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Political parties fielding candidates for the Edo State, September 21, 2024 governorship election have signed a Peace Accord.

Though the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate for the election, Asue Ighodalo, did not sign, other parties including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo, signed the Peace Accord. The Labour Party and its candidate Olumide Akpata signed as well.

Accord Party, Accord Alliance, African Action Congress, and African Democratic Congress, Action Democratic Party signed the peace pact as well.

Others include the All Progressives Congress (APC), the All Progressives Grand Alliance Grand Alliance Grand Alliance (APGA), the Allied Peoples Movement, Action Peoples Party, Labour Party, National Rescue Movement, Peoples Redemption Party, the Social Democratic Party, Youth Party, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) among others.

Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar on Thursday at the venue of the signing of the peace accord in Benin City, the Edo State capital, said the PDP opted not to commit to a peace pact.

While thanking those who signed the peace accord, the former Head of State said, “As you must have seen in the media, I met the Governor (Godwin Obaseki) yesterday and he told me that the PDP is not going to sign this peace accord.

“They have made some observations and I was expecting the Chairman of the PDP to come and make that statement. Having waited for him this long, it is just to announce that the PDP said they are not going to sign.”

According to him, the PDP said it would only sign the peace accord if certain conditions are met.

The Chairman of the PDP in the state, Tony Aziegbemi, who was present at the venue did not explain why the party refused to sign the accord.

A Department of State Services (DSS) memo that officially orders the arrest of Omoyele Sowore, upon his return to Nigeria, has been leaked.

The memo, signed by a DSS official, Adeola D. Ali, under the directive of the newly appointed Director General of the DSS, Adeola Ajayi, cites Sowore’s involvement in the recent 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests.

The protests, which called for widespread reforms and the end of bad governance, were met with backlash from security agencies.

Sowore, founder of the news website, Sahara Reporters, contested for the presidential seat in the 2019 and 2023 general elections.

The newly surfaced memo confirms the directive and offers further insight into the level of surveillance being employed by the Nigerian secret police.

The memo, marked “DSE: 94/6203 X WATCHLIST ACTION,” outlines the plan for Sowore’s detainment and includes instructions for airport security.

It states, “The DGSS has approved the upgrading of WLA ‘B’ (Report arrival and destination by telephone immediately) to WLA ‘F’ (Detain traveller and escort with baggage to NHSS) against Omoyele Sowore, an activist/founder of Sahara Reporters Inc., an online news agency.”

The DSS memo explicitly calls for Sowore’s immediate detention and the confiscation of his baggage upon his arrival in Nigeria.

The timing of the directive coincides with rising tensions between activists and the government, as calls for better governance and an end to police brutality continue to grow.

This latest move by the DSS is part of an ongoing crackdown on activists, journalists, and opposition voices in Nigeria.

In recent months, the Nigerian government has faced criticism for its heavy-handed approach to dissent, with several high-profile activists, including Sowore, becoming targets of state repression.

Sowore, who has previously been arrested and detained by the DSS for his involvement in the #RevolutionNow movement, has continued to use his platform, SaharaReporters, to expose corruption and demand accountability from Nigerian leaders.

As the current hardship in the country bites harder due to economic policies of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, the President in a live broadcast has addressed the lingering issues.

Watch video below:

Five police officers and three soldiers were killed by bandit during a deadly ambush on Thursday morning in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The attack occurred as the security operatives were escorting workers of the construction company Setraco Nigeria Limited.

A military source confirmed the tragic event to reporters, revealing that the security personnel were caught off guard when the terrorists opened fire.

The ambush resulted in the death of eight security personnel, including five police officers and three soldiers.

However, a prompt and swift response by the military prevented further casualties among the Setraco workers and the remaining security personnel.

“The troops escorting Setraco workers on their way to Tsafe LGA in Zamfara encountered an ambush.

“Unfortunately, we lost three soldiers and five policemen, and their rifles were taken by the terrorists,” the military source said.

Despite the tragic loss, the source added that several terrorists were killed in a fierce gun battle that followed the ambush.

“Police have evacuated the bodies of both the personnel and the bandits,” the source added.

This incident follows closely on the heels of another report, which detailed how bandits blocked the busy Gusau-Funtua highway in Zamfara State, abducting an unspecified number of travellers.

The spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, Yezid Abubakar, confirmed the highway abduction, stating that the police had deployed personnel to the scene but were still awaiting a full briefing on the number of victims.

Security operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police Force have taken over the palace of Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, following the rumored death of the monarch.

A further report has it that the gate to the palace has been shut by the security operatives.

The 87-year-old Aromolaran has been on the throne for 42 years.

According to reporters, Oba Aromolaran was admitted at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State till Wednesday.

Impeccable sources in the palace confirmed to newsmen that the monarch passed away on Wednesday.

A family source revealed, “We are crying and mourning presently. We are not even picking calls from outsiders but I can’t ignore your own that is why.

