Projects expected to attract more than $7bn in initial investment, create over 50,000 direct jobs

The Ogun State Government and DP World MEA FZE have signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for the development of the Gateway Deep Sea Port and the Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone, with the projects expected to attract more than $7 billion in initial investment and create over 50,000 direct jobs.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu witnessed the signing in Paris, France, alongside the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Director-General of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho.

The agreements bring together the Federal Government, Ogun State Government, DP World, financial advisers and other private-sector partners in a major investment framework aimed at easing trade bottlenecks, strengthening logistics and expanding Nigeria’s manufacturing and export capacity.

Tinubu said the two projects would address longstanding infrastructure and logistics constraints while creating an integrated platform for industrial production, maritime commerce and access to African and global markets.

“We are doing more than signing agreements; we are laying the foundation for a new chapter in Nigeria’s development,” the President said.

The Gateway Deep Sea Port, planned for Ogun Waterside, will feature a four-kilometre berth and an 18-metre draft, positioning it to handle larger vessels, decongest the Lagos port corridor and reduce costs and delays for importers and exporters.

The port will be integrated with the proposed 10,000-hectare Blue Marine Special Economic Zone, which is expected to support manufacturing, processing and export-oriented industries.

Tinubu said the zone would enable imported inputs to be converted into finished products and Nigerian raw materials to be processed for export, helping to expand the country’s non-oil export base.

“A port moves cargo; a port integrated with a special economic zone helps to build an economy,” he said.

The President said the 28-kilometre Ogun section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway would provide a critical link between the port and industrial zone, Lagos, the Nigerian hinterland and wider African markets.

He added that the emerging corridor would also connect with other strategic investments, including the proposed Nigerian Navy Operating Base and Dockyard and the OK LNG Project, strengthening the relationship between maritime infrastructure, industry, energy and trade.

Tinubu said the projects represented an initial investment of more than $7 billion and were projected to generate over 50,000 direct jobs, alongside additional indirect employment opportunities.

He described the investment as a practical expression of economic diversification and industrialisation under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The President commended Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for securing the land, structuring the investment framework and reducing project risks for investors.

He described the development as an example of cooperative federalism, with subnational initiative receiving federal support.

Tinubu assured investors of regulatory clarity and policy stability, promising federal support for road, rail and power connectivity, investment security and the maritime domain.

He said the Federal Government would hold all parties accountable to their commitments, stressing that the agreements must translate into investments, projects, jobs and economic opportunities.

Earlier, Governor Abiodun described the signing as a defining moment in the economic history of Ogun State and Nigeria’s engagement with the global economy.

Abiodun credited President Tinubu with providing the political leadership that had revived the long-standing deep seaport vision for the Ogun coastline, saying the project had remained largely unrealised for more than three decades.

“It has taken the foresight, courage and dogged leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to move it from aspiration to reality,” the governor said.

He commended Oyetola, the NPA and other federal institutions for their support, saying the project demonstrated the alignment between the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Ogun’s Building Our Future Together agenda.

Abiodun said the deep seaport was part of a broader strategy to deepen trade, attract investment, improve connectivity and strengthen Nigeria’s maritime economy.

“Our ambition is not merely to berth ships. We are building a gateway for Ogun and Nigeria’s productive strength to reach Africa and the world,” he said.

The governor said the project would stimulate SMEs, strengthen supply chains, expand export capacity, attract foreign direct investment and create opportunities across maritime services, logistics, manufacturing and technology.

He also highlighted the Blue Marine Special Economic Zone as a platform for capital, technology, innovation and talent, pointing to DP World’s Jebel Ali Free Zone as an example of the potential of integrating ports, logistics and special economic zones.

Abiodun said the development would form part of a wider multimodal infrastructure network incorporating the Gateway International Airport, dry ports, the coastal highway and the deep seaport.

“History will judge us not by the elegance of documents signed, but by the transformation that follows. Ceremonies proclaim intentions; only implementation creates prosperity,” the governor said.

