Sanwo-Olu Urges Investors To Partner With Lagos State

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged local and international investors to invest in Lagos, saying the State is willing and ready to partner with investors.

He assured them of his administration’s commitment to providing infrastructure and a secure and safe environment for businesses in the State.

The Governor spoke at the Nigeria-UAE Investment Forum tagged “Investopia Global Africa” hosted by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Monday.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State in the last six and a half years of his administration has provided infrastructure across the State in different sectors and is willing to partner with investors to do more for the people.

He said: “Lagos is positioning itself, leading the Nigerian conversation, and we are getting tremendous support from the Federal Government because, at the end of the day, all of those investments sit at the sub-national.

“I want to assure all of our local and international investors that Lagos is indeed a willing and ready partner. Whatever the red tapes there are, we are removing them. We also want to step back and let the businesses run for themselves. The security environment is safe, sound, and secure.

“Lagos State made an investment in the Lekki Port, which is the biggest deep port in the country. We are also making an actual investment in the Badagry Port. It is all about partnerships and creating an enabling environment.

“Lagos State is planning, with the support of the Federal Government, to build another international airport. That is also forward-looking. Lagos State is also planning to build the largest logistics hub that will ensure that all of the markets that are in the agribusiness can sit in Lagos and work well.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu also spoke about his administration’s commitment to boosting the State and national economy through the Lagos International Financial Center (LIFC), which is a joint initiative of the Lagos State Government and EnterpriseNGR.

He said: “We have had extensive conversation around the path of the Lagos International Financial Centre (LIFC). We started this journey in 2023. We still have another eight months to a year to finally unveil it. The beauty of it is the amount of global support that we are receiving.

“We are trying to learn from various regions to bring about a model that will be a true African model that will work for everyone but will also be a Nigerian model. We are actually thinking globally. We are thinking about how to remain competitive, resilient, and able to play on the same level of platforms with other big cities and other big markets in the world.

“The Lagos International Financial Centre we are talking about is not just about Lagos; it is really a conversation about Nigeria, but it has to be in a city and a place where it can also be attractive and be ready to unlock the investment.”

EFCC Arrests 10 Suspects, Trucks For Suspected Illegal Mining Activities In Kwara

Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested ten individuals suspected of involvement in illegal mining activities along the Ilorin – Ogbomosho axis.

They were arrested on Sunday, February 1, 2026, following credible intelligence on unlawful mineral excavation and transportation in parts of Kwara and Oyo States.

The suspects, comprising nine truck drivers and one escort were intercepted and taken into custody in a well -coordinated sting operation. Solid minerals arrested with the suspects include lithium, tin, and lepidolite. The suspects have no requisite licences, permits, or regulatory approvals for their mining activities.

Other items recovered from the suspects are trucks loaded with the unlawfully mined materials.

The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Kano emirship crisis: Gov Yusuf’s alliance with Ganduje, APC sparks fresh rift, uncertainty

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has injected fresh uncertainty into the protracted Kano emirship crisis, raising a critical question on whether the political realignment will finally resolve the dispute, or will further complicate an already delicate situation?

For nearly two years, Kano has been gripped by an unprecedented royal standoff, with two emirs laying claim to the same revered stool.

Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II operates from the historic Gidan Rumfa Palace, while the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, remains at the Nassarawa mini-palace.

Each enjoys backing from rival political and institutional forces.

How the Crisis Began

The roots of the crisis date back to March 2020, when former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje dethroned Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, citing alleged insubordination, and replaced him with Aminu Ado Bayero.

Many observers, however, linked the decision to political differences, particularly Sanusi’s perceived closeness to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

In May 2024, the pendulum swung again. The NNPP-led government of Abba Kabir Yusuf repealed the 2019 emirate law, abolished the five emirates created under it, and reinstated Sanusi as Emir of Kano.

The move restored a single-emir structure but triggered a fresh round of legal battles, with Bayero challenging his removal in court.

Defection Changes the Political Equation

Governor Yusuf’s recent move to the APC has altered the political landscape.

