The Ghana Police Service has arrested a suspected member of a robbery syndicate and killed two others in a foiled attempt to rob three banks in Labone, Accra.

The arrested suspect was identified as Augustine Maazi.

The police disclosed this in a statement posted on its X handle on Thursday.

According to the statement, the police received intelligence at about 10:45am on August 13, 2026, that a gang was preparing to attack GCB Bank, Ecobank and Zenith Bank, all located in Labone.

“A police team was immediately deployed to Labone where the gang members were spotted in their vehicles parked close to the banks.

“Upon sighting the police, one of the vehicle sped of in an attempt to escape.

“The police gave them a chase and arrested suspect Augustine Okechuku Maazi. The other occupant however managed to escape.

“The robbers in the second vehicle also tried to escape amidst firing.

“The police engaged them in a shoot out resulting in the death of two suspects,” the statement said.

The police said they recovered two vehicles — a Toyota Highlander with registration number GS-1434-18 and a Hyundai Tucson with registration number GS 7915-17 — as well as a blow pistol.

“Suspect Augustine Okechuku Maazi is in custody assisting the investigation while the bodies of the deceased suspects have been deposited at the morgue for preservation, identification and autopsy,” the statement added.

The Ghana Police Service commended the response team for foiling the planned robbery attempt.

It urged members of the public to continue to share credible information on criminal activities.

Saheed OyelakinSaheed is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over two years of experience covering metro, technology, sports, politics, and human-interest stories. He focuses on producing clear, engaging reports across diverse beats. Saheed’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and balanced journalism.

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RATTAWU conferred the award on Ajayi on Thursday at his office, when the National President of the group, Emeka Kalu, led members to a media/security-critical engagement and strategic partnership meeting for national development in Abuja.

Kalu praised the appointment of Ajayi in 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as putting “a round peg in a round hole.”

He added that the award was an initiative of the union designed to recognise individuals and institutions that had made outstanding contributions to national development, security, democracy, culture and the growth of Nigeria.

He said, “Your appointment by Mr President demonstrates the importance of placing capable Nigerians with integrity and professional competence in strategic positions of national responsibility.

“The role of the DSS in protecting Nigeria’s national interests, gathering critical intelligence and supporting national security cannot be overemphasised.

“Particularly now that this country is confronted with complex security and emerging technological challenges, appointments like yours are the best ever done by Mr President.

“That is why this union decided to honour you with the Golden Era Pillar of Critical and Strategic Intelligence for National Development Award.”

Responding, the DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, expressed appreciation to the leadership of RATTAWU for the honour.

Ajayi described the recognition as a significant gesture that would further encourage him and the service to remain committed to their responsibilities to the nation.

The incident occurred late Thursday in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, where workers were constructing a tunnel for a state-run hydropower project.

At least three workers are still missing, while 19 were rescued from the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation site, the State Disaster Management Authority said in a statement.

Videos shared by local authorities showed rescue workers equipped with head-mounted torches using makeshift rafts to reach the flooded section of the tunnel.

Uttarakhand has been battered by heavy monsoon rains in recent days.

Accidents on large construction sites are common in India, but ecologists say excessive development projects have led to more disasters in the fragile Himalayan areas.

Last month, 20 people working in a tunnel for another state-run hydroelectric project were killed in the remote northeastern state of Sikkim.

In 2023, 41 workers were rescued after being trapped for 17 days inside a tunnel that collapsed in Uttarakhand.

Hundreds of people have been killed in floods and landslides across the country since the start of the annual monsoon season in June.

Experts say climate change, coupled with poorly planned development, is increasing the frequency, severity, and impact of the disasters.

AFP

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The International Energy Agency disclosed that more than 115 countries had introduced measures to respond to the energy shock, including energy conservation, price support and structural policies aimed at reducing fuel consumption.

Of these, 94 governments had introduced price-support measures, including fuel subsidies, price caps and tax interventions, while 58 had adopted energy conservation measures and 30 had announced longer-term structural policies to reduce fuel use.

The measures came as the disruption of energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil and gas shipping routes, sent shock waves through global energy markets.