“They are moving personal belongings of the king out of the palace as I am speaking with you.”

Petroleum marketers, refiners, and depot owners in Nigeria have demanded that the Federal Government to put a total stop to fuel Subsidy and begin full deregulation of the downstream oil sector, seeking to end government price controls due to subsidies.

The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria, African Refiners and Distributors Association, and Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria disclosed this during a webinar on Wednesday.

The discussion, themed ‘Optimising the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry’, brought together key stakeholders from various sectors of the oil and gas industry to discuss challenges, opportunities, and strategic initiatives for enhancing the sector’s efficiency and sustainability.

In a communique made available to our correspondent on Wednesday by MEMAN, participants were said to have discussed the implications of recent price hikes in petroleum products and emphasised the need for full market deregulation.

“A market-driven pricing mechanism was advocated to promote competitiveness and operational efficiency. The removal of government controls on pricing was seen as essential to fostering a more dynamic and responsive industry.

“The call for complete deregulation and market liberalisation was reiterated. The benefits include improved efficiency, enhanced product availability, and increased private sector participation,” the communique read partly.

There was a strong emphasis on supporting local refineries to decrease dependency on imported petroleum products. The stakeholders called for freedom for marketers to purchase crude oil from local and international sources and for refineries to enter into processing agreements with retail companies.

The discussions also underscored the importance of transitioning towards cleaner energy sources, including Compressed Natural Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

The stakeholders also made a proposal for the establishment of a new committee structure in the petroleum sector, inspired by the Bankers’ Committee in Nigeria.

This structure, they said, would include a Midstream and Downstream Industry Coordination Committee to focus on enhancing collaboration within these sectors, chaired by the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

They called for an Industry Interface Committee to manage interactions between the upstream and downstream sectors; and a Petroleum Industry Consultative Assembly assembly bringing together stakeholders from across the oil and gas sectors, chaired by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil).

“These committees aim to foster collaboration, ensure regulatory compliance, facilitate conflict resolution, and provide strategic oversight, akin to the role played by the bankers’ committee in the banking sector.

“The creation of industry-wide consultative committees was suggested to enhance collaboration, innovation, and conflict resolution, addressing supply chain inefficiencies and infrastructure deficits was deemed crucial for long-term sustainability,” the communique said.

The oil sector investors also advocated for significant investment in infrastructure to enhance distribution and storage of petroleum products.

They called for the adoption of new technologies to optimise supply chains, reduce smuggling, and prevent adulteration.

Similarly, the business owners emphasised implementing sustainable practices, such as reducing gas flaring, promoting renewable energy use, and investing in carbon capture and storage technologies to align with global sustainability goals.

They also saw the need for a clearer and more supportive regulatory environment with references to the Petroleum Industry Act and its provisions, saying better implementation of policies is necessary to facilitate easier licensing, investment, and refinery operations.

The webinar also highlighted Nigeria’s potential to become a significant producer of plastics and petrochemical products. Stakeholders discussed leveraging the country’s abundant natural gas resources to develop a robust petrochemical industry. “This would reduce imports, create jobs, and support the local economy. Emphasis was placed on establishing the necessary infrastructure, such as petrochemical complexes, and adopting policies that encourage local manufacturing and value addition. The shift toward producing plastics domestically aligns with the broader strategy of industrial diversification and economic resilience.

“The webinar concluded with a commitment from all stakeholders to work collaboratively toward optimising the Nigerian oil and gas industry. Emphasis was placed on the need for strategic investments, policy reforms, and innovative practices that align with global standards and sustainability goals.

“The proposed establishment of the petroleum committee will serve as a key platform for fostering collaboration and guiding the sector through its ongoing transition,” the communique stated.

The Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has announced that the state government will provide financial support to students. Undergraduates will receive ₦20,000 monthly, while postgraduate students will receive ₦30,000 monthly.

Eno made this announcement at the Youths Appreciation Rally in Uyo Township Stadium on Wednesday. He also stated that undergraduate students of medicine, law, engineering, and agriculture will receive ₦30,000 monthly.

The Governor explained that this increased bursary is part of his administration’s efforts to support students. He said, “For our students, starting this academic session, we have increased the bursary from ₦10,000 to ₦20,000 for all undergraduates, and from ₦10,000 to ₦30,000 for professional students…”

Governor Eno also highlighted his government’s youth empowerment programs. He mentioned that 21 youths are currently training as engineers with Ethiopian Airlines, sponsored by the state government.

Additionally, Eno stated that over 150 youths have been trained in modern farming practices. His government will provide them with seedlings and purchase their farm produce when ready for harvest, supporting them to become successful agripreneurs.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Gombe State University branch, has declared a total and indefinite strike over unmet demands.

This is the first internal strike action since the institution was founded in 2003.

The decision was taken after a congress meeting held in the institution on Wednesday.

Details later