Royal News

Author: Nurat Adedokun

  • FRSC Warns Motorists Against Speeding in Ember Months

    FRSC Warns Motorists Against Speeding in Ember Months

    With the arrival of September, marking the beginning of the “ember months,” the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun Command, has urged motorists to reduce speed in order to prevent avoidable crashes and loss of lives.

    Nasir Mohammed, FRSC Commander in charge of the Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway, cautioned that while speed may seem thrilling, it kills faster than many deadly diseases. He advised motorists to obey traffic signs, stick to the recommended speed limit, and avoid reckless driving.

    Mohammed further warned against night travel, dangerous overtaking, and driving under the influence of alcohol, stressing that such actions often lead to fatal accidents. He assured that the Corps would intensify public enlightenment campaigns and patrols throughout the ember months to ensure safety on the highways.

  • Prominent Lafia Philanthropist Shot Dead by Bandits

    Prominent Lafia Philanthropist Shot Dead by Bandits

    Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, was thrown into mourning on Sunday night after suspected bandits shot dead a prominent businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Sani Sabo.

    The attack happened around 9:20 p.m. when armed men stormed the area and opened fire on the victim. Witnesses said the gunmen tried to flee but were confronted by enraged residents. In the ensuing chaos, one of the attackers was lynched, while others managed to escape.
    A close associate described the late Alhaji Sani as a rare pillar of support for the less privileged in Lafia.
    “He was more than a businessman; he was family to many of us. His generosity was unmatched, and the community is shattered by his death,” the associate told reporters.

    By early Monday morning, mourners had gathered at his residence, with burial scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in line with Islamic rites.

    As of press time, the Nasarawa State Government and security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the killing.

  • Kidnap Victim Rescued as Police Recover Arms, Cash

    Kidnap Victim Rescued as Police Recover Arms, Cash

    The chas intensified its crackdown on violent crime with the rescue of a kidnap victim, multiple arrests, and the recovery of weapons and cash in coordinated operations across Nasarawa and Akwa Ibom States.

    Force spokesperson, DCP Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the breakthroughs in a statement, describing them as part of the Police Force’s renewed commitment to dismantle kidnapping syndicates and restore public confidence.

    According to the statement, on August 16, 2025, operatives from Eket Division, supported by Ikot Udota officers and local residents of Afia Nsit, responded swiftly to a distress call about a suspected kidnap attempt along Factory Road in Eket. The intervention led to the safe rescue of a victim identified as Emerson and the arrest of two suspects.

    A search of a nearby bush uncovered an abandoned building stocked with arms, including an AK-47 rifle, an assault rifle, 67 rounds of ammunition, a pump-action shotgun with cartridges, six magazines, and a mobile phone linked to the suspects.

    In another operation on August 18, 2025, Garaku Division officers in Nasarawa intercepted an Opel Vectra involved in an accident near the VIO checkpoint at Angwan Mayo. The occupants fled, abandoning the vehicle. A G3 rifle was found inside, while subsequent searches uncovered more weapons and ₦6.9 million in cash. The haul included an AK-47, a Type 06 rifle, two additional G3 rifles, three magazines, and 57 rounds of ammunition.

    A joint police-military manhunt later led to the arrest of Mohammed Tahir, a suspect from Barkin Ladi in Plateau State, while efforts are ongoing to track down other gang members.

    Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commended the operatives and community members for their swift collaboration. He assured Nigerians that the Force will sustain intelligence-led operations to curb insecurity, protect citizens, and bring criminals to justice.

  • Katsina Police Repel Bandits’ Attack on Kankara DPO

    Katsina Police Repel Bandits’ Attack on Kankara DPO

     

     

    The Katsina State Police Command has repelled an attempted attack by suspected bandits on the residence of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Kankara Local Government Area.

    Security analyst Zagazola Makama, who disclosed the incident in a post on Sunday, said the attack occurred around 6:00 p.m. on August 30 at the Local Education Authority (LEA) Quarters in Kankara, where the DPO resides.

    According to him, the armed bandits tried to sneak into the area but were confronted by policemen on guard duty. The officers engaged the attackers in a gunfight and forced them to retreat into the nearby bush.

    Makama confirmed that no casualties were recorded, while security operatives are now working to track down the fleeing suspects.

  • Police Arrest Man in Adamawa Over Death of Missing Boy

    Police Arrest Man in Adamawa Over Death of Missing Boy


    The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested a 29-year-old man, Isiaka Hassan, for allegedly killing a five-year-old boy in Lamurde Local Government Area.

    Police spokesperson, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday. He said the child, identified as Abba Bashiru from Tingno community, was declared missing on August 30, 2025, by his mother, who reported that the boy was last seen with Hassan.

    Nguroje explained that operatives led by the Divisional Police Officer, Tingno, arrested the suspect, who confessed during interrogation to conspiring with another person, still at large, to kill the boy and bury him in a shallow grave. The child’s remains have since been exhumed and taken to the hospital for autopsy.