For Nigeria, the impact has been felt through higher petrol prices, with pump prices rising above N1,300/litre in parts of the country before subsiding to N1,200, while the increase in energy costs has also pushed up transportation, food and business operating costs.

The IEA’s head of analysis for its Office of Energy Efficiency and Inclusive Transitions, Jérôme Bilodeau, said demand-side measures could not replace the enormous volume of energy normally transported through the Strait of Hormuz but could moderate the impact of the disruption.

“Demand-side measures are not enough to replace the sheer size of energy that’s transiting through that strait, but it can dampen and moderate the impact,” Bilodeau said during a webinar hosted by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

He said 58 governments had introduced energy conservation measures since the war began, mainly targeting oil consumption through reduced private transportation fuel use, working or studying from home, reduced government travel and adjustments to cooling temperature settings.

Bilodeau, speaking at a webinar reported by S&P Global Energy, said 94 governments had also introduced price supports such as fuel subsidies, price caps and tax measures.

Japan and South Korea, he said, had introduced price caps and fuel subsidies, while Vietnam lowered taxes on electric vehicles and India was promoting electric stoves.

The IEA official said 30 governments had also announced structural policies to reduce fuel consumption over the longer term, including energy efficiency programmes, electrification plans and renewable energy incentives.

In Nigeria, however, energy economists and industry groups have called for targeted measures to cushion consumers from the impact of the energy shock.

A former President of the Nigerian Association of Energy Economics, Prof Adeola Adenikinju, urged the Federal Government to use part of the additional revenue generated from higher crude prices to support vulnerable Nigerians.

“This is the time that Nigeria should say, ‘Look, we are sending some cash to those poor people who are vulnerable,’” Adenikinju said.

He said rising petrol prices had increased transportation costs and worsened inflation, stressing that support should extend beyond civil servants to Nigerians in the informal and private sectors.

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria also urged the government to deploy measures to reduce transportation costs and prevent higher fuel prices from worsening food inflation.

PETROAN National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, said the government should return some of the gains from higher crude prices to Nigerians.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria also called for a reduction in taxes and charges imposed on petroleum products, arguing that this would help moderate pump prices.

IPMAN spokesman, Chinedu Ukadike, said charges imposed by agencies including the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Ports Authority and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority should be reviewed.

“The government should cut down some of these taxes, especially the NIMASA taxes and the rest of them. It will help in bringing down the price of petroleum products,” he said.

He also called for the rehabilitation of petroleum pipelines to reduce the cost of transporting petroleum products by road, as well as the acceleration of CNG vehicle conversion.

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry similarly urged the government to take advantage of the crisis to strengthen domestic refining and accelerate the shift towards alternative fuels.

The Director of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Muda Yusuf, called for fiscal incentives for domestic refiners and greater investment in mass transportation.

But the Federal Government rejected the calls, thereby leaving Nigerians to grapple with petrol, which was an average of N830 in February before the Middle East crisis escalated.

At the height of the crisis, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the government would maintain its market-driven approach, describing the removal of subsidy as irreversible.

“We will not bring back the fuel subsidy because it creates distortions for the economy, and we won’t introduce price control because we believe in the market,” Oyedele said.

Before the removal of the subsidy by President Bola Tinubu in May 2023, petrol sold for about N200 per litre. The price immediately jumped above N500 after the President declared in his inaugural address that “the fuel subsidy is gone”.

The price subsequently rose to about N1,200 per litre in 2024 before interventions by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery helped bring petrol prices down to an average of about N800/litre.

Despite the pressure from stakeholders, the Federal Government maintained that returning to subsidy or imposing price controls would undermine the reforms it had introduced in the petroleum sector.

Oyedele said the government considered market-based pricing necessary to attract investment and maintain macroeconomic stability. However, he stressed that the government would continue to regulate the downstream market to protect consumers.

“There would be regulation in place to ensure fuel suppliers and marketers do not extort Nigerian consumers,” he said.

The minister also argued that the geopolitical crisis could present an opportunity for Nigeria rather than simply expose the country to higher energy costs. “The situation in Iran presents new opportunities for us as the world looks to diversify sources of energy and invest in new markets,” he said.

