Sanwo-Olu seeks deeper World Bank partnership for development

Lagos Gov., Sanwo-OluGov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu says Lagos State is ready to partner with the World Bank Group in energy, agriculture, tourism and human capital development.

He said the state was open to deeper collaboration and investment partnerships to improve infrastructure and raise living standards across Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu spoke on Sunday at Lagos House, Marina, while receiving a World Bank delegation led by Managing Director (Operations), Ms Anna Bjerde.

The delegation also included the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Regional Vice President for Africa, Mr Ethiopia Tafara.

The governor said Lagos remained committed to reforms that attract global support and was ready to meet requirements for increased World Bank assistance.

“Lagos is ready to do more to attract investments and partnerships that will positively impact our people.

“We are open to collaboration that strengthens infrastructure and accelerates inclusive growth,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu highlighted achievements under the THEMES+ agenda, saying its implementation had delivered measurable benefits to millions of residents.

He disclosed that Lagos moved from 29th to first position in the national Ease of Doing Business ranking within four years.

“We doubled our performance across critical areas through deliberate reforms and efficiency,” the governor said.

Earlier, Bjerde said the World Bank Group was keen to work with Lagos due to its strategic importance and reform-driven impact.

She described Lagos as a key World Bank stakeholder, citing stability created by recent economic and policy reforms.

“What Lagos is doing is demonstrative of national solutions. Nigeria’s policy consistency improves predictability, especially for investors,” she said.

Bjerde commended Lagos for reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and improving the Ease of Doing Business environment.

She said the World Bank planned a five-year country review to assess progress at national and subnational levels, including Lagos.

Bjerde added that the institution was ready to leverage Lagos’ capacity to strengthen private sector financing across key sectors.

Support Uba Sani’s administration for sustainable development in Kaduna – APC chieftain Yashim

The All Progressive Congress, APC, state chairmanship aspirant in Kaduna state, Dr Simon Nuhu Yashim, has urged Kaduna state citizens to support governor Uba Sani’s administration to continue to provide accurate and quality leadership in the state.

Yashim made the appeal while interacting with newsmen during the  book launch for Uba Sani’s two years achievements and presentation, organised by 14-14, held in Kaduna.

According to him, “Governor Uba Sani’s two-year tenure has focused on governance and tangible achievements in security, infrastructure, and human capital development all over the state.”

He pledged to adequately build a party structure that would work tirelessly to amplify and safeguard the governor’s legacy through robust grassroots support and effective communication of government programs to the electorate, when elected as state APC Chairman.

Also speaking, the member representing Zaria city constituency, Barrister Mahmud Lawal Ismail, said “the book launch is timely when the people of Kaduna are witnessing with satisfaction the commitments of governor Uba Sani’s administration to provide infrastructural development.

The Chairman house committee on education also noted that, the book launch would serve as guidelines for some of the activities for his government on health, education social investment, agriculture, security, roads and infrastructures, among others.

Seek reconciliation rather than futile legal battle – Oyo PDP urges Turaki, others

The Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State has enjoined the faction of the party led by Tanimu Turaki to seek reconciliation rather than pursuing futile legal battle.

Chairman of the caretaker committee, Professor Abdulrahman Akinoso made this declaration via a statement made available to DAILY POST Friday evening.

The convention was held in Ibadan between 15 and 16 November last year.

Our correspondent gathered that the court, led by Justice Uche Agomoh, ruled that the convention and its outcomes were illegal.

The court then nullified the convention and thereafter affirmed the caretaker committee as the lawful governing body of the party.

Akinoso, in his reaction, urged the faction led by Turaki to seek reconciliation rather than pursuing a futile legal battle.

He said that the party remained committed to unity and democratic principles.

Akinoso also reaffirmed the support of the caretaker committee for the National Caretaker Committee.

He said, “We urge the Turaki-led group to seek reconciliation rather than pursuing a futile legal battle.

“The PDP remains committed to unity and democratic principles. The Oyo State PDP Caretaker Committee reaffirms its support for the National Caretaker Committee and pledges to work towards party unity and success in the 2027 general elections.

“We call on all PDP members to rally behind the party’s leadership and focus on rebuilding and strengthening our structures for electoral success”.

Senators lament poor funding, seek redress

SenateSome senators on Friday raised the alarm over what they described as inadequate funding of Senate standing committees, warning that the situation was undermining their work and threatening effective budget implementation.

The complaints came up at a meeting between the Senate Committee on Appropriations and chairmen of various standing committees ahead of the consideration of the 2026 budget.

Leading the pack, Senator Anthony Ani (Ebonyi South) said the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission had received no funds since its inauguration.