    Commissioner of Police, CP Dankombo Morris, has directed the State CID to take over the case and intensify efforts to apprehend the fleeing accomplice. The command assured residents of its resolve to ensure justice and urged continued public support in combating violent crime across the state.

  • No Region Left Behind, Tinubu Assures Nigerians

    No Region Left Behind, Tinubu Assures Nigerians

    President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his commitment to serve every Nigerian, stressing that the oath of office he took guides all the developmental projects of his administration.

    Tinubu made the remarks in a message shared by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on X. He noted that no citizen or region will be left behind in the government’s ongoing infrastructure and social development agenda.

    The president highlighted major projects being executed across the country, including the Lagos–Calabar Highway, Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, Port Harcourt–Maiduguri rail line, Abuja–Kaduna–Kano expressway, and the Trans-Saharan highway linking African countries. He also listed the rehabilitation of health centres, new light rail projects in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and Ogun, job creation initiatives, revived power plants, bridges in Onitsha and Bonny, oil exploration in Bauchi and Gombe, and the ongoing AKK gas pipeline.

    “These projects are not local trophies but national assets,” Tinubu said. “Every farmer who needs a road, every trader who needs power, every child who needs a school, and every patient who needs care—this is who we are building for. No Nigerian is second class, no region is left behind. Together we will rise as one nation, one people, and one destiny. Bet on Nigeria.”

  • Press Centre Demands Justice for Assaulted Journalists

    Press Centre Demands Justice for Assaulted Journalists

     


    The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, has raised alarm over alleged police brutality against Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), and verbal harassment of another journalist by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa.

    In a statement released through its Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) programme, the IPC said Ojukwu was physically and mentally assaulted by police officers at the Ikeja Police Command while attempting to obtain details from the Complaints Response Unit (CRU) about officers accused of extortion.

    According to the report, Ojukwu’s eyeglasses were smashed, his wristwatch seized, his phone damaged, and he sustained bodily injuries during the attack.

    The IPC urged Lagos Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin to fulfil his pledge to review CCTV footage of the incident and ensure those responsible are brought to justice. It also called for compensation for Ojukwu, describing the assault as “inhumane.”

    “The police must take swift and adequate steps to bring to justice those who assaulted the journalist, while also instituting reforms that guarantee respect and protection for journalists,” IPC stated.

    In a related case, the IPC condemned the treatment of Mrs. Ladi Bala, an editor with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and former President of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ). Bala alleged that NRC boss Kayode Opeifa verbally abused and threatened her while she was covering Tuesday’s Abuja-Kaduna train derailment.

    IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, stressed that journalists play a crucial role during emergencies and must be treated with respect. “Public officials and security agencies must cooperate with journalists, explain security concerns with patience, and avoid remarks or actions that could be interpreted as threats,” he said.

    Opeifa has since apologised to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory Council, during a media briefing in Abuja. “I regret the remarks I made in the heat of the moment. I sincerely apologise to Mrs. Ladi Bala, the NUJ FCT Council, and NAWOJ for my actions,” he said.

    The NUJ had earlier demanded a public apology over the incident.

  • FG Not Paying Bandits, ONSA Tells El-Rufai

    FG Not Paying Bandits, ONSA Tells El-Rufai

    The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has denied allegations by former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, that the federal government pays or offers incentives to bandits.

    In a statement issued on Monday by Zakari Mijinyawa, ONSA described El-Rufai’s remarks as baseless, insisting that no arm of government has ever engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals.

    “On the contrary, we have always cautioned Nigerians against paying ransom. El-Rufai’s claims are false and go against the verifiable facts on the ground,” the statement read.

    The office explained that the government’s counter-banditry strategy has relied on a dual approach of sustained military operations and community engagement, noting that this has improved security in parts of Kaduna once plagued by attacks, including Igabi, Birnin Gwari, and Giwa.

    It highlighted recent successes, including the elimination of several notorious bandits such as Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari, and Boka, as well as the capture of Ansaru leaders with bases in Kaduna.

    “These achievements came at a great cost, with some of our brave officers paying the ultimate price. For a former governor like El-Rufai to dismiss these sacrifices on national television is both unfair and deeply disrespectful to the memories of our security personnel,” ONSA said.

    The office urged El-Rufai and other political figures to avoid politicising national security issues, stressing that the fight against banditry requires collective effort rather than partisan rhetoric.

    El-Rufai had alleged on Sunday that the federal government was paying bandits to prevent further killings.

  • ASUU-AAUA Suspends Lectures Over Unpaid Salaries

    ASUU-AAUA Suspends Lectures Over Unpaid Salaries

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) chapter, has directed its members to suspend all academic activities over the Ondo State Government’s failure to clear outstanding salaries and arrears.

