By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has disbursed ₦7.61 billion in retirement benefits to 4,237 retired officers through 9 Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), as the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, reiterated the agency’s commitment to the welfare of its former personnel.

Adeniyi announced the payment during a dialogue with retired Customs officers. He said the funds had already been released to the PFAs for distribution into the beneficiaries’ individual accounts.

According to details presented at the meeting, Access-ARM Pension Managers received funds for 1,223 retirees, while Premium Pension accounted for 2,268 beneficiaries. Leadway Pensions covered 403 retirees, TrustFund Pensions had 156 beneficiaries, FCMB Pensions received payments for 144 retirees, Veritas Glanvills Pensions had 28 beneficiaries, Norrenberger Pensions covered 11 retirees, and Fidelity Pension Managers received funds for 4 beneficiaries, making a total of 4,237 retirees.

The Comptroller-General said the Customs Service must remain financially strong enough to meet its obligations to both serving and retired officers. He added that the well-being of officers who devoted many years to the Service remains closely linked to the institution’s future.

He also encouraged retirees to continue engaging constructively with the Service. According to him, “I acknowledged your concerns and suggestions raised, and it is in view of this we called for this dialogue to promote better understanding and reduce the effect of rumours and unofficial information on the relationship between the Service and its retired personnel.”

The meeting also had in attendance the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resources Development, DCG Tijjani Abe, alongside other members of the management team. They assured the retirees that the issues raised during the engagement would receive due consideration at the Board and management levels.

The retired officers thanked the Comptroller-General and the management team for creating an avenue for direct interaction. They also appealed to the Service to make such engagements a regular feature to strengthen ties between serving and retired personnel.

The dialogue comes as the Federal Government continues efforts to improve pension benefits. The initiative follows plans to review the legal provisions governing pensions, including Section 15(4) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, in line with Section 173(3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

By Uzair Adam 

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kano Sector Command, has announced plans to appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court in Kano that barred its personnel from operating on state and local government roads, limiting their activities to federal highways.

The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice M. S. Shuaibu, followed a suit instituted by Kano-based lawyer, Barrister Abba Hikima, who challenged the legality of FRSC checkpoints mounted on township roads in July 2025. 

He argued that motorists were being stopped despite committing no traffic offences.

In his ruling, Justice Shuaibu held that the FRSC acted beyond the powers granted to it by law by operating on state roads. 

He further ruled that the Corps’ actions infringed on citizens’ constitutional rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed under Sections 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

The court granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiff, including a perpetual injunction restraining the FRSC from operating on state and local government roads in Kano. 

It also ordered the Corps to publish a public apology in a national newspaper and awarded N800,000 in damages and costs.

Reacting to the judgment, the Public Education Officer of the Kano Sector Command, CRC Abdullahi Aliyu Labaran, said the Corps respects the decision of the court but believes the ruling has been widely misunderstood.

He explained that the judgment did not invalidate the FRSC Establishment Act, 2007, but only restricted the Corps’ operations in Kano to federal highways pending further legal action.

According to him, the FRSC will continue to patrol major federal roads within the state, including the Kano–Zaria Road, Kano–Katsina Road, Kano–Maiduguri Road, Kano Western Bypass, Airport Road and Murtala Mohammed Way.

Labaran expressed concern over social media posts encouraging motorists to resist FRSC officers, warning that such actions could lead to unnecessary confrontations, threaten public order and endanger lives.

He added that the Corps decided to challenge the ruling because it believes its defence was not adequately considered during the proceedings.

Pending the outcome of the appeal, the FRSC assured members of the public that it would continue to carry out its statutory responsibilities professionally and within the confines of the law on federal highways across Kano State.

The Corps also urged motorists to cooperate with its personnel and disregard what it described as misleading online interpretations of the court’s judgment.

Dear Editor,

I write to draw urgent attention to the tragic state of the Kofan Doka and Agoro Bridges—Federal Government Road projects that have become death traps for residents of Zaria Local Government due to prolonged abandonment.