He said, “Mr Chairman, you have read out the timetable to be followed by the various committees for consideration of the 2026 budget. But the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission that I belong to does not have money to organise a meeting with any agency due to zero allocation since its formation and inauguration.

Ani added that based on credible information, other Senate committees overseeing zonal development commissions had yet to be funded, questioning how such committees were expected to function.

Corroborating his position, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on North Central Development Commission, Titus Zam (Benue North-West), warned that the initial enthusiasm that greeted the creation of the commissions was waning.

“Lack of funding for the committees on zonal development Commissions in the Senate, is gradually turning the excitement that heralded them into disappointment and even into lamentation,” he said.

Also speaking, the Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Oyewunmi Olalere (Osun West), extended the concerns to what he described as weak and overlapping budget implementation, urging the Senator Solomon Adeola-led Appropriations Committee to intensify oversight of revenue-generating agencies.

“The promise on single budget implementation from April 1 this year is being threatened because parts of the capital component of the 2024 budget in terms of contracts execution are not paid yet, let alone the 30 per cent capital component of the 2025 budget expected to expire by the 31st of March.

“Today (Friday) is January 30, which means that only two months are left to clear off the leftovers of 2024 and 2025 budgets to pave the way for the promised single budget implementation from April 1st, 2026.

“Mr Chairman, a lot needs to be done between now and next month by your committee and critical stakeholders to prevent the continuation of multiple budget implementation,” he said.

Similarly, Senator Francis Fadaunsi (Osun East) said poor budget funding had persisted, stressing that liabilities from the 2024 budget had yet to be settled.

“I concur with my colleague from our state on the yet to be fully implemented 2024 budget because the affected unpaid contractors are still carrying placards around.

“This committee must reach out to the critical stakeholders for the required tidying up of 2024 and 2025 budgets before 1st April 2026,” he said.

Sokoto governor signs N758.7bn 2026 budget into law

Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, on Friday signed the N758.7 billion 2026 Appropriation Bill into law.

The budget, tagged the “Budget of Socioeconomic Expansion,” aims to stimulate economic growth and improve living standards across the state.
The governor said implementation of the budget would commence immediately to ensure timely delivery of government projects and programmes.

A breakdown of the budget shows that 41 per cent is allocated to the economic sector, 37 per cent to the social sector, and 16 per cent (N122.73 billion) to health.

Health projects include the completion of the Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital in Kasarawa, Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, and general hospitals in Binji, Tambuwal, and Sabon Birni.

The budget also provides for the procurement of 21 ambulances to strengthen emergency response services.

The education sector received N115.95 billion for the rehabilitation of schools, improvement of teaching and learning conditions, and development of tertiary institutions.

Agriculture was allocated N18.74 billion to support farmers with inputs, equipment, and services aimed at boosting food production and food security.

Governor Aliyu noted that 72 per cent of the budget is for capital expenditure and 28 per cent for recurrent spending.

He added that projects executed in the previous year were funded through the Federation Account and the state’s internally generated revenue, keeping Sokoto State debt-free.

The Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Hon. Tukur Bala Bodinga, said the timely passage of the budget reflected coordination between the executive and legislature.

He noted that the House subjected the proposal to scrutiny to ensure it aligns with the state’s development priorities and pledged continued oversight during implementation.

Onitsha Market shutdown: Traders have right to observe sit-at-home – BRGIE counters Soludo

The Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), on Friday, condemned the decision of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to shut down the Onitsha Main Market and threaten its permanent closure.

DAILY POST recalls that Onitsha Main Market has remained shut throughout the week following Governor Soludo’s order.

He had announced a one-week shutdown of the market over the continued observance of Monday sit-at-home by traders.

The decision sparked protests by traders, which degenerated into chaos in parts of the state.

In a subsequent speech, the governor warned that the market could be closed indefinitely if the situation persisted, a move that has drawn widespread criticism in recent days.

Reacting, the Prime Minister of BRGIE, Ogechukwu Nkere, in a statement, described Soludo’s actions as unjust and targeted at innocent traders.

Nkere, who was recently elected to replace Simon Ekpa following his (Ekpa) sentencing in Finland, faulted what he described as threats against traders, including alleged plans to demolish shops and markets in Onitsha.

According to him, traders in Onitsha have the right to freedom of expression, including the voluntary choice to observe sit-at-home actions in solidarity with Nnamdi Kanu and to express opposition to what he termed Nigeria’s oppression.

Nkere maintained that the sit-at-home actions were undertaken by the traders of their own free will, insisting that neither the BRGIE nor its affiliates coerced or compelled anyone to participate in the protests.

He further drew parallels with historical examples of civil disobedience, citing India’s independence struggle under Mahatma Gandhi, which involved peaceful resistance, economic boycotts, and non-compliance.

