Mandate Explorers Group Assures APC Chairman Ojelabi of Landslide Victory in Badagry for 2027

 By: Manoah Kikekon

BADAGRY, LAGOS – Political momentum is gathering steam ahead of the 2027 general elections as the Mandate Group Explorers, Badagry, has boldly assured the Lagos State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, of a resounding landslide victory across the Badagry division.

The declaration was made on Friday, August 7, 2026, when members of the grassroots political group visited Pastor Ojelabi at his residence to felicitate with him during his birthday celebration.

Speaking to journalists during the solidarity visit, the pioneer and leader of the group, Kappo Yiseyon Elijah, emphasized that the movement is fully mobilized and strategically positioned to deliver maximum votes for the ruling party. He noted that the visit was primarily designed to reaffirm unflinching loyalty to the party's leadership and to outline proactive steps being taken at the grassroots level.

"Today's visit is to confirm our solidarity to the leadership of our party leader and to let him know the Mandate Explorer Group is reinforcing its roots in Badagry and its surroundings to make sure APC sets a remarkable record in Badagry and Lagos at large come 2027," Elijah stated.

Responding to the group, Pastor Ojelabi expressed profound appreciation for the solidarity and commitment shown by the Mandate Explorers. He commended their proactive approach toward grassroots mobilization, noting that the strength of the APC lies in the dedication of its members at the community level.

Ojelabi assured the team of his unwavering support, reiterating the party's collective goal to secure a landslide victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and ensure the continuation of progressive governance under the leadership of Lagos State's leadership, including Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat.

Netanyahu Rejects US-Backed 15-Point Gaza Plan, Vows No Military Pullout Until Hamas Disarms

By: Manoah Kikekon 

Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump 

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected United States President Donald Trump’s proposed 15-point roadmap for Gaza, declaring that Israeli forces will maintain their positions until Hamas is fully and genuinely disarmed.

Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu hardened his stance amidst mounting pressure from his right-wing political base ahead of national elections. The rejection marks a significant friction point in Washington's ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting framework for the war-torn enclave.

The US-led Board of Peace framework, announced late last month, envisioned a phased ceasefire whereby Hamas and other armed factions would surrender their weapons to a new Palestinian governing body in tandem with a gradual Israeli military withdrawal.

However, Netanyahu firmly rejected the parallel withdrawal schedule, insisting that military disengagement is a non-starter until total demilitarisation is achieved.

“Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu stated during the cabinet address. The Israeli military “will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens.” He added that the demand covers all weaponry, emphasizing, “We are talking about real disarmament, not fictitious disarmament.”

While pushing back against the specific sequencing of the US-led proposal, Netanyahu acknowledged ongoing discussions with the White House, maintaining a diplomatic tone regarding President Trump.

“They have ideas; some of them are acceptable to us, and some are not, and we know how to stand our ground on these matters,” Netanyahu remarked, while concurrently praising the broader US-Israel partnership on regional security issues such as Iran.

The 15-point plan, designated under UN Security Council Resolution 2803, aims to transition governance of Gaza to an independent Palestinian National Committee backed by international stabilisation forces. Yet, with Israel demanding complete capitulation before moving troops and Hamas conditioning its compliance on an end to ongoing military operations, prospects for immediate implementation remain uncertain.

Lagos Nabs Hoodlums in Midnight Raid on Lekki-Ajah Expressway

By: Manoah Kikekon

Hoodlums 

LAGOS, NIGERIA – The Lagos State Government has intensified its clampdown on public nuisance and street criminality following a targeted midnight enforcement operation along the busy Lekki–Ajah Expressway.

Disclosing the development in a post on his official X handle, which was accompanied by video evidence of the arrested individuals, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed that the raid targeted “miscreants and hoodlums who have been constituting a nuisance and posing a threat to motorists and other road users.”

The high-stakes operation was executed by operatives of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS). It specifically zeroed in on individuals who allegedly harass and intimidate motorists, illegally extort money, and, “in some instances, damage vehicles when motorists refuse to yield to their demands.”