Initiated by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, the Kofan Doka cloverleaf bridge, the New Jos Road, and Agoro Bridge were never completed. Today, under Governor Uba Sani, there is still no sign of progress. Even the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Abbas Tajuddeen, who once promised to ensure their continuation, has failed to follow through.

The condition of these bridges represents more than just a construction delay; it symbolises the disconnect between the government and the people.

But this is not just about broken promises. Whenever it rains, the areas become completely impassable. The flooding cuts off entire communities, endangers motorists, and puts schoolchildren and traders at serious risk of drowning or being swept away. We live in constant fear every time the clouds gather.

While our leaders trade political statements, we are left to wade through floodwaters, lose goods, and watch our children risk their lives just to get to school. This is unacceptable.

The Kofan Doka and Agoro bridges are on Trunk-A roads, yet no tier of government—federal, state, or legislative—has taken responsibility.

We are not asking for favours. We are demanding action. Complete the bridge before this rainy season claims a life.

I urge all parties involved, including the Kaduna State Government, the Federal Government, and our representatives in the National Assembly, to prioritise the completion of the Kofan Doka Bridge, the Agoro Bridge, and the New Jos Road. It is time to move beyond rhetoric and deliver concrete results for the people of Zaria Local Government and for Kaduna State at large.

Sincerely,

Yazeed Salisu

salisuyazeed@yahoo.com

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Government has renamed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in honour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that he conceived the project during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State nearly 3 decades ago.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the decision on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja. He said the ministry approved the new name after consultations with its leadership and staff.

“That highway is named President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway,” Umahi said.

He added, “By the powers conferred on me as minister of works, in consultation with my permanent secretary, the minister of state, directors and staff of the ministry, we decided to name it after him because of his dream for it.”

The minister said Tinubu first envisioned the project about 27 years ago while serving as Lagos State governor.

“He had that dream about 27 years back as governor of Lagos state. It is one thing to dream and another thing to have the grace of God to actualise that dream. This is one man who dreams and has the grace and divine mandate to actualise that dream,” Umahi said.

He also announced that President Tinubu approved the extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway by an additional 400 kilometres. The approval increases the total length of the corridor to about 1,100 kilometres.

Umahi further disclosed that the president approved the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway with reinforced concrete pavement. He said the approvals also cover the completion of the abandoned Ibi Bridge in Taraba State, the construction of the 5.76-kilometre Lau Bridge and the dualisation of another 400 kilometres of the East-West Road.

The minister said work was progressing on several sections of the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. He explained that the first section, which stretches from Victoria Island to Eleko Village in Lagos State, serves as a model for modern highway construction.

According to him, the second section from Eleko to the Lagos-Ogun boundary is about 60 per cent complete. He said the project is expected to reach substantial completion by November. He added that construction is also underway in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Ondo states.

Umahi expressed confidence that the approved road projects would improve transportation across the country, strengthen national unity and stimulate economic activities.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Iran has claimed responsibility for missile attacks on United States military assets in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait. The development came after the US carried out its seventh consecutive night of air strikes on targets inside Iran, according to reports by Al Jazeera.

Iran’s military said it struck US facilities in response to the latest American attacks. Iranian state media reported that the targets in Bahrain included the Sheikh Isa Air Base.

According to a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency, Iran said it targeted the “aircraft hangar and parking lot” as well as “fuel tanks” at the Sheikh Isa airbase and several communication bridges in Bahrain.

The statement added that the United States had used the base to launch “operations against regional targets, especially our country.”

“We are proud of our military duty to defend this land,” the statement concluded.

Earlier, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had completed its seventh straight night of military operations against Iran. The command said it used “fighter aircraft, aerial drones and warships” to strike Iran’s “surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities”.

Reports indicated that the attacks targeted Lar, Jask, Sirik, Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Ahvaz and the central city of Yazd.

Iranian state media said at least 3 people were killed and 8 others sustained injuries in Hormozgan Province, which borders the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military also dismissed claims by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards that two oil tankers exploded after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM described the allegation as “false”.