“Charles Soludo, whom the Biafra Republic Government in Exile considers an illegitimate governor, should not be targeting innocent Onitsha traders, including threatening to demolish their shops and markets. Onitsha traders have the right to freedom of expression, including the voluntary decision to observe sit-at-home actions in solidarity with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and to express their displeasure towards Nigeria’s oppression.

“These actions are undertaken entirely of the Onitsha traders’ own volition.

“The BRGIE and its affiliates in the homeland did not coerce or compel traders in any way to engage in sit-at-home protests.

“There is historical precedence where people have achieved independence through civil disobedience, such as when Mahatma Gandhi and the people of India achieved independence from Great Britain through peaceful disobedience, which included social and economic boycotts and non-compliance,” he said.

DAILY POST reports that the market closure has been attracting diverse reactions, with the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, asking the traders to ignore the governor.

To show their displeasure, IPOB has gone ahead to declare sit-at-home across the South-East on Monday February 2.

It is left to be seen if the people would obey the directive.

Sanwo-Olu defends Makoko demolition, cites public safety concerns

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has defended his administration’s demolition of waterfront shanties in parts of Makoko, saying the action was taken solely to protect lives and prevent what he described as an impending humanitarian disaster.

The governor spoke on Friday during a closed-door breakfast meeting with selected Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers in Ikoyi.

The meeting was organised by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, as part of efforts to mobilise resources for the state’s security needs in 2026.

Responding to public criticism and protests that followed the demolition of structures around the Third Mainland Bridge corridor, Sanwo-Olu said the settlement had expanded at an alarming pace and had encroached dangerously close to critical infrastructure.

“I have been accused of destroying Makoko. But the challenge is that the settlement was growing at an incredible speed and moving dangerously close to the bridge.

“There are high-tension power lines underneath. I am not going to sit down and allow a situation where, in one day, 100 to 500 people could die,” he said.

He stressed that the exercise was not politically motivated and was not intended to displace residents permanently, but to push them away from areas considered unsafe.

“Of what benefit would it be for the government to dislocate people?” Sanwo-Olu asked, adding: “It can only be for their own safety. We will not sit back, allow disaster to happen, and then be blamed for inaction.”

The governor disclosed that the state government had explored partnerships with international development agencies to redevelop Makoko in a sustainable manner, but said such efforts had yielded little progress.

“For six years, a United Nations agency said if I brought money, they would support development. I told them I already had my own money. Till today, they have not returned. Only last week they said they had no funds,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu also criticised some non-governmental organisations, accusing them of exploiting the Makoko situation to attract donor funding rather than offering lasting solutions.

Beyond the Makoko issue, the governor used the forum to call on the private sector to deepen its support for Lagos’ security architecture through the LSSTF.

He outlined priority security needs to include multipurpose helicopters and drones, armoured personnel carriers, water cannons, smart CCTV cameras, digital communication systems, patrol vehicles, tactical training and upgrades to police infrastructure.

According to him, the Lagos State Government currently shoulders more than half of the state’s annual security expenditure, adding that the LSSTF has continued to enjoy credibility due to transparency and accountability.

“We want to ensure Lagos remains secure. We are rebuilding the Command and Control Centre with state-of-the-art equipment and scaling up our Safe City CCTV initiative. Improving emergency response capacity remains a top priority,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor also announced plans to commission 35 junior and senior secondary schools in Tolu, Ajegunle, next month, noting that the facilities would accommodate about 22,000 students and help address education gaps in densely populated communities.

Drawing a comparison with the long-standing Okobaba sawmill challenge, Sanwo-Olu said his administration successfully relocated operators to Agbowa, ending years of recurrent fire incidents after investing billions of naira and providing over 500 housing units.

He emphasised that urban safety, security and social infrastructure must advance together if Lagos is to remain attractive to investors.

“We need to keep our people safe, secure the future and assure investors that Lagos remains the right environment for growth,” the governor added.

2027 election not APC against Nigerians – Gov Sule knocks ADC

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has slammed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for claiming that the 2027 election is about the All Progressives Congress, APC, against the people of Nigeria.

In an interview on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television monitored by DAILY POST on Thursday, Sule said that elections in Nigeria are candidate-based rather than party-based.

According to him, “The 2027 election is about Bola Tinubu/Kashim Shettima on the platform of the APC against candidates from other parties.

“It is a wrong impression to say the election is about APC against Nigerians. For us here in Nasarawa State, we actually vote for candidates.

“The people of Nigeria are going to vote for the best candidates that they know and who can make an impact in their lives, whether it’s Governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives, or House of Assembly elections. That is the way it is. That’s the way it has always been.”

Osun APC Ward suspends ex-lawmaker, Oyintiloye

Members of the All Progressives Congress, APCC, in Ward 01, Ibokun, Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State have announced the indefinite suspension of a former member of the State House of Assembly, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, over alleged misconduct.