Oyedele said Nigeria had recorded strong economic expansion in dollar terms, adding that the country remained committed to its ambition of building a $1tn economy by 2030.

Meanwhile, the global response has gone beyond immediate fuel-price interventions as the IEA said heat pump sales in the first quarter of 2026 rose by 22 per cent in France, 34 per cent in Germany and 20 per cent in Poland compared with the corresponding period in 2025.

Electric car sales reportedly increased by 65 per cent in India, 150 per cent in South Korea and 80 per cent in Southeast Asia during the same period. The agency said Japan had also introduced subsidies for electricity and natural gas, while India capped industrial gas usage.

The policy responses have coincided with weaker global liquids demand. S&P Global Energy CERA’s August Short-Term Outlook showed that global liquids demand fell to 99.2 million barrels per day in May 2026 from 105.1 million bpd in May 2025.

 

As a final word on the Osun State governorship poll yesterday, President Bola Tinubu told the people of the state to go out on Saturday and vote the candidates of their choice without fear of intimidating.

Tinubu enjoined all political stakeholders to desist from violence, intimidation, and harassment, and embrace peace before, during, and after governorship election

The president, who was represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the grand finale of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign, said he had put in place enough security measures to ensure free, fair, and credible election tomorrow.

However, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, yesterday, condemned the recent killings in Esa Oke part of the state and the subsequent destruction of property. Adeleke also commiserated with the families of the deceased and other victims of the recent political violence across the state. He ordered more security presence in Esa Oke and its environs.

As part of efforts to ensure security during the Osun State election, Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, announced the prohibition of state government-established security outfits, quasi-security groups, and private security organisations from participating in election-security duties.

Disu said the ban was consistent with established Nigeria Police Force (NPF) election-security directives, in a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu.

The APC rally attracted several APC governors and thousands of party supporters.

Tinubu stated, “Let me assure all Osun indigenes that adequate security have been provided all over the state to ensure people come out to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice without any fear or intimidation.

“Feel very free to cast your votes for the candidate of your choice. My advice, however, is that you choose wisely because there is need to link Osun State to the centre. We are waiting for Osun to join us.

“I can assure you that nobody will molest you. You can only be molested on social media and not during voting. Nobody will harass or intimidate one another. Go out and vote a party of your choice and choose wisely.”

For his part, Akpabio said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu fought for democracy, therefore, he would not allow anybody to molest the already established democracy.”

The senate president equally presented the APC flag to the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

Akpabio described it as the “flag of authority and power”, saying, “This is your symbol of your authority.”

A statement by Akpabio’s Media Office, explained that Tinubu expressed confidence in APC’s chances of winning Saturday’s election, saying the large turnout at the campaign was evidence of the party’s growing acceptance in the state.

“From the crowd here today, I am more than convinced that APC is the dominant party in Osun State,” he said.

He cited the presence of former governor and erstwhile interim National Chairman of APC, Bisi Akande; former National Secretary of the party, Iyiola Omisore; and Senator Fadahunsi as indications of the party’s strength ahead of the poll.

Akpabio also commended opposition figures and political groups that had expressed support for Oyebamiji, describing the development as evidence of APC’s broad acceptance.

He stated, “Let me, on behalf of Mr President, thank the opposition parties in the state led by former governor and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, for queuing behind our candidate.”

He said the support demonstrated that APC was a peaceful political organisation capable of accommodating people across political divides.

Akpabio also referred to the reported endorsement of Oyebamiji by the Accord Party leadership in the state, saying it further strengthens APC’s position ahead of the election.

Beyond the election, Akpabio challenged Oyebamiji to prioritise infrastructure development and improve the living conditions of residents if elected.

Akpabio said, “On a personal note, I am not impressed by the condition of roads from Ibadan to this state. Osun deserves more than this. Osun should be better than what we have now.”

He charged the APC candidate to begin the transformation of the state immediately after assumption of office.

He stated, “Let me at this point charge our incoming governor, AMBO, to ensure that he transforms Osun State through the provision of quality infrastructure and delivery of true dividends of democracy from his very first day in office.”