Meanwhile, Kuwait said its armed forces were responding to Iranian missile and drone attacks for the third time. The country’s military urged residents to “adhere to the authorities’ safety and security instructions”.

Bahrain also activated warning sirens for the fourth time within a few hours. The country’s Ministry of Interior advised residents to “remain calm and head to the nearest safe place”.

The US State Department also issued a travel advisory as tensions continued to rise across the Middle East.

In a statement posted on X, the department warned that “due to high tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation”. It also advised that “Americans should reconsider travel to/through the Middle East”.

The department urged US citizens already in the region to exercise caution, monitor developments closely and confirm flight schedules with their airlines.

By Sabiu Abdullahi l

At least 14 Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Friday. Eight of the victims died after a drone strike hit mourners attending a funeral procession in the Nuseirat refugee camp, according to Palestinian civil defence authorities and hospital officials.

The incident was reported by Al Jazeera, which cited Gaza’s civil defence agency and Al-Awda Hospital. The hospital also said at least 20 people sustained injuries in the attack.

Witnesses said the drone struck mourners gathered outside the Ahmad Yassin Mosque in the Al-Balata market area as they prepared to begin the funeral procession for a Palestinian who had been killed earlier the same day in another Israeli attack.

“There is no regard for the ceasefire,” Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud said while reporting from Gaza City.

“The people who were participating in the [funeral] procession were coming out of the mosque [when] a drone strike targeted a group of people within the procession itself.”

The Israeli military confirmed that it carried out the strike. According to AFP, the army claimed it had targeted a “terrorist” cell in central Gaza. It added that it was “aware of the claims that several uninvolved individuals were harmed as a result of the strike. The results of the strike are under review.”

Hamas condemned the attack in a statement, describing it as a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement.

“This heinous crime takes place while the aggressor regime, through its systematic and continuous violation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, continues to kill and terrorise innocent citizens in front of the eyes of mediators and the international community,” the group said.

Elsewhere in Gaza, a 52-year-old woman was killed after an Israeli drone reportedly dropped a bomb near Abu Tammam School in Beit Lahia. Another Palestinian was killed in Az-Zawayda, while another lost his life after Israeli fire struck a shelter for displaced people in al-Sawarha.

An Israeli drone strike on an apartment in Gaza City also killed one Palestinian and injured several others, including children. Another woman later died from wounds she sustained during Israeli gunfire southwest of Khan Younis.

Despite the ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, hostilities have continued across Gaza. Research group Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) reported that Israeli attacks increased in recent months, with more than 40 strikes recorded in June, the highest monthly figure since the ceasefire began.

“The skies above the Gaza Strip are filled with drones,” Mahmoud said.

“You can hear the mechanical hum of these drones everywhere … In addition to the ongoing [Israeli] destruction of remaining infrastructure,” he added.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz also reported on Friday that 274 children have been killed since the ceasefire began, stating that, on average, one child has died each day during the period.

By Uzair Adam

The Federal Government has arraigned three men before the Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as well as terrorism-related offences.

The defendants — Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa (also known as Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (also known as Abu Itisar) — were charged on Friday in a 10-count charge filed by the Federal Government.

The charges stem from the May 15, 2026 attack in which gunmen invaded three schools in Oyo State and abducted several pupils and teachers.

One of the victims, teacher Michael Oyedokun, was killed while in captivity, while the remaining hostages regained their freedom after spending 56 days in the forest during a security operation.

According to the charge sheet, the three suspects, all residents of Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, allegedly conspired with three other suspects — Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab — between January and May 2026 to carry out the kidnapping.

The prosecution further alleged that the defendants aided the abduction by supporting those responsible for the attack and deliberately withheld information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite having prior knowledge of the plot.

They were also accused of failing to alert security agencies about both the planned kidnapping and those behind it, an offence said to contravene the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In another count, the Federal Government alleged that the three men professed membership of Darul Salam, described in the charge as an affiliate of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.

