Category Nigeria News

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to immediately take responsibility for completing the long-abandoned National Library of Nigeria project in Abuja, warning that a national monument of such importance should not be left to private charity.

Reacting to recent comments by First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, who announced her intention to support the library’s completion as part of her birthday celebrations, the ADC in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed appreciation for her gesture, but stressed that the National Library cannot be reduced to a personal pet project.

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According to the party, the National Library, established by an Act of Parliament in 1964, is the custodian of Nigeria’s collective memory and intellectual heritage. In this regard, its completion and long-term maintenance, the ADC argued, must be prioritized through transparent, sustainable and predictable national funding, not through goodwill donations.

Read the full statement:

“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) acknowledges and appreciates the thoughtful gesture of The First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, in drawing attention to the abandoned National Library of Nigeria project in Abuja as part of her birthday celebrations.

“However, as a responsible party, we must firmly state that the National Library of Nigeria cannot, and must not, be reduced to the status of a personal pet project of any individual, no matter how well-intentioned.

“The National Library is a living repository of our collective memory and intellectual heritage. It is the custodian of Nigeria’s story, culture, research, and knowledge production. It is not just another building.

“It was established by an Act of Parliament in 1964, as a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure that future generations have access to the wealth of knowledge needed to build a progressive and enlightened society. Therefore, for sustainability purposes, the library and its projects must be funded through national budgetary provisions.

“Now that Mrs. Tinubu has shown interest in the National Library, what is required is not personal charity, but presidential attention. The First Lady should use her influence to impress upon President Tinubu the urgency of completing this project through budgetary allocations.

“From what we know, the responsibility for its funding was at some point shifted to TETFUND. This explains why neither the library’s budget for 2024 nor 2025 included any direct budgetary allocations.

Let us be clear that the Nigerian National Library is far too significant to be ignored or left to rely on well-intentioned people’s good will. Being purposefully overlooked in the appropriation process would not allow a country to preserve its intellectual heritage.

Thank you, Mrs. Tinubu thanks her for her concern and for bringing attention to this neglected project for a while.

Bamidele Akingboye, the Social Democratic Party candidate for the Ondo State governorship election on November 16, 2024, has passed away.

Oyeniyi Akingboye passed away earlier on Wednesday at his home in Victoria Garden City, Lagos, according to a statement from his aide.

Read more about Sanwo-Olu’s celebration of the second anniversary of the Lagos Blue Rail, which reduces costs by 50%.

Akingboye, a well-known businessman and a mentor to many across Nigeria and beyond, is credited with his unwavering integrity, humility, and generosity.

His wives, children, grandchildren, and siblings remain. In this difficult time of grief, the family has requested privacy, and it will inform the family about burial plans and other details.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, has approved a 50% reduction in the blue rail line corridor’s fare for the fourth of September 2025.

The governor’s decision is one of many events commemorating the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line’s second anniversary.

Governor Sanwo-Olu thanked the blue rail line’s riders for their support of embracing rail travel.

He asserts that everyone in Lagos should be responsible for the rail system and that progress is possible because of its belief in a larger Lagos.

Additionally, LASPA and LASTMA order hotel business operators to obtain approval.

The Consultant, Corporate Communication released a statement.
Kolawole Ojelabi, the head of LAMATA, stated: “To mark this second anniversary, I’m pleased to announce a 50% reduction in fares on the Blue Line for tomorrow, Thursday, September 4, 2025.

I urge you to take a ride on the Blue Line and see what we have created together if you have not yet taken a ride. ”

With the launch of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line, Lagos Rail claimed two years ago that we had taken a brave step. Looking back on how far we have come, I now have a strong sense of pride and gratitude.

According to Governor Sanwo-Olu, the Blue Line has transported more than five million passengers safely and accident-free in the past two years.

Trains now travel every ten minutes, making over 90 trips per day. Traveling has now become much quicker and simpler. These accomplishments demonstrate how we can create systems that truly serve the people, according to the governor.

Citizens should avoid traveling on dangerous routes, according to Mercy Oluwagbenga, a young Nigerian who was saved from Libya.

After a viral video of her crying out for help, Miss Oluwagbenga recently received a viral rescue from Libya.

She narrated her ordeal to the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) and said, “No matter what your situation, do not travel through dangerous routes.”

She claimed to have been lured to Libya with the promise of greener pastures to enable her to raise money to care for her sick mother and that she had dropped out of school at the age of 20 and had been told by NiDCOM boss Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Instead, the returnee claimed to have found herself enslaved today.

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I worked without a kobo for a year and six months because I had to pay the agent who took me to Libya about two and a half million naira. She recalled movingly as she was maltreated, changed jobs, and was once locked up in a house where her blood was allegedly drawn without my knowledge.

She lamented that Nigerians in her situation were “treated like animals,” referring to her experience as a Kabba in Kogi State, and that she was fortunate to have escaped into a camp.