He assured DP World and other partners that Ogun was ready for business, partnership and delivery, while stressing the importance of host-community participation, environmental sustainability and security.

The signing marks a major step in the revival of Ogun’s long-standing coastal development ambitions and the state’s effort to leverage its strategic location for industrialisation, logistics and international trade.

Presidential candidates of the Accord Party and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Dr. Gbenga Hashim and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, have agreed on the need to form a Government of National Unity after defeating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Hashim disclosed this, yesterday. after meeting with Makinde, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He said the two leaders agreed that Nigeria needs a peaceful political transition followed by a broad based government focused on rebuilding the country and restoring national unity.

“We are working hard to defeat the government of misery and hardship that the government has become,” Hashim posted on his verified Facebook page.

He said the agreement was not merely about defeating the ruling party at the polls but about ensuring that the political transition produces a stable and united Nigeria.

“We both agreed on unity, not just to achieve peaceful change, but a stable and united Nigeria through the formation of a post election Government of National Unity.”

Hashim said a post-APC Nigeria would require the participation of competent and patriotic Nigerians from across political parties and backgrounds.

“A post-APC led Nigeria requires the participation of the best of the most patriotic hands to bring our nation together after twelve years of the most virulent division in our history.”

The Accord Party candidate said Nigeria’s challenges require a national response and that the country cannot afford a narrow, winner takes all approach to governance after the election.

He said the meeting with Makinde represents the continuation of broader consultations among political leaders committed to peaceful political change, stability and national reconciliation.

Hashim said political differences should not prevent cooperation among leaders after the election where such cooperation is necessary to stabilise and rebuild the country.

He dissclosed that there were prior consultations with other presidential candidates on the subject of formation of a Post-Tinubu Government of National Unity and the idea is gaining traction.

“The journey starts NOW, with clear understanding amongst leaders!”

Hashim said the proposed Government of National Unity would focus on restoring national cohesion, rebuilding public confidence, strengthening institutions and mobilising competent Nigerians to address the country’s economic and security challenges.

He also added that, “Nigeria belongs to all of us. After the election, we must put Nigeria first.”

The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening family planning services, increasing government ownership and ensuring sustainable healthcare delivery across the state.

The commitment was reiterated at the Oyo State Bi-Annual Stakeholders Coordination Meeting organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Health and the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, in collaboration with the Society for Family Health (SFH), at Jogor Hotel, Liberty Road, Ibadan.

The meeting focused on strengthening family planning integration, government ownership and accountability under the State Health Investment Programme (SWAp)/MAMII at both state and local government levels.

Speaking at the meeting, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Muideen Olatunji, said the changing funding landscape had made it imperative for government to strengthen its institutions and assume greater responsibility for sustaining essential health programmes.

Olatunji disclosed that the state invested N50 million in family planning commodities in 2025 and had earmarked another N50 million for 2026 to ensure the continuous availability of essential commodities and prevent disruptions in service delivery.

He also disclosed that the state had recruited nearly 4,000 healthcare personnel as part of efforts to strengthen the health workforce and improve healthcare delivery, particularly at the primary healthcare level.

According to him, Ward Development Committees across the state’s 351 political wards were also being leveraged to promote community participation, increase awareness and encourage greater utilisation of family planning services.

Representing the ALGON Chairman, Oyo State Chapter, Hon. Sikiru Sanda, the Vice Chairman, Hon. Olayanju Kazeem, called for increased awareness and sensitisation on family planning among women and families.

He stressed the importance of providing accurate and accessible information to enable individuals to make informed decisions, particularly against the backdrop of prevailing economic realities.

Similarly, the Iya Loja of Ibadan Land, Alhaja Risiwa Oyinlola Amiringun, called for sustained sensitisation and training of market women on family planning, noting that inadequate information and limited literacy could affect women’s understanding and utilisation of available services.