Kwara State Governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, urged stakeholders to come out en masse and vote for the APC candidate.

AbdulRazaq stressed that Oyebamiji was close to the president, and would be able to attract more federal government presence to the state, saying he would not disappoint the people of the state.

Oyebamiji, in his remarks, appreciated the APC National Working Committee (NWC) for the support given to him, saying the party is well-structured.

He promised that if elected, his government would be an inclusive, stressing that government is a serious business.

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, said the people of Osun should give their vote to the party’s candidate, saying APC is not known for violence, trouble, and intimidation, but is built on good ideology.

Uzodimma stressed that the people should give Tinubu good support in an effort to fix a better Nigeria for all.

In an interesting twist of events, a former presidential candidate of Accord Party, Professor Chris Imumolen, declared support for Oyebamiji.

Imumolen claimed that all Accord members, stakeholders, supporters would give their vote to the APC candidate.

Others at the rally included Speaker of House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President, Barau Jubril; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; Chief Adebisi Akande; Adegboyega Oyetola; and Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Equally present were Ondo Stte Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa; Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun; Kwara State Governor Abdulrazaq AbdulRahman; Edo State Governor Monday Okpobolo; Ekiti State Governor Abiodun Oyebanji; and APC candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sarafadeen Alli.

There were also National Secretary of APC, Bashir Ajibola; Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; Deputy Governor of Delta State, Monday John; APC governorship candidate in Lagos State, and incumbent Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni; National Chairman of APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda; Prof Olu Aina; and Senator Adams Oshiomhole.

Adeleke Decries Esa-Oke Killing, Orders More Security, Cautions Against Incitement

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, yesterday, condemned the recent killings in Esa Oke part of the state and the subsequent destruction of property.

Adeleke also commiserated with the families of the deceased and other victims of the recent political violence across the state.

The governor directed security agencies to intensify surveillance and security operations in Esa-Oke and environs, while ordering the police to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that the perpetrators were apprehended and brought to justice.

Adeleke described the incident as an unfortunate consequence of reckless political incitement, urging political leaders and their supporters across Ijeshaland and Osun State to refrain from actions and utterances capable of triggering violence.

The governor said, “We all have families and friends. We should not preach violence. Senator Fadahunsi issued killing directive; the next day, somebody was killed at Esa Oke, his own zone.”

Adeleke also commiserated with the families of the more than 15 Accord members reportedly killed so far, as well as those whose homes were raided and vandalised, as well as Accord Party members who were illegally arrested in Ikire.

He stated, “Aside Esa Oke, over 20 homes of Accord members were raided last night at Ikire. Some were illegally arrested while houses of others were vandalised. This is not politics again.

“I challenge our opponents to let us fight through the ballot. Since we are practising democracy, we must allow our people to vote. My strength and that of my party is God and the people. We are winning on Saturday.”

Adeleke urged the people of Esa Oke, Ijeshaland, and Osun State, generally, to resist the temptation of attacks and counter-attacks, stressing that the forthcoming election must be conducted peacefully and every voter must be allowed to freely cast their ballot.

He called on political actors to allow peace to reign, warning against the activities of politicians who seek to exploit political differences to shed blood.

IGP Bars State-Established Security Outfits, Others from Participating in Poll Security

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has announced the prohibition of state-established security outfits, quasi-security groups and private security organisations from participating in election-security duties, stating that the prohibition was consistent with established Nigeria Police Force (NPF) election-security directives.

Disu reiterated the ban on armed escorts, security aides, and other unauthorised persons accompanying political figures or VIPs to polling units or collation centres on election day.

He warned political actors, their supporters and all intending troublemakers that ballot snatching, voter intimidation, political thuggery and every other electoral offence would attract prompt arrest and prosecution.

The police boss also announced the deployment of Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Ishyaku Mohammed to Osun State to coordinate election-security operations for the governorship election scheduled for Saturday.

According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, the deployment was part of the Nigeria Police operational measures to ensure a peaceful, secure, and credible electoral process across the state.