Reassuring residents and commuters who ply the axis daily, government authorities affirmed that security architecture along major corridors is being tightened. “The RRS will continue to sustain intelligence-led operations and enforcement actions against criminal elements whose activities threaten public safety and disrupt the free movement of people and vehicles across the State,” the agency stated.

Despite the government's proactive stance, members of the public remain cautiously skeptical about the long-term impact of such intermittent raids. Many residents have taken to social media to voice concerns over the scarcity of adequate correctional and vocational rehabilitation centres, expressing fears that some of the apprehended suspects might soon find loopholes or exploit outside influence to secure premature releases.

As the state government vows to maintain zero tolerance for roadside extortion and thuggery, stakeholders continue to call for comprehensive judicial processing and sustainable social integration programs to permanently rid Lagos highways of criminal elements.

Lagos Nabs Hoodlums in Midnight Raid on Lekki-Ajah Expressway

LAGOS, NIGERIA – The Lagos State Government has intensified its clampdown on public nuisance and street criminality following a targeted midnight enforcement operation along the busy Lekki–Ajah Expressway.

Disclosing the development in a post on his official X handle, which was accompanied by video evidence of the arrested individuals, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed that the raid targeted “miscreants and hoodlums who have been constituting a nuisance and posing a threat to motorists and other road users.”

The high-stakes operation was executed by operatives of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS). It specifically zeroed in on individuals who allegedly harass and intimidate motorists, illegally extort money, and, “in some instances, damage vehicles when motorists refuse to yield to their demands.”

Reassuring residents and commuters who ply the axis daily, government authorities affirmed that security architecture along major corridors is being tightened. “The RRS will continue to sustain intelligence-led operations and enforcement actions against criminal elements whose activities threaten public safety and disrupt the free movement of people and vehicles across the State,” the agency stated.

Despite the government's proactive stance, members of the public remain cautiously skeptical about the long-term impact of such intermittent raids. Many residents have taken to social media to voice concerns over the scarcity of adequate correctional and vocational rehabilitation centres, expressing fears that some of the apprehended suspects might soon find loopholes or exploit outside influence to secure premature releases.

As the state government vows to maintain zero tolerance for roadside extortion and thuggery, stakeholders continue to call for comprehensive judicial processing and sustainable social integration programs to permanently rid Lagos highways of criminal elements.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Vow to Keep Waterway Closed Until US Meets All Conditions

By: Manoah Kikekon 

Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. Photo: AFP / Seyed

TEHRAN – The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that the vital Strait of Hormuz will remain firmly closed to international shipping until the United States fully capitulates to a comprehensive list of Tehran's demands. The hardline stance pours cold water on ongoing diplomatic efforts and signals a deeper crisis for global energy markets.

The critical maritime choke point has faced an effective Iranian blockade since late February, following initial military strikes by the United States and Israel. Tehran has since sought to enforce passage tolls and has aggressively targeted commercial vessels attempting to bypass its preferred maritime routes. Continuous flare-ups in the waterway have already shattered previous ceasefires, leaving mediators scrambling to salvage a pathway for peace talks.

Speaking on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged that discussions with Oman concerning transit arrangements were “approaching the final stages”. However, he insisted that any actual reopening of the strait remains strictly tethered to "other conditions and compensation for the violation" of prior diplomatic understandings. Furthermore, Araghchi explicitly denied direct negotiations with Washington, maintaining that both nations are merely “exchanging messages” via regional intermediaries.

The parameters of Tehran's demands were detailed sharply on Saturday by Iran's security chief, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr. According to state-affiliated media, the requirements for lifting the blockade include an immediate cessation of “war and aggression against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq”.

Additional preconditions entail:

The complete lifting of the U.S. counterblockade on Iranian ports.

The total removal of international economic sanctions.

The unfreezing of overseas Iranian state assets.

Substantial financial compensation for wartime infrastructure and economic damages.

Reiterating these uncompromising terms, the Revolutionary Guards issued a defiant bulletin on Sunday. “Our strategy is to maintain the closure until the enemy accepts all our conditions… the strait is now actually a theatre of war for us and not just a waterway,” the IRGC stated.