During a presentation on the Society for Family Health’s Delivering Innovation in Self-Care (DISC) 2.0 interventions, members of the DISC team—Mrs. Paulina Adeyemi, Mr. Afeez Tijani and Mrs. Oluwabunmi Olajide—disclosed that more than 1,000 healthcare workers from 573 health facilities had been trained on family planning and counselling for choice.

The team said the training equipped healthcare workers with the knowledge and skills to address myths and misconceptions surrounding family planning methods and provide clients with accurate information. They added that providers were also trained to counsel clients on possible menstrual bleeding changes associated with some family planning methods.

The DISC team further disclosed that Community Health Extension Workers, community mobilisers and Ward Development Committees had been equipped with family planning messages to strengthen awareness and demand creation at the community level.

They added that local government monitoring and evaluation officers had also received training aimed at improving data quality, reporting and accountability.

An assessment presented at the meeting showed that Oyo State recorded 65.2 per cent institutional readiness for family planning, while nine local government areas had incorporated key family planning activities into their routine programmes.

However, Ibarapa North, Saki West and another local government area were identified as requiring further strengthening to improve institutional readiness and programme implementation.

The stakeholders, comprising government officials, local government authorities, development partners, community structures and healthcare workers, reviewed progress and identified areas requiring further intervention.

They emphasised the need for stronger coordination, sustained government investment and effective community engagement, stressing that family planning should remain an integral component of the state’s primary healthcare system through adequate commodity supply, quality counselling, community participation, reliable data and improved accountability.

Presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has revealed the extraordinary family secret behind why his Hausa and royal identity remained concealed from him for almost three decades.

Hashim, grandson of the 40th Seriki of Yauri, said his late father, Alhaji Hashim Abdullahi Yauri, deliberately kept his royal heritage away from him as a child after receiving a warning from an Islamic cleric about possible dangers within the royal family.

According to him, the cleric advised his father against exposing the child’s identity prematurely, prompting him to take what was ultimately a life changing decision, to protect his son by keeping his identity secret.

“He chose protection over inheritance,” Hashim said.

As a result, Hashim was relocated and raised in the Borgu Emirate under a different identity.

Although he was named Abdulmalik at birth, he grew up within a Yoruba cultural environment, largely removed from the Hausa traditions, royal connections and family history of his paternal lineage.

For almost 27 years, he said, he lived without knowing the full circumstances surrounding his identity.

The extraordinary story is detailed in Chapter 13 of his forthcoming autobiography, Sunrise At Midnight, scheduled for publication soon .

The chapter provides an account of his childhood, his father’s decision and the eventual discovery of the heritage that had been deliberately kept from him.

Hashim has previously spoken publicly about his unusual childhood. In an interview with THISDAY, he disclosed that he was born in Yelwa, Yauri, in 1969, while his father was a young police officer. He subsequently grew up with the family of his stepfather, Julius Bamidele Olawepo.

Hashim also paid tribute to his late father, whom he described as a highly influential police officer who rose to become a Police Commissioner and Commandant of the Police College, Kaduna.

Popularly known as “Zaki” the Lion, Alhaji Hashim Abdullahi Yauri was widely respected across Northern Nigeria.

Hashim said the nickname reflected his father’s courage, discipline, strength and commanding personality.

Hashim and his siblings recently marked the 30th anniversary of their father’s passing with commemorative advertisements in major Nigerian newspapers.

For Hashim, the story of his father is inseparable from the story of his own identity.

The father who kept his royal lineage secret was also a man who, in Hashim’s account, carried a formidable reputation in public service.

Hashim’s account also takes him further back into the history of his paternal family, to his grandfather, Seriki Abdullahi Jibril, popularly known as Maiy Yauri.

He described his grandfather as one of the prominent traditional rulers of Northern Nigeria in his era and part of a generation of educated Northern royals who combined traditional authority with modern education, administration and commerce.