He said Mohammed would coordinate the police component of the election-security arrangements and work closely with other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

He would be supported by Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police strategically deployed across the state’s three senatorial districts to supervise operations, strengthen intelligence-led policing and ensure a prompt response to emerging threats.

“The Force has put in place adequate security arrangements for the protection of voters, INEC personnel, election materials, polling units, collation centres, accredited observers and media practitioners before, during and after the election,” the statement said.

The force reassured residents, voters and visitors in Osun State of adequate security and urged all eligible citizens to exercise their franchise peacefully and without fear.

Iniedu said the force remained committed to professionalism, neutrality, respect for human rights and the protection of the electoral process.

At the same time, Kwara State Police Commissioner, Mr. Adekimi Ojo, urged officers and men of the command deployed for governorship election in Osun State to remain neutral and guarded against professional misconduct.

In a statement in Ilorin by the police command spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, Ojo conveyed to the personnel the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tunji Disu, that police officers and men deployed for election duties must remain apolitical and impartial in the election.

Similarly, Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, tasked officers of the command deployed to Osun State for special election duty to demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, neutrality and respect for the rule of law throughout the assignment. Azare stated this while addressing the officers before their departure from the state for the special election duty.

He told them that election duty was a sensitive national responsibility and their conduct must reflect the integrity, discipline and professionalism expected of personnel of the Nigeria Police.

Azare warned the officers against partisanship, intimidation of voters, extortion, harassment, unnecessary use of force, incivility, abandonment of duty posts, consumption of alcohol while on duty, or any other act capable of bringing the Nigeria Police into disrepute.

Return Osun to Mainstream, Barau Urges Voters

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator  Jibrin Barau, urged the people of Osun State to vote for the APC governorship candidate, Chief Bola Oyebamiji, on Saturday, saying the move would return the state to Nigeria’s political mainstream and accelerate its development.

Barau, who is Secretary of the APC National Campaign Council for the Osun governorship election, made the call yesterday at the party’s grand campaign mega rally held at Freedom Park, Osogbo, amid a crowd of supporters.

He identified poor leadership and Osun State’s exclusion from the mainstream of national politics as major factors undermining the state’s development.

He said Osun possessed enormous human and natural resources capable of transforming its economy, but had lacked the leadership required to harness the resources for the benefit of its people.

Barau stated, “Osun State is a state that has enormous potential and enormous resources, both natural and human. But the problem is that it doesn’t have a governor to harness these resources.

“What is needed at this moment is to elect APC’s AMBO, who has the requisite pedigree and the requisite background to harness these resources.”

Sanwo-Olu Drums Support for Oyebamiji

Lagos State Governor and Chairman of South-West Governors’ Forum, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, solicited support for APC and its candidate, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of tomorrow’s governorship election.

Sanwo-Olu, Chairman of the Finance and Resource Mobilisation Sub-Committee of the APC National Campaign Council, who arrived at Osogbo yesterday, joined other governors and party leaders to campaign for the party’s candidate.

Turaki’s PDP Hails Appeal Court Judgement Recognising Guber Candidate for Osun Poll

The Tanimu Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) commended the Court of Appeal judgement recognising its governorship candidate for the Saturday gubernatorial election in Osun State.

Although the party urged its supporters to support the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke of Accord party, it alleged that INEC had not been neutral.

In a statement on behalf of the Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong said, ‘’Our lawyers have informed us that earlier today, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the nomination of Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, for Osun State elections, as submitted by the Kabiru Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately include the party’s logo on the ballot for the elections to be held on Saturday August 15, 2026.

‘’The panel of the Court held that the party having duly conducted primaries which were monitored by INEC, and the name of the winner forwarded to the commission, there was no legal impediment to the participation of the candidate in the elections.”

Ememobong said, ‘’Specifically, it held that the access code for nomination on the portal was a mere administrative formality which cannot override the statutory provision of forwarding names to the commission, which PDP had done.

‘’This judgement confirms the persistent bias and unceasing opposition by INEC against the legitimate leadership of our party, in favour of pretenders who are working for the ruling party. The primaries that produced our candidate was peaceful, transparent, and the result uncontested.