The charge further singled out Abdulrazak Umar, accusing him of operating a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace,” through which he allegedly provided training and instructions to terrorists and incited members to commit acts of terrorism.

Umar was also accused of engaging in illegal gold mining activities in streams located in Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and 2026 without lawful authority.

The offences are said to violate provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Andy Burnham has been elected leader of the United Kingdom’s governing Labour Party. His victory clears the way for him to become the country’s next prime minister.

The result was announced on Friday by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who confirmed that Burnham would succeed Keir Starmer as Labour leader and assume office as prime minister on Monday.

In his first speech after the announcement, Burnham declared his readiness to lead the country.

“I am ready,” he said.

The incoming prime minister said Britain required a new political direction. He argued that leaders of his generation had failed to address a political culture and economic system that no longer served ordinary citizens.

Burnham said his administration would focus on building “a new politics” that would bring meaningful change.

“People are looking for us to deliver and we will,” he said.

He also praised his predecessor, Keir Starmer, for rebuilding the Labour Party after one of its worst electoral defeats and leading it back into government.

Burnham said Starmer had positioned Labour to improve the lives of people across Britain. He also thanked the outgoing leader for his dedication to both the country and the party.

Starmer resigned as prime minister and Labour leader on June 22 after months of increasing political pressure.

When he announced his resignation, Starmer said he had “heard the answer” from his party on whether he was the right person to lead Labour into the next general election. He added that he accepted the decision “with good grace”.

Burnham is expected to be sworn in on Monday. His inauguration will make him Britain’s seventh prime minister in the past decade, a period marked by frequent changes in the country’s political leadership.

Sabiu Abdullahi

Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has revealed that his wife, Chioma Adeleke, oversees his finances because of his spending habits.

The singer made the disclosure in a video that went viral on social media after he was seen asking Chioma to transfer money to his personal assistant, Lati.

In the clip, Davido explained that he could not access his account due to a service issue. He then called his wife and asked her to send $4,000 to his aide.

“Hello, hello baby, good morning my wife, my love. Help me send Lati $4,000. I can’t login, I don’t know why, its the service here. Alright. We’re taking off now to Naija, I love you,” he said during the phone conversation.

After the call, Davido’s official streamer, Davreltv, asked whether Chioma had taken over the management of his finances.

“So your wife has been managing the money?” the streamer asked.

Davido responded in the affirmative. He said his wife handles his finances because he spends money carelessly.

“Of course, you know I’m a reckless spender. Na she dey arrange everything. Na my life coordinator be that,” the singer replied.

The video has since attracted widespread attention on social media, with many users reacting to the singer’s remarks about his marriage and financial arrangement.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise has reportedly expressed his desire to join Spanish giants Real Madrid at the end of the season.

According to French newspaper L’Équipe, the 24-year-old informed his France teammates during the ongoing FIFA World Cup that he hopes to secure a move to the Santiago Bernabéu.

The report stated that Real Madrid are aware of the player’s interest and are expected to begin discussions after the World Cup. Bayern Munich, however, are reluctant to part with the French international.

Olise remains under contract with the Bundesliga champions until 2029. The report said he believes a move to Real Madrid would represent the next stage of his career.

It also claimed that Bayern and France defender Dayot Upamecano has tried to convince his teammate to remain at the German club.

Despite the transfer speculation, Bayern president Herbert Hainer insisted that the club has no intention of selling the winger.

“Florentino Pérez can save himself the trouble of making an offer for Olise; we do not want to sell,” Hainer said.

Olise joined Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace and has become one of the club’s key attacking players.

The report further suggested that Olise’s possible arrival at Real Madrid could lead to changes within the Spanish club’s squad. It claimed that the futures of Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior could come under scrutiny if the transfer materialises.

According to L’Équipe, reports of a strained relationship between Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé, as well as the unresolved contract situation involving Vinícius, have fuelled speculation over potential departures. However, neither Real Madrid nor the players involved have confirmed those claims.

Real Madrid have not issued any official statement on the reported interest in Olise.