By joining the ruling party, Yusuf is now aligned with Ganduje and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, figures apparently regarded as supporters of Bayero.

The defection also marked a sharp break with Yusuf’s former political Godfather, Senator Kwankwaso, under whose influence Sanusi was believed to have secured his reinstatement.

This realignment immediately fuelled speculation that the emirship dispute could be revisited as part of broader reconciliation within the APC.

Government Signals Dialogue

The speculation gained traction after the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, suggested that the crisis could soon be resolved.

“Now we will sit down and resolve such problems calmly. These issues will no longer be difficult. There will be discussions; where apologies are needed, they will be offered, and where forgiveness is required, it will be granted. In some cases, someone may be asked to make sacrifices for the sake of peace,” Waiya said during a radio programme.

His comments were widely interpreted as a sign that political dialogue, rather than prolonged litigation, might be explored.

Sanusi Remains Emir – Gov Yusuf

Amid the rising speculation, Governor Yusuf moved to draw a clear line.

Speaking through his spokesman, Sanusi Bature, he insisted there was no plan to remove Emir Sanusi.

“There is no plan to replace Emir Sanusi on the throne of Kano. The appointment of the emir was done after the emirates law had been repealed, and there is no plan at the executive level for any further amendment,” the governor said.

“Emir Sanusi remains the Emir of Kano. This defection to the APC will not change the status quo.

Bayero Camp Pushes Back

Despite the governor’s assurances, the camp of Emir Aminu Ado Bayero has rejected any talk of a negotiated settlement.

Sarkin Dawakin Babba, Aminu Babban Dan Agundi, who initiated the legal challenge against the Kano State Government, said the matter is strictly for the courts.

“There is no negotiation that can lead to the removal of Emir Aminu Ado Bayero. The matter is before the courts, and no one has the authority to give judgment except the court. Everyone should wait for the Supreme Court’s decision,” he said.

Settlement Still Possible – Legal experts

Legal analysts argue that while the matter is in court, a settlement is not legally foreclosed.

Barrister Umar Usman Dan Baito, a lecturer at Northwest University, Kano, told DAILY POST that Nigerian law allows for settlement at any stage.

“Even if a case is before the Supreme Court, parties can still reach a settlement through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Once the court adopts the agreement, the case comes to an end,” he said.

Resolution or Complication?

While Yusuf’s move to the APC could, in theory, create a platform for political consensus, it has also deepened suspicions and hardened positions among the rival camps.

With the court yet to deliver final judgments and political interests continuing to intersect with traditional authority, the emirship tussle remains finely balanced.

Whether the governor’s defection will unlock a lasting resolution or further entangle the crisis now depends on how political dialogue, legal processes, and traditional reconciliation are managed in the weeks ahead.

I may become APC member – Defense Minister, Musa

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, rtd, says he is likely to formally become a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Speaking during an interview on ‘Sunday Politics’, a programme on Channels Television, General Musa said he is currently in political transition.

Musa said he was grateful that APC gave him the platform to present himself as Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, and now Minister of Defense, adding that he would definitely support the party.

The former CDS maintained that President Bola Tinubu needs full support, expressing full readiness to give Tinubu the support in every way he could.
“I’ve not transitioned yet. I’m in transition. I think I’ll become a politician, a member of the APC, definitely.

“Mr President needs all support, totally,” he said.