The hardening stance coincides with a sharp escalation of violence across regional waters. The United Arab Emirates' foreign ministry recently condemned a hostile missile attack that struck an ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) tanker transiting the troubled strait. This incident echoed reports from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which confirmed a separate projectile strike off the coast of Oman that triggered a fire onboard a commercial vessel.

While Omani officials continue to advocate for a constructive diplomatic atmosphere regarding navigation protocols, peripheral conflicts continue to expand. In tandem with the maritime crisis, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for a strike on a Saudi oil facility along the Red Sea coast, compounding fears of a multi-front energy supply blockade.

As international observers monitor the standoff, the hardening posture of the Revolutionary Guards threatens to prolong the severe disruptions facing global energy supply chains, keeping shipping insurers and international policymakers on high alert.

ACPN Demands Urgent Overhaul of Pharmacy Practice, Raises Alarm Over Brain Drain

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has made a passionate appeal for a sweeping transformation of the pharmacy profession, warning that the mass migration of skilled personnel, weak regulatory enforcement, medicine insecurity, and the worsening national drug abuse crisis pose severe threats to public health and national security.

The association sounded the alarm during its 45th Annual National Scientific Conference, tagged “UNITY 2026,” held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja. The high-profile event brought together senior government officials, regulators, legislators, and pharmaceutical industry leaders to chart a course for better healthcare governance and workforce retention.

Delivering his opening address, ACPN National Chairman, Pharm. Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma, laid bare the stark realities facing the healthcare sector, pointing specifically to the alarming exodus of professionals. He revealed that approximately 9,000 pharmacists emigrated from Nigeria in the four-and-a-half years leading up to December 2025, driven by poor remuneration frameworks, porous supply chains, and substandard working conditions.

The trend has shown no signs of abating. Igwekamma disclosed that over 850 additional pharmacists obtained letters of good standing from the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) in the first half of 2026 alone, heading toward destinations such as the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and Australia.

"The fortunes of the profession continue to plummet rather dangerously in recent years," Igwekamma stated, warning that the continuous depletion of intellectual capital threatens patient safety and the viability of Nigeria's pharmaceutical landscape.

The conference drew heavyweights from across the political and regulatory spheres, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; and the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim.

Representing the Federal Government, Senator Akume commended the ACPN for its steadfast commitment to safeguarding public health and urged practitioners to deepen collaborative efforts with state governments to stamp out counterfeit medications.

Meanwhile, PSN President Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim emphasized that community pharmacists remain the most accessible healthcare providers for millions of everyday citizens, arguing that their frontline positioning makes them indispensable to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

To reverse the downward trajectory of the sector, the ACPN proposed a robust legislative and administrative reform agenda. The association is pushing for crucial structural changes, including: 

Tougher Penalties for Counterfeiting: Amendments to the Fake Drug Act to mandate harsher consequences, such as 20-year prison terms for first-time offenders and life imprisonment with total asset forfeiture for repeat perpetrators.

Institutionalised Supply Chains: The establishment of a federal Drug Management Agency to properly manage the Drug Revolving Fund system.

Capacity Building Locally: The creation of a National Postgraduate College of Pharmacy to curtail capital flight caused by foreign professional training.

Addressing the alarming United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) statistics which indicate that over 21.2 million Nigerians grapple with substance abuse—the association called for tighter border controls, strict prescription monitoring, and the establishment of modern rehabilitation facilities nationwide.

Mobolaji Ogunlende Urges New Corps Members to Embrace Every Opportunity to Learn

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

Mobolaji Ogunlende 

The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, has tasked newly mobilized National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to fully maximize their orientation period by embracing all available learning opportunities to prepare themselves for the future.

Mr. Ogunlende made this call on Friday while representing Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, at the official opening and swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch 'B' Stream II Orientation Course held at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.

Welcoming the corps members to the Centre of Excellence, the commissioner noted that the orientation camp is purposefully structured to instil the discipline, leadership acumen, teamwork, and resilience required to navigate a successful service year.

"I warmly welcome all Corps Members to Lagos and encourage them to take full advantage of the orientation programme," Mr. Ogunlende stated. "The camp is designed to equip them with the discipline, leadership, teamwork, and resilience required for a successful service year. I urge them all to embrace every opportunity to learn, build lasting relationships, and uphold the core values and principles of the National Youth Service Corps."