‘’It was duly monitored by INEC, but the Commission blatantly refused to recognise our candidate thereafter and withheld the codes for the upload of candidates from us. The party approached the court and today the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal by the Turaki-led PDP and directed INEC to include the party’s logo on the ballot papers for the elections.”

The statement said, ‘’Though justice has finally been done, in this case the grant of justice is akin to a denial as there is no opportunity for our candidate to undertake campaigns in preparation for the elections.

‘’This ugly situation would have been avoided had INEC chosen to act responsibly and not in the very partisan way that it did and continues to do.

‘’We reiterate our position that INEC is not a neutral umpire, but more of an interested party with the goal of achieving an uncontested or weakly contested elections by the opposition parties, in favour of the ruling party.”

PDP said, ‘’To this end, faced with the unimaginable difficulty that this situation puts on us, the Interim National Working Committee has chosen not to throw its hands up in defeat, which would only align with APC’s wicked playbook.

‘’As a true opposition party and in defence of multi-party democracy, and after exhaustive consultations with key stakeholders, the Committee has decided to support the candidature of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord Party for Saturday’s governorship elections.

“Governor Adeleke is a former member of our party who left because of the state-engineered and funded leadership conflict in our party. We therefore ask all our members to vote for Governor Adeleke. We encourage them to go out on Saturday to vote, defend their votes and ensure that their votes count in the election.”

According to PDP, ‘’Nigerians must resist the shameful do or die disposition of the APC to win elections in places where they are not popular, against the clear wishes of the people. Elections must be a true reflection of the peoples’ wish, freely expressed through the ballot. Anything short of that is robbery and must not be allowed to stand.”

Accord Dismisses Endorsement of APC by Imumolen, Predicts Victory for Adeleke

The national leadership of Accord Party dismissed the endorsement of the APC governorship candidate in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, by the party’s expelled former presidential candidate, Chris Imumolen, describing him as a politician without electoral value or political structure.

Accord, in a statement by its National Chairman, Chief Maxwell Mgbudem, said Imumolen no longer represented the party in any capacity and could not speak on its behalf.

Mgbudem said Imumolen’s description as a “factional chairman” of Accord was false, insisting that the party has no faction.

“That Imumolen attended the APC rally in Osogbo where he backed its candidate is a glaring testament that he is not a member of Accord and does not represent the party in any capacity,” Mgbudem said.

Meanwhile, Accord Party vowed to resist any foul play in the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, the party said it was convinced of Adeleke’s victory in the poll, citing his development strides and achievements during his first term.

According to the party, the wish of the people is for Adeleke to be re-elected.

He stated, “Any foul play In the election will be resisted because the mandate and interest of the people is in Adeleke and the wish of the people is for him to be re-elected.

“We have been in Osun, we have sampled opinions, we have seen the wish of the people that Adeleke must be re-elected.”

Yiaga Africa: Late SDP Inclusion Raises Fears of Delayed Voting

Yiaga Africa raised concerns over possible delay in the distribution of election materials following the last-minute, court-ordered inclusion of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.

Chairman of the 2026 Osun Election Observation Mission, Yiaga Africa, Dr. Asmau Maikudi, said the development had already disrupted INEC’s standard deployment schedule, while the shortened timeframe could affect the movement of materials from the state level to Registration Area Centres and polling units.

Maikudi also stated that the pressure on the deployment process could result in logistical errors, delayed arrival of materials at polling locations and late commencement of polls.

She said, “Yiaga Africa is concerned that such late judicial interventions create avoidable operational pressure and heighten the risk of delayed deployment, logistical errors and late commencement of polls.

“While compliance with court orders is obligatory, judicial decisions delivered at the eleventh hour can impose significant administrative costs on election management and potentially undermine public confidence in the process.”

Maikudi also urged INEC to resolve all outstanding technical issues with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to prevent disenfranchisement, delay, and other operational disruptions arising from technical failures.

She said, “INEC’s mock accreditation exercise exposed significant technical challenges that raise concerns about election-day readiness. Some BVAS devices temporarily failed to recognize voters’ fingerprints, facial features and older PVC records.

“INEC attributed the facial verification failures to an excessively high compatibility threshold affecting older voