the Electoral Act is very critical, so those who are going to be in charge at the LGA must be properly briefed,” he said.

Congratulating the aspirants ahead of the congress, the party chairman described election into party offices as a call to service rather than personal advancement.

He urged those seeking leadership positions to honestly assess their capacity to serve the party and strengthen its grassroots structures.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has said the All Progressives Congress, APC, is not a party of saints.

Keyamo said only a fool would declare the APC or any political party as one of the saints.

Posting on X, the minister, however, noted that the APC still remains the best hope for Nigerians.

He wrote: “This is the unedited part of the interview I granted a blog in 2017 (nine years ago) emphasising that APC may not be a Party of saints (which, I repeat, is a matter of fact), BUT it is still far better than where we were coming from. Some characters edited the last part of my statement out of it.

“And today, I repeat it again, I will be a fool to say APC is a Party of saints. And anyone who declares any party to which he/she belongs as a Party of saints will also be a fool.

“But, on the balance, the APC still holds the best hope for the country and we cannot return to the era of PDP where you had some of the characters who are running for President today.

“It was only Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT that never hopped onto that battered train of PDP at that time.”

Kogi State Government has said that schools across the state that were shut down over insecurity threat will resume on Monday, February 23, 2026.

The State Ministry of Education made this announcement in a statement on Friday in Lokoja, the state capital.

DAILY POST reports that the Kogi State government, on February 3, closed down public and private schools indefinitely across the state, citing preventive measures against insecurity.

However, in a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Matthew Salami, the government ordered school heads and the general public to note the resumption date.

Salami said all school activities would continue as usual, and that both day and boarding house students were expected to resume on the specified date.

“The announcement applies to all schools in the state, and the ministry appreciated the cooperation of students, parents, and staff during the break. Further information will be communicated later,” Salami stated.

The Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, has handed over three fuel tankers containing no fewer than 159,000 litres of petrol to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, for further action.

Deputy Comptroller, Abubakar Aliyu, National Co-ordinator of Operation Whirlwind, NCS, performed the handover on Friday in Lagos.

He described the seizure as a major breakthrough in the fight against fuel smuggling.

He said the tankers were intercepted along notorious smuggling corridors, including Aso-Odo, Seme, Owode-Apa and Badagry.

“Customs is handing over the seized fuel tankers with registration numbers T21019LA, T9827LA and T3546LA containing over 159,000 litres for appropriate sanctions,” he said.

He added that 1,630 jerry-cans of petrol intercepted during the operation would be auctioned to the public to ensure transparency and accountability.

“The total Duty Paid Value of the 1,630 jerry-cans of PMS is about N40.75 million.

“The interception was intelligence-driven and reflects our uncompromising resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s economic and energy security,” he said.

Aliyu stressed that Operation Whirlwind targets economic sabotage and illegitimate trade, insisting that strict compliance with petroleum regulations is non-negotiable.

He noted that petroleum transportation is governed by clear regulatory frameworks and Standard Operating Procedures designed to prevent diversion and smuggling.

According to him, such illegal activities undermine government policy, distort market stability and deprive the nation of critical revenue.

He described Owode-Apa, Seme and Badagry border corridors as sensitive economic arteries historically exploited for cross-border petroleum smuggling.

“Under my watch, smuggling will no longer be safe for economic saboteurs,” Aliyu warned.

He said the handover reflected strong inter-agency collaboration in line with established operational frameworks.

Aliyu commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for his leadership and support for anti-smuggling operations.

He urged Nigerians to support enforcement agencies, saying national development thrives when citizens and authorities work together.

In her remarks, Mrs Grace Dauda of the NMDPRA reaffirmed the agency’s mandate to ensure petroleum products meant for domestic use are not diverted abroad.

“It is unfortunate that some businessmen attempt to smuggle petroleum products out of the country,” she said.

Dauda urged the public to collaborate with government agencies to end economic sabotage.

The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Osun State chapter, has urged stakeholders across the country to support the immediate passage of the Special Seats Bill (HB1349) currently before the National Assembly.

The call follows the Nigeria Women Solidarity March held at the National Assembly, Abuja, where NAWOJ members joined other women’s advocacy groups to press for legislative measures aimed at improving women’s representation in governance.

In a statement jointly signed by the Osun NAWOJ Chairperson, Abisola Ariwodola, and the Secretary, Oluwaranti Ojewumi, the association said Nigeria’s democracy could not be described as fully representative while women remained underrepresented in elective and appointive offices.

The statement noted that women constitute nearly half of the country’s population but continue to face barriers that limit their political participation and access to leadership roles.

“Over the years, despite proven competence and leadership capacity across sectors, women have continued to face structural, cultural, and institutional barriers that restrict their political participation,” the association stated.

NAWOJ explained that the Special Seats Bill (HB1349) seeks to introduce a constitutional provision creating additional legislative seats exclusively for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.

According to the association, the proposed measure is intended as a corrective mechanism to address historical exclusion rather than as a privilege.

“Women’s representation is not merely symbolic, it is also transformative,” the statement read.

The body added that inclusive governance contributes to broader social protection frameworks, improved education and healthcare systems, and stronger community development initiatives.

“For decades, women have been marginalised within political party structures, electoral processes and governance. The Special Seats Bill provides a practical pathway to bridge the representation gap and institutionalise gender inclusion,” NAWOJ stated.

The association said that expanding access to political office for women would reinforce democratic values of fairness, equity and equal opportunity.

It called on members of the National Assembly representing Osun State to vote in favour of the bill and urged the Osun State House of Assembly to domesticate it when passed, describing women’s political inclusion as a national development issue.

NAWOJ reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the passage of the Special Seats Bill (HB1349).

“We urge all stakeholders to act with urgency, seriousness and patriotism,” the statement concluded.