    The directive was contained in a memo jointly signed by the branch Chairperson, Dr. Boluwaji Oshodi, and Secretary, Dr. Olusegun Taiwo, and made available to journalists on Sunday.

    According to the union, the decision followed a resolution reached at its congress on Thursday, August 21, where members unanimously agreed to withdraw their services until the state government fulfils its financial obligations.

    “By this memo, our members have been directed to withdraw their services from all academic activities in the university until all our outstanding salaries and arrears are paid,” the notice read in part.

    The action comes after a 14-day warning strike in June by the Joint Action Committee of Ondo State-owned Tertiary Institutions (ODSTI), of which ASUU-AAUA is a member. That strike, the union said, was driven by prolonged neglect of workers’ welfare despite repeated appeals.

    ODSTI had at the time listed several grievances, including inadequate funding, non-implementation of the national minimum wage, unpaid arrears from previous wage regimes, non-payment of the final tranche of wage awards, outstanding gratuities for retirees, and six months of unpaid salaries owed to staff of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.

    Responding on Sunday, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, said government is committed to resolving the matter. He disclosed that a committee had been constituted to address the issues and had already submitted recommendations.

    “A committee was set up to resolve the issue. It has met and recommendations have been made. For the salary arrears, the governor has already directed the university to commence payment. I am confident the matter will be resolved within days,” Ajanaku said.

    He added that the government plans to factor the committee’s recommendations into the next budget cycle to ensure sustainable funding for state-owned tertiary institutions

  • Tinubu’s NERC Nominee Takes Office Amid Legal Controversy

    Tinubu’s NERC Nominee Takes Office Amid Legal Controversy

     


    The appointment of Dr. Abdullahi Ramat as the new Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has sparked heated controversy in the power sector after he assumed office without the constitutionally required Senate confirmation.

    Ramat, a former Chairman of Ungogo Local Government in Kano State, was nominated by President Bola Tinubu on August 8 as the replacement for Engr. Sanusi Garba, whose tenure was cut short despite having nearly four years left. However, stakeholders have described Ramat’s early resumption as “illegal” and a “dangerous precedent” for Nigeria’s electricity market.

    Conflicting Presidential Directives

    The controversy deepened after the Presidency released two contradictory statements. In the first, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said Tinubu directed Ramat to assume office in an acting capacity to prevent a leadership vacuum. But a reissued statement later clarified that Ramat and other nominees should wait until Senate confirmation, with Vice Chairman Musiliu Oseni continuing as Acting Chairman in the meantime.

    Despite this reversal, Ramat reportedly stormed NERC’s Abuja headquarters with political associates and security personnel—including a man in military uniform—to take charge. Videos from the event showed him receiving a handover from Oseni on the same day.

    Stakeholders Cry Foul

    Energy experts and consumer groups have since condemned the move, describing it as a constitutional breach and a blow to investor confidence.

    Adetayo Adegbemle, Executive Director of PowerUp Nigeria, said Ramat’s resumption amounted to a “constitutional crisis.” He argued that the NERC Act mandates Senate confirmation before such appointments, warning that decisions taken under Ramat’s leadership could be nullified in court.

    “This sends the wrong signals to international investors. Independent, rule-based regulation is non-negotiable for a sector already struggling with liquidity crises and grid instability,” Adegbemle said.

    Similarly, the Utilities Consumers Rights Advocacy Initiative of Nigeria petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation, describing Ramat’s assumption of duty as a violation of the Electricity Act 2023. The group warned that his actions could undermine the validity of tariff reviews, licences, and consumer protections.

    Concerns Over Competence and Legitimacy

    While Ramat holds a PhD in Strategic Management and experience in governance, critics argue he lacks direct expertise in power-sector operations. A stakeholder who preferred anonymity noted that unlike past NERC leaders, Ramat comes from a political background rather than industry practice.

    “This is not the time for NESI to have a student regulator. The sector needs an experienced hand who understands tariff, subsidy, and distribution complexities,” the expert argued.

    NERC staff are also reported to be uneasy with the “forceful takeover,” warning that ongoing projects risk being stalled due to legitimacy concerns.

    Calls for Urgent Action

    Stakeholders have urged President Tinubu to clarify Ramat’s status as merely a nominee until Senate confirmation and for the National Assembly to expedite his screening once it reconvenes in late September.

    Adegbemle also called on Ramat to immediately engage investors, consumer groups, and utilities to rebuild trust, while demonstrating a commitment to transparent regulation.

    The Road Ahead

    For now, the Nigerian power sector faces a delicate situation. If Ramat continues to act without Senate confirmation, it could trigger legal challenges and further weaken confidence in a sector already plagued by poor generation, unstable tariffs, and chronic underinvestment.

    As one industry analyst put it: “NERC is a regulator, not a battleground. The credibility of the commission is at stake, and without urgent corrective measures, Nigeria risks deeper crises in its electricity market.”