The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has questioned what it describes as a 20-year pattern of the United States repeatedly opposing African positions at the United Nations, asking whether Washington’s relationship with Africa truly reflects strategic partnership.
PeacePro’s concern follows the September 4 UN General Assembly vote on an African Union backed resolution, where 164 countries voted in favour, six abstained and the United States stood alone in opposition.
In a statement by its Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, PeacePro said the latest vote should prompt a broader examination of US voting behaviour towards Africa over the past two decades.
“The map is not the story. The vote is. Why does the United States so frequently find itself on the opposite side when Africa speaks collectively at the United Nations?”
PeacePro said its review of UN voting records indicates that the US has opposed almost all Africa led proposals subjected to voting during the period under review.
The organisation stressed that its question is not anti-American, but diplomatic.
“One vote can be explained as disagreement. A recurring pattern over two decades requires examination and explanation.”
PeacePro therefore asked, “If Africa is genuinely a strategic partner of the United States, why do African collective positions so often collide with Washington’s diplomatic preferences at the UN?”
PeacePro said it is examining the voting record to determine how often the US has supported, opposed or abstained from African sponsored and Africa related resolutions, and whether the pattern has remained consistent across successive US administrations.
“We are not seeking to manufacture an anti-American narrative. We are asking an uncomfortable but legitimate diplomatic question, which is that, when Africa stands together at the UN, how often does the United States stand with Africa and how often does it stand against it?”
The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has challenged any contractor who claims she demanded money from them as a bribe to come forward publicly and make the allegation.
Adeyeye made the challenge on Monday during an engagement with journalists, while responding to questions surrounding calls for her resignation and criticism of her leadership of the regulatory agency. She maintained that she returned to Nigeria after decades in the United States primarily to serve the country and help restore NAFDAC’s reputation.
The NAFDAC boss said she spent about 34 to 37 years in the United States, including roughly three decades as a professor, before retiring and returning to Nigeria. According to her, she had a comfortable life abroad but chose to come back because she wanted to contribute to Nigeria’s development.
“Any contractor that I have demanded money from should come here and tell me! I came here for service. I retired happily,” Adeyeye said.
She criticised what she described as a culture of seeking personal gain in public service, saying the mindset of “what can I get?” and “what is in it for my pocket?” had contributed to some of Nigeria’s problems. Adeyeye said she was motivated by service rather than personal enrichment.
The NAFDAC director-general also highlighted what she described as the difficult financial and operational condition of the agency when she assumed office in 2017. She said NAFDAC inherited liabilities of about N3.2 billion, including unpaid taxes, money owed to staff and outstanding payments to contractors. She said approximately N3.1 billion of the liabilities had been cleared by November 2018.
Adeyeye further recalled that between 70 and 80 per cent of NAFDAC’s laboratory equipment was not functioning when she took over, while the agency’s information and communications technology infrastructure was also in poor condition. She said these challenges formed part of the issues she set out to address after assuming leadership.
According to her, the agency subsequently recorded improvements in its regulatory capacity, moving from maturity level one to maturity level three in 2022, which she described as a major milestone for NAFDAC and Nigeria’s regulatory system. She also cited the agency’s growing recognition and participation in international regulatory organisations.
Responding to the continued calls for her resignation, Adeyeye questioned the motivation behind such demands, insisting that her record should be judged by the reforms and improvements recorded under her leadership.
She said she had returned to Nigeria because she was concerned about the country’s international image and wanted to contribute to changing the perception of its institutions.
“I was ashamed of my country. I came to remove some of the shame. And the world is seeing it,” she said, stressing that her decision to serve at NAFDAC was driven by patriotism rather than the pursuit of financial benefits.
Adeyeye’s latest comments come years after she publicly alleged that some members of the House of Representatives had demanded money from NAFDAC during an oversight visit in 2017, an allegation that was subsequently disputed by the lawmakers involved.
The NAFDAC chief, however, has now turned the challenge toward anyone alleging that she personally demanded money from contractors, asking such individuals to come forward with their claims publicly.
Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, has raised the alarm over increasing attacks, killings and abductions of farmers and residents across the South-West, warning that the worsening insecurity could threaten food production and deepen food insecurity in the region.
The organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, said the security situation was forcing farmers to abandon their farms because of fears of kidnapping, ransom demands and violent attacks. He cited reported incidents across Ondo, Ogun, Oyo and Osun states, including the abduction of farmers and the killing of agricultural workers.
Afenifere also expressed concern over the reported abduction of 33-year-old poultry farmer Ooreoluwa Osonuga in Ogun State and the continued captivity of Debo Farounbi in Osun State despite an alleged N30 million ransom payment. The organisation said such incidents were discouraging farmers from venturing into their farms and affecting agricultural productivity.
The group identified insecurity, falling farm-gate prices, middlemen and alleged destruction of farmlands by herders as major challenges facing farmers. It warned that continued abandonment of farms could lead to reduced food production, rising food prices, unemployment and increased poverty across the region.
Afenifere called on the six South-West governors to strengthen the Amotekun security network by providing more personnel, operational vehicles, communication equipment and surveillance drones. It also advocated stronger military operations against criminal groups, improved border security, enforcement of anti-open-grazing laws and the creation of specialised ranger units to protect forest reserves.
The organisation urged federal and state authorities to urgently coordinate their security efforts and restore farmers’ confidence. It warned that failure to tackle rural insecurity could have serious consequences for the region’s agricultural economy and food security, while traditional authorities in Oyo State also backed calls for stronger protection of farmers and rural communities.
Abuja — The presidential candidate of the African People’s Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has ruled out any return to the fuel subsidy regime, while calling for a new and sustainable pricing framework for petrol in Nigeria.
Makinde made the position known while speaking at the commissioning of the APM campaign office in Abuja, where he reiterated his commitment to the party’s “Reset Nigeria Agenda” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Oyo State governor said the commissioning of the campaign office represented another step towards his ambition of building a country that works for all Nigerians.
“Today’s commissioning of our campaign office in Abuja is another step towards our goal to build a country that works for every Nigerian under the Reset Nigeria Agenda,” Makinde said.
He used the occasion to appreciate supporters, political stakeholders and other opposition figures who attended the event, particularly former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Makinde described Obi as his “brother” and stressed the need for opposition political parties and their leaders to work together ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“As I said in my remarks, the opposition must work together in the forthcoming 2027 election,” he said.
The APM candidate’s position on fuel pricing comes amid continuing concerns over petrol prices, the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy on households and businesses, and the broader cost-of-living crisis facing Nigerians.
Makinde argued that rather than returning to the old subsidy system, Nigeria needs a pricing mechanism capable of providing greater stability and protecting citizens from excessive price shocks while ensuring that the downstream petroleum sector remains viable.
He maintained that the proposed Reset Nigeria Agenda would focus on addressing structural challenges in the economy and creating an environment where Nigerians can enjoy improved living standards and greater economic opportunities.
The call for opposition collaboration is also expected to form a significant part of political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections, as opposition figures continue discussions on how to build a stronger platform capable of challenging the ruling party.
With the commissioning of the Abuja campaign office, Makinde said the APM had taken another step towards mobilising Nigerians and advancing its political agenda ahead of the 2027 polls.
A family in Akure, Ondo State, has been thrown into mourning following the tragic death of three siblings, including 11-year-old twins, whose bodies were reportedly found near the bank of a small river on a farm around the Owena Army Barracks.
The incident, which has left residents of the area in shock, reportedly occurred when the children went to the farm. The circumstances surrounding how the siblings died remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.
The victims were said to include a pair of 11-year-old twins and their sibling. Their bodies were reportedly discovered close to the river, raising concerns among residents about the possible cause of the tragedy.
The development has generated tension within the community, with residents awaiting further information from the relevant authorities to determine exactly what happened to the children.
The identities of the victims and further details about the incident were not immediately available. It was also unclear whether the children drowned or died under other circumstances.
Security and emergency authorities are expected to investigate the incident and establish the cause of death. The bodies were reportedly recovered and taken for necessary procedures as the grieving family comes to terms with the tragedy.
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of children around rivers, streams and other potentially dangerous areas, particularly in farming communities where children may have access to waterways without adequate supervision.
Presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has unveiled what he described as the production backbone of his Energy First Presidential Agenda, promising to raise Nigeria’s crude oil production to a minimum of four million barrels per day; within 24 months of an Accord administration.
Hashim made the declaration when he appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, over the weekend, where he outlined his strategy for using Nigeria’s existing petroleum assets to rapidly expand production.
At the centre of the plan, said Hashim, is an investment programme to bring approximately 3,000 currently non-producing oil wells back into productive operation.
“We have oil wells that have already been drilled, assets that have already been discovered and infrastructure that have already been built. Our first task is to put these assets back to work for Nigeria.”
Hashim maintained that government should prioritise the recovery of existing productive assets over committing scarce public resources to projects like Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, arguing that the road may not bring any revenue to government in the next 20years.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s current crude production of about 1.5 million barrels per day.
Moving from approximately 1.5 million to four million barrels daily would represent an increase of almost 2.5 million barrels per day, or more than 160 percent above current crude production.
The Accord presidential candidate argued that Nigeria’s fundamental problem is not the absence of petroleum resources, but the failure to convert existing resources and productive assets into reliable energy supply.
He said his administration would, therefore, make production recovery one of the first priorities of government.
The proposed programme would identify why each viable inactive well is not producing and deploy the necessary capital and technical interventions required to restore production. These interventions could include well workovers, well intervention, artificial lift systems, repairs to gathering infrastructure, pipeline rehabilitation, improved evacuation arrangements and other field specific interventions.
For Hashim, the 3,000 wells are not merely dormant petroleum assets. They represent what he described as Nigeria’s wasted productive capacity.
“The question is not how much oil Nigeria has underground. The question is why we are not producing the oil that our existing assets are capable of producing,” he added.
He said an Accord administration would establish a National Production Recovery Dashboard to track every intervention, investment and additional barrel generated.
Operators would be expected to provide clear production timelines while government agencies would be required to remove bureaucratic obstacles standing between investment and actual production.
Hashim’s four million barrel production target is also central to his earlier petrol-pricing proposal.
He has proposed ₦605 per litre as the starting price of petrol, with a longer term objective of bringing the price down to between ₦200 and ₦300 per litre.
The philosophy, he said, is straightforward; reduce the cost of producing energy and the cost of energy can ultimately fall.
“That is why increased crude production, domestic refining, lower operating costs, transparent petroleum sector accounting, infrastructure rehabilitation and exchange rate stability are central to the Energy First plan.
“You make energy cheap by making the cost of producing energy cheap.”
Hashim stressed that his four million-barrel target is not designed merely to increase crude exports.
His vision is for Nigeria to produce more crude and refine more crude domestically, with the ultimate goal of creating an energy economy in which Nigeria can supply its own petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and other petroleum products while also exporting surplus refined products to international markets.
He said an Accord administration would use the expanded petroleum production base to support a wider energy transformation involving gas-to-power, independent power projects, captive and embedded generation, mini-grids, petrochemicals and industrial energy infrastructure.
Nigeria, he said, must first have enough affordable and reliable energy to power its factories, farms, transport system and homes before allowing the energy transition debate to become disconnected from the country’s enormous energy deficit.
Hashim said his objective is to make Nigeria a country capable of providing the world with a stable, reliable and consistent supply of both crude oil and finished petroleum products.
“We want Nigeria to become an energy power, not merely a country that happens to have oil,” he said.
The Lagos State Government has reminded parents and guardians of their consumer rights, warning schools against unnecessarily compelling them to purchase approved books, uniforms and stationery directly from the schools.
The government, through the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), issued the reminder on Sunday as schools prepare to reopen across the state.
LASCOPA urged parents and guardians to be aware of their rights and report cases involving consumer protection concerns.
According to the agency, parents are often given lists of approved books, stationery and uniforms after completing their children’s admission process.
However, the government noted that where equivalent approved items are reasonably available from other suppliers at lower prices, parents should not be unnecessarily compelled to buy them directly from the school.
The agency said the move is aimed at protecting consumers and ensuring that parents and guardians are treated fairly.
A pastor identified as Bidemi Odukoya of the Celestial Church of Christ, Iri Orun Parish, has allegedly killed his wife during a domestic altercation at their residence in Ogooluwa community, Akiode Ibogun, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, before reportedly taking his own life.
The incident reportedly occurred around 2am on Monday, August 31, 2026, after the couple allegedly engaged in a domestic fight. Odukoya, who was said to be the father of three boys, reportedly attacked his wife during the altercation.
A neighbour, identified as Oseni, said the couple had a history of domestic disputes, revealing that neighbours had previously intervened in their disagreements. She said police were also once involved in one of the couple’s disputes, after which residents believed the matter had been resolved.
According to Oseni, the couple’s 14-year-old son, Daniel, raised the alarm after his father allegedly attacked his mother. She said she and another neighbour rushed to the residence, where they reportedly found the woman lying lifeless with severe injuries to her head.