According to Hashim, Seriki Jibril, the 40th ruler of Yauri was particularly distinguished by his knowledge of finance and trade, financial prudence, transparency and commitment to education.

He described him as a prominent royal of Hausa ancestry who was honoured with the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) during the colonial period.

Hashim further recalled that British records portrayed his grandfather as an unusually independent traditional ruler who, during the Second World War, exercised a degree of administrative autonomy that distinguished him from many of his contemporaries.

But for Hashim, the story is ultimately bigger than royalty.

It is the story of a father who chose secrecy as an act of protection; a child who grew up between cultures without knowing the full story of his origins; and a family history that eventually returned to him decades later.

“For 27 years, I lived without knowing the full story of who I was,” Hashim said.

He said discovering his Hausa and Yauri heritage did not diminish the Yoruba cultural environment in which he was raised. Rather, it gave him a deeper understanding of the different cultural and historical strands that shaped his identity.

His story, he said, is ultimately about family, sacrifice, identity, heritage and the strange ways in which history can remain hidden for decades before finding its way back into a person’s life.

The Oyo State Government has dismissed as false and provocative, claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike that the Federal Government gave the state N50 billion for the reconstruction of the Ibadan airport.

The government in a press statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Seyi Makinde, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju on Monday, said the Federal Government did not give Oyo a kobo for the airport project.

According to the statement, President Bola Tinubu’s minute on the proposal submitted to him by Governor Makinde was

“Approved at no cost to the Federal Government”, adding that the records are with the presidency and the Oyo State Government.

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has warned residents against buying suspected adulterated palm oil, following concerns over increasingly sophisticated methods being used to manipulate the popular cooking oil.

The warning followed a technical presentation at the 2026 Lagos State Food Safety Conference and Exhibition by Dr Nurah Oseni, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Food Technology at Auchi Polytechnic. In her paper, “Palm Oil Adulteration: Emerging Risks, Detection Strategies and Regulatory Control,” Oseni identified the use of potentially carcinogenic Sudan and Azo dyes among emerging methods of adulterating palm oil.

She also raised concerns about the practice of mixing palm oil with recovered or recycled oils, including spent cooking oil, as well as the use of multiple adulterants designed to evade basic quality checks. According to her, palm oil is particularly vulnerable because of its high volume of trade, consumers’ preference for deep-red colour, price differences and informal market practices.

Oseni advised consumers to carry out visual checks as an initial precaution, noting that genuine palm oil may naturally separate into layers, with the lower portion appearing orange to red-yellowish rather than uniformly deep red. She, however, stressed that visual inspection alone cannot confirm whether palm oil has been adulterated, making laboratory testing important for reliable detection.

The General Manager of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, urged Lagos residents to remain vigilant and report suspected adulterated palm oil and unscrupulous traders through the agency’s official channels. He said market surveillance had been intensified across the state and warned that persons found selling adulterated products would be arrested and prosecuted under relevant laws.

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, fspsp, has described the appointment of the first female Bursar of the university in its 78-year history as a reflection of its enduring tradition, culture and commitment to excellence.

He made this statement at the assumption of office of the new Bursar, Mrs Mariam Adetoun Zakariyah, FCA.

Professor Adebowale asserted that the foundation of the University of Ibadan was laid on an enduring foundation of excellence.

He commended the outgoing Bursar, Mr Adewuyi Popoola, for maintaining the University’s financial stability throughout his tenure.

He said that the process that saw the appointment of the new Bursar was fair, adding that it was without gender or religious bias.

The Vice-Chancellor reiterated that the University of Ibadan was established on a tradition of smooth transition, which he identified as one of the sources of its institutional strength.

He stated that the reputation of UI extended beyond its immediate environment, stressing that its activities are rooted in a commitment to excellence, integrity and service.

He described the appointment of Mrs Zakariyah as a significant milestone, noting that the enduring foundation of UI has sustained its reputation as the first and best university in Nigeria.