Emphasizing the vital role youth play in national cohesion, the Lagos State government reiterated that the NYSC scheme remains an incomparable platform for fostering unity, cross-cultural integration, and peaceful coexistence across Nigeria. Corps members were further charged to view their deployment as a call to national service and active transformation.

As the participants prepare to transition into their respective Places of Primary Assignment (PPA) upon the conclusion of camp activities, Mr. Ogunlende implored them to leave an indelible mark in their host communities.

"As they proceed to their respective Places of Primary Assignment after the orientation exercise, I implore them to serve diligently, contribute positively to their host communities, and be exemplary ambassadors of the NYSC Scheme," he added. "I wish you all a fulfilling, impactful, and memorable service year as we continue to build a greater Lagos and a stronger Nigeria together."

ActionAid and HUFFPED Commission Multi-Million Naira Solar-Powered ICT Centre in Badagry

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

ActionAid Nigeria, in partnership with the Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED) and with the staunch support of the Badagry Local Government, has commissioned and handed over a state-of-the-art, solar-powered ICT learning centre at St. Patrick's Primary School, Iragbo/Iragon.

The commissioning event, held on Friday, August 7, 2026, marks a milestone for rural education in Lagos State. The newly upgraded facility comes fully equipped with brand-new laptops, uninterrupted solar power, high-speed unlimited internet access, and comfortable student seating, effectively bridging the digital divide for young learners in remote communities.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Kehinde Arowosegbe, Local Rights Specialist at ActionAid Nigeria, described the day as a momentous occasion dedicated to unlocking future possibilities for grassroots children.

"Today is a day of celebration because we are not merely commissioning a building, but we are opening the door to greater learning opportunities, digital inclusion, and a brighter future for the children of this community," Arowosegbe stated.

"At ActionAid Nigeria, we believe every child deserves access to quality education regardless of where they live or their economic background. Through our local rights programme, ActionAid continues to work with communities, government institutions, schools, and civil society to promote quality education, strengthen community resilience, and ensure that the rights of children and vulnerable people are protected and realised."

Arowosegbe further revealed that ActionAid invested a total sum of ₦5,970,300 through its local partners toward the comprehensive renovation and technological upgrade of the learning hub, ensuring a safe, reliable, and sustainable environment where pupils can master computer literacy and teachers can modernize pedagogical methods.

Representing the Executive Chairman of Badagry Local Government, the Vice Chairman, Alhaji Akim Adeyemi, lauded the non-governmental organizations for their impactful intervention, emphasizing the government's readiness to embrace sustainable partnerships.

"I sincerely appreciate ActionAid Nigeria for this laudable support. You have once again shown that when development partners work with government and traditional institutions, the impact is direct and lasting," Adeyemi remarked.

"To ActionAid, we say thank you. This ICT learning centre will introduce our children to computer literacy and research right from primary school. We are moving Iragbo children from chalkboards to keyboards, from local to global that is the kind of future we want in Badagry. Badagry Local Government is open to more developments like this."

Also speaking at the event, the Baale of Iragbo, Chief Thomas Agosu, expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the traditional council, noting that the facility is designed to benefit not only the pupils of St. Patrick’s Primary School but the entire cluster of neighbouring communities.

While promising community-wide stewardship, Chief Agosu highlighted swift commitments from local political stakeholders: "I have noted that Hon. Alfred Gbenu, the Councillor for Ward I and a proud son of Iragbo, has promised to buy an additional two laptops, while Hon. Ajadi Omotayosi, the Supervisor for Chieftaincy Affairs in Badagry, has also promised to buy one. I believe we are going to have even more."

Drawing attention to infrastructural needs, the traditional ruler passionately appealed for enhanced safety measures around the institution, stressing that a historic school existing for over two centuries deserves adequate perimeter fencing to safeguard its students and state-of-the-art assets.

The landmark event concluded with applause from teachers, pupils, and community leaders, setting a transformative benchmark for technological advancement and digital learning across rural primary schools in Lagos State.