The neighbour alleged that Odukoya used a machete and a wooden stool during the attack. She added that the pastor was also reportedly seen holding a cutlass at the scene.
The community youth leader, Seun Adelana, said allegations of infidelity were believed to have contributed to the disagreement between the couple. According to him, Odukoya had allegedly accused his wife of having an affair with another man, while there were also claims within the community that the pastor himself was involved with another woman.
Adelana said the alleged accusations reportedly escalated the disagreement between the couple, eventually resulting in the fatal attack.
Following the incident, Odukoya reportedly left the area and headed towards the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. The Baale of the community, Taiwo Akiode, said witnesses reportedly saw the pastor crossing the expressway several times before eventually sitting on the median.
According to the traditional ruler, Odukoya subsequently moved into the path of an approaching truck and was reportedly struck by the vehicle. He reportedly died from the impact.
The incident has reportedly thrown the Ogooluwa community into shock, particularly because of the history of domestic disputes involving the couple. Residents are also concerned about the welfare of their three children following the deaths of both parents.
The circumstances surrounding the wife’s death and the pastor’s subsequent death are expected to be investigated by the police to establish the sequence of events and determine the facts surrounding the incident.
Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has warned traditional rulers in the state against getting involved in partisan politics, saying monarchs who choose to participate in political activities should be prepared to face public criticism.
Makinde gave the warning while stressing the need for traditional institutions to preserve their neutrality and remain fathers to all, irrespective of political affiliation.
The governor said traditional rulers occupy a sensitive position in society and should therefore avoid actions that could create divisions among their subjects or make the palace appear to be supporting one political party against another.
“Any traditional institution that gets involved in politics, we will abuse them. Traditional institutions should accept all of us as their children. Any traditional ruler who interferes in politics will be equally insulted,” Makinde said.
The statement is coming amid renewed debate over the political activities of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, who was a former governor of Oyo State and has recently made comments on political developments ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ladoja had, in May, said politicians were free to use his name in their campaigns, but maintained that it would ultimately be the electorate who would determine who governs Oyo State. More recently, controversy has surrounded the monarch’s public engagements and comments perceived by some political actors as having political implications.
Makinde’s latest comments therefore appear to reinforce his earlier position that traditional institutions should remain above partisan politics. In April, Ibadan elders similarly urged the Olubadan to stay away from partisan politics and maintain the position of a father to politicians across party lines.
The governor’s position is also significant against the backdrop of the increasingly visible political contest ahead of the 2027 elections, with traditional institutions expected to play their historic roles of promoting peace, unity and stability rather than becoming aligned with competing political interests.
Makinde stressed that traditional rulers should embrace everyone within their domains as their children, regardless of whether they belong to the ruling party or opposition. His remarks are likely to generate fresh discussion about the appropriate boundaries between traditional authority and partisan politics in Oyo State.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the removal of petrol subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has significantly increased the financial resources available to state and local governments across Nigeria.
Sanwo-Olu said the policy, though initially difficult for Nigerians, had resulted in a substantial increase in federal allocations to the subnational governments, giving states and local councils greater capacity to execute development projects and meet their obligations.
The governor made the remarks while defending the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms and dismissing calls by some politicians for the return of fuel subsidy. According to him, politicians promising to restore the subsidy are engaging in populist politics and making promises that may not be sustainable.
Sanwo-Olu noted that monthly allocations to states and local governments have more than doubled in naira terms since the removal of the subsidy. He argued that the increased allocations have provided subnational governments with additional resources to fund infrastructure, social services and other development programmes.
He maintained that before the subsidy removal, a significant portion of government resources was committed to maintaining the subsidy regime, limiting the funds available for development at the state and local government levels. The reform, he said, has changed the fiscal position of the subnational governments.
The Lagos governor therefore urged Nigerians to consider the long-term benefits of the reform rather than calls for a return to the old subsidy regime. He said reversing the policy without addressing its fiscal implications could undermine the gains recorded in government revenue and funding for the states and local governments.
Sanwo-Olu’s position comes amid renewed debate over the impact of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians, particularly following calls by opposition figures and other stakeholders for measures to reduce the hardship associated with higher petrol prices.
He maintained that the focus should now be on ensuring that the additional revenues accruing to governments are translated into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens through effective governance, infrastructure and social interventions.