The VC emphasised that the standing of UI is not determined merely by its physical structures, but by the way it conducted its affairs and uphold sound values.

The new Bursar, Mrs Mariam Adetoun Zakariyah, FCA, expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor for ensuring that the appointment process was fair and seamless.

She reaffirmed her commitment to lead the Bursary in fulfilling its mandate and ensure effective service delivery.

Mrs Zakariyah promised to deploy her expertise to justify the confidence reposed in her, while soliciting continued support from the universiy management.

The Chief Imam of the University of Ibadan, Professor Ibrahim Olatunde Uthman and the Chaplain of Chapel of the Resurrection, The Venerable Dr. Victor Idowu Oladele, offered prayers for a smooth transition and a successful tenure of the new Bursar.

A support group of friends and family called “Boys4Bidon” has rallied support for the ambition of Okunrin Jeje Abiodun Oni, who is contesting for the House of Representatives seat in the Irepo/Orelope/Olorunsogo Federal Constituency.

As part of their efforts, the support group generously donated four boreholes to be located in Kishi, Igboho, Igbope, and Igbeti, along with solar lights for the town halls in these four major towns within the constituency. This donation is part of the group’s commitment to helping Okunrin Jeje Abiodun Oni give back to and light up his constituency.

Expressing his appreciation for the gesture, Okunrin Jeje Abiodun Oni explained that when he commenced his community engagement, residents shared that traveling long distances to fetch water was one of their major challenges. He noted that the timely support from Boys4Bidon in providing these boreholes and solar lights will significantly mitigate the water scarcity and lighting challenges in the area.

Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, on Monday attended the Young, United and Unstoppable (YUU) concert organised by Ajiboye Sangogade, erstwhile Personal Assistant to former Minister of Power, Bayou Adelabu popularly known as Boye Nation and the JAF Movement at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

The event, which combined entertainment with political mobilisation, culminated in the formal declaration of Boye Nation’s support for the APM. The gathering attracted youths and supporters from across Oyo State.

Makinde’s appearance at the event followed earlier announcements by the organisers that he would receive members of the movement into the APM fold as part of activities marking the gathering.

The programme also featured performances from prominent artistes, including Pasuma, Taye Currency and Qdot, alongside other entertainers.

The Adamasingba gathering adds to the ongoing political mobilisation by the APM ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the party increasingly engaging youth groups and support movements in Oyo State and beyond.

The Ondo State Government has formally requested the constitution of a Coroner’s Court to investigate the deaths linked to the consumption of suspected toxic alcoholic and herbal concoctions in parts of the state.

The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, disclosed this in Akure, saying he had written to the Chief Judge of Ondo State to constitute a coroner’s court to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine their immediate and remote causes.

The development follows a health crisis that has reportedly claimed 49 lives, with hundreds of people affected across communities including Odigbo, Araromi-Obu, New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo and Oniparaga, as well as parts of Irele Local Government Area. Earlier laboratory findings by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) confirmed high concentrations of methanol in samples of the suspected drinks.

NAFDAC said 182 cases of illness and 48 deaths had been recorded as of September 17, while five victims suffered total blindness and two others partial blindness. The agency also reported that 11 of 15 samples tested positive for Cannabis indica, while further confirmatory tests were ongoing to determine the precise concentration of methanol and identify other potentially toxic substances.

Ajulo said the proposed inquest would go beyond determining the cause of death, as it would also examine whether the tragedy could have been prevented and identify measures needed to prevent a recurrence. He added that the state government had commenced a review of the regulatory framework governing the preparation, production, distribution, sale and consumption of locally produced alcoholic and herbal products.

The Attorney-General further warned that anyone found to have criminal responsibility for the deaths would face prosecution, stressing that no person would be shielded because of status or influence. He, however, said suspects would be accorded due process under the law. Meanwhile, investigations by the police and relevant health authorities remain ongoing, with suspects already arrested in connection with the alleged production and distribution of the substances.