She thanked Dabiri-Erewa, NIDCOM, and Trinity Foundation Dr. Segun Abraham for ensuring her safe return.

“I don’t want any young people to experience what I did.” As she pledged to work with NIDCOM to raise awareness of irregular immigration, Miss Oluwagbenga pleaded, “Please don’t follow this route.”

She lamented the death of her ill mother in Libya and demanded money to help her get back to the 300 Level school she had abandoned.

Dabiri-Erewa praised Miss Oluwagbenga for her bravery and survival, referring to her as “one of the lucky ones,” noting that many others have died in the desert or the Mediterranean Sea and some remain untraceable.

The NIDCOM boss cautioned Nigerian youths to always look for safe and legal ways to travel and reiterated that irregular migration amounts to “voluntary suicide.”

She thanked Dr. Segun Abraham for his financial support, which allowed for the repatriation.

Dabiri-Erewa added that NIDCOM will support her full recovery and continue to work with partners and stakeholders to protect Nigerians, as well as intensifying advocacy to combat the threat of human trafficking and irregular immigration.

100, 000 construction artisans in Nigeria have already received training, certification, and job placement thanks to the Federal Government.

As authorized by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday, Polaris Capital Limited will implement the training in partnership.

Federal funding for the three-year initiative will be matched by donor contributions, private sector investment, and donor contributions. Additionally, it includes a digital booking and verification system that will help the program stay in operation after the MoU period while connecting artisans directly to employment opportunities.

The Permanent Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, &nbsp, and Vihishima, the Ministry’s representative, officially signed the MoU at the conclusion of the signing ceremony.

The development marked the start of a national initiative to close skills gaps in the housing and construction industries, according to a statement from the Ministry.

Belgore noted that the initiative aims to modernize Nigeria’s construction workforce.

He emphasized that the program would increase technical skills, foster employment for young people and artisans, and foster inclusivity by involving women, youth, and people with disabilities.

The program includes trades such as plumbing, electrical installations, carpentry, painting, welding, tiling, POP and screeding, upholstery, air conditioning, and refrigeration.

At the time of reporting, neither the pilot’s starting and destination have been specified.

The National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP) is being officially launched by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Polaris Capital Limited (FMLUD) on September 2, 2025.

The statement read in part as “NASAP is a nationwide intervention program designed to train, certify, and digitally connect 100, 000 artisans in priority construction trades to job opportunities across Nigeria.

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Kelvin Vihishima, the CEO of Polaris Capital Limited, described the partnership as a crucial step in the direction of reviving the housing sector and reducing unemployment. He cited the need for training and certification to combat quackery in the construction industry and provide skilled labor all over the country.

The pact, which is based on accountability and long-term economic impact, is emphasized in the statement. It also reflects the Ministry’s commitment to developing skills, creating jobs, and fostering sustainable urban growth.

The National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP) pilot program was announced in June that the Federal Government would use the Ministry to do so in 2025.

In order to cover 10 highly sought-after construction trades, the pilot aimed to train 3, 000 artisans over the course of six months of intensive instruction spread out across three distinct states. The initiative aims to improve housing quality, improve the quality of housing, and address the lack of skilled labor in the construction industry. It also aims to provide practical, market-ready skills to Nigerian youth.

In order to prepare journalists for reporting stories involving children, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information held a two-day regional workshop in Kano.

Participants from Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, were a part of the workshop, which started on Monday.

Rahama Muhammad, UNICEF’s Kano Field Office’s head, referred to ethical reporting on children as “a vital service to democracy and the community,” stressing that journalists must place a value on children’s welfare over sensationalism in their keynote address.

According to Muhammad, “ethical journalism strengthens social cohesion, protects the vulnerable, and fosters trust.”

An ethical story defends a child’s right to a future free from shame and harm, according to the statement “A sensational headline about a child might sell newspapers.”

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He warned against publishing the names, photos, or other identifying details of children who had been victims of violence, conflict, or abuse, as these actions could re-traumatize victims, stigmatize families, and harm children for a long time.

He also urged journalists to support ongoing efforts to uphold child’s rights, warning that those who distribute harmful online content could face legal action.

In the same vein, the Federal Ministry of Information’s Head of the Child Rights International Bureau (CRIB) advised participants to strike a balance between compelling storytelling and the highest standards of journalistic integrity.

You play a crucial role in influencing decisions that affect children, according to Falayi, and you have a crucial role in protecting children’s rights.

“This training provides an opportunity to learn more about Nigeria’s children’s specific vulnerabilities, ethical principles, and child protection laws.”

He acknowledged the contributions of Nigerian media professionals and child rights advocates from all over the country. He also noted that while progress has been made in highlighting child-related issues, much more needs to be done to ensure that young people in Nigeria grow up in a safe and honorable environment.