NAFDAC Moves Against Sachet Alcohol, Denies Shutting Down Firms

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has resumed its enforcement to ban  the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small-volume PET/glass bottles (below 200ml), in line with the recent directive of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This decisive action, ordered by the Nigerian Senate and backed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, underscores the Agencys statutory mandate to safeguard public health and protect vulnerable populationsparticularly children, adolescents, and young adultsfrom the harmful use of alcohol.
The proliferation of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets and small containers less than 200 ml has made such products easily accessible, affordable, and concealable, leading to widespread misuse and resultant addiction among minors and some commercial drivers.
This public health menace has been linked to increased incidences of domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and social vices across communities.
Placing a label to read not for children on the sachets and the small containers will not work. It cannot be enforced because of the peculiarity of the society.
 Many parents dont know their children take alcohol in sachet because the pack size can be easily concealed and the sachet is cheap.
History of six years of  moratorium given to manufacturers to reconfigure their product lines: In December 2018, NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) to phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol packaging by January 31, 2024.
The moratorium was later extended to December 2025 to allow industry operators to exhaust old stock and reconfigure production lines.
NAFDAC emphasizes that the current Senate resolution aligns with the spirit and letter of that agreement and with Nigerias commitment to the World Health Assembly Global Strategy Resolution  to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol (WHA63.13, 2010), to which Nigeria is a signatory since 2010.
The aim of the Resolution is to protect vulnerable population such as children and the youth.
The ban on sachet packaging and PET botttle less than 200 ml is to make it difficult for children to get to alcohol and its consumption.
NAFDAC approves alcohol in bigger pack sizes. The small size of the sachet makes it easier for underage to conceal from parents and teachers.
 Report from schools show that children conceal the sachets. A teacher recently reported that a student said he couldnt take exam without taking sachet alcohol.
NAFDAC did not close down any company that makes alcohol. The Agency only ban the alcohol in sachet and small containers less than 200ml.
According to Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Director-General, NAFDAC:
This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth by not allowing alcohol in small pack sizes.
 The decision is rooted in scientific evidence and public health considerations. We cannot continue to sacrifice the wellbeing of Nigerians for economic gain.
The health of a nation is its true wealth.
NAFDAC reiterates that only two packages of alcoholic beverages are affected by this regulationspirit drinks packaged in sachets and small-volume PET/glass bottles below 200ml.
The Agency calls on all stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, to comply fully with the phase-out deadline, as no further extension will be entertained beyond December 2025.
The Agency will continue to work collaboratively with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to implement nationwide sensitization campaigns on the health and social dangers associated with alcohol misuse.
NAFDAC remains resolute in its mission to ensure that only safe, wholesome, and properly regulated products are available to Nigerians.
Nigerian govt apologizes for blackout in Lagos Int’l Airport

The Nigerian government, through the Federal Airport Authority, the manager of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), has apologized to passengers and stakeholders following a power outage at Terminal 1 at the weekend in Lagos state.

The Nigerian government agency, in a statement on its official X account on Sunday, attributed the disruption to a fault in the terminal’s changeover circuit.

According to FAAN, the interruption occurred after an issue arose during a power changeover process.

FAAN explained that its technical teams were immediately deployed to bridge the gap and transfer electricity supply to the secondary grid, while interim backup measures were activated to restore services as quickly as possible.

“We acknowledge the power outage at MMIA Terminal 1 yesterday (weekend). The interruption was caused by an issue with the changeover circuit.

“We apologize to all passengers and stakeholders affected by the disruption and any discomfort it caused”, the statement reads on X.

Hunger has become tool of control in Nigeria – Aisha Yesufu

Frontline activist, Aisha Yesufu has warned that hunger and poverty have been deliberately weaponized in Nigeria, describing them as tools used to weaken citizens and suppress critical thinking.

In a post on X, Yesufu said the widespread hunger has left many Nigerians struggling to survive, with little capacity to engage politically or hold leaders accountable.

According to her, this condition has created a society where those who are not hungry must think and act not only for themselves, but also on behalf of those who no longer have the strength or space to do so.

“Hunger that is deliberately inflicted has made many lose their capacity to think,” she said, adding that poverty has become “a cancer that has eaten up the very soul of our society.”

Yesufu accused the political leadership of entrenching poverty while offering temporary relief measures during election periods.

She argued that such interventions are short-lived and designed primarily to secure votes rather than address systemic issues.

She called on Nigerians who are economically stable to come together and serve as the “soul and conscience of the nation,” urging them to take a deliberate stand for the country’s future.

“Nigeria has everything it needs to be great,” Yesufu said, emphasizing the need to confront hunger and revive what she described as the nation’s weakened spirit.

“We must unlock the spirit that has been starved the Nigerian can-do spirit.”

Her remarks come amid growing public concern over rising food prices, deepening poverty, and economic hardship across the country.

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”.