The decision was contained in a letter addressed to the Osun State Chairman of the party, Tajudeen Lawal, and dated Thursday, January 29, 2026.

According to the document, “the suspension followed a meeting of ward executives, leaders and members who reportedly deliberated on issues said to be affecting unity and cohesion within the ward.”

The letter, jointly signed by 18 ward executives and five leaders, accused Oyintiloye of allegedly taking over an Executive Assistant, EA, slot and funds amounting to N5.6 million without authorisation.

The signatories claimed “the funds were originally allocated for ward leaders, alleging that Oyintiloye had already secured a personal EA slot through a third party while holding a federal appointment.”

They also alleged that the former lawmaker was “involved in activities capable of causing division within the ward, including the organisation of parallel meetings.”

In addition, the ward officials accused him of “prolonged absence from ward meetings and political activities for over three years.”

The letter further alleged a lack of financial or material contributions to ward activities despite benefiting from several political appointments.

It stated, “In view of the foregoing and his consistent lack of engagement and contributions to ward affairs, it has become necessary to take decisive disciplinary action.”

The ward leaders declared that, “Consequently, Hon. Bosun Oyintiloye is hereby suspended indefinitely from Ward One, Ibokun, and shall cease to represent the interests of the ward at any level.”

They, however, added that they remained open to intervention from party leaders, stressing that their priority was the unity and success of the APC ahead of future elections.

Reacting to the development in a phone chat with DAILY POST, Oyintiloye dismissed the suspension as invalid, describing it as a ruse by disgruntled and suspended party members.

He alleged that those who signed the letter were not recognised party executives, claiming they were working for opposition interests in the state.

Oyintiloye denied all allegations against him, saying he neither controlled the EA slot nor had access to the N5.6 million mentioned in the letter.

“The allegations are lies aimed solely at discrediting me. I have reported the matter to the state party leadership.

“If they truly have the power to suspend me, why can’t they wait to do so through the proper party executive channels before going to the press?

“The same Gbenga Fagbamila, who was suspended from the party for embezzling N7.5 million meant for the 2022 election, is signing my alleged suspension letter alongside other disgruntled members.

“It is a real shame. If they are truly bona fide members of the party, let them appear before the party executives at the state level to defend the allegations leveled against me.

“Their action is a joke of the century because I remain a loyal and respected member of the APC.

“I also urge members of the public to disregard the purported suspension,” he stated.

Lagos Assembly seeks urgent rescue of abducted corps member in Kogi

Lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly have urged relevant authorities to take immediate action to secure the release of a prospective corps member, Miss Lateefah Binuyo, who was abducted in Kogi State on January 22.

Binuyo, a graduate of Mass Communication from Kwara State Polytechnic, was reportedly travelling to Taraba State for the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, orientation programme when she was kidnapped. She is said to be the only child of her mother.

The call for urgent intervention followed a motion of urgent public importance raised during Thursday’s plenary by the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Mrs Omolara Olumegbon.

Presenting the motion, Olumegbon disclosed that the abductors had demanded a ransom of N30 million for Binuyo’s release. She urged the Assembly to formally write to the Federal Government, calling for enhanced security arrangements for prospective corps members travelling to their states of deployment.

She further appealed to the House to engage Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to intervene by liaising with the Kogi State Government to ensure the safe and speedy rescue of the victim.

Contributing to the debate, the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Noheem Adams, commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as sustained efforts to improve security across the country. He noted that the current security framework had shown noticeable improvement when compared with previous administrations.

Also speaking, Mr Stephen Ogundipe praised the Nigerian military for its continued role in safeguarding national security and echoed calls for the Lagos State Government to engage its Kogi counterpart to facilitate urgent action.

In his contribution, Mr Abiodun Tobun suggested that the Assembly, through the National Assembly, should write to the Director-General of the NYSC to review existing deployment procedures. He stressed the need to reconsider the posting of prospective corps members to distant or high-risk areas in order to reduce exposure to unnecessary dangers.

Addressing the House, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa described the incident as deeply troubling, noting that at a time when some individuals were reluctant to pursue education, it was painful that young Nigerians who had completed their studies and were ready to serve the nation were being exposed to threats such as kidnapping.

Obasa emphasised the responsibility of the NYSC leadership to ensure the safety and security of corps members, from the point of departure to their places of deployment and eventual return to their families.

The Speaker added that while he was confident that the Sanwo-Olu-led administration had already taken steps to address the situation, efforts should be intensified through direct engagement with the Kogi State Government, as suggested by members of the House.

He also disclosed that the Assembly would write to the Inspector-General of Police, urging immediate intervention in the case and the implementation of measures to prevent similar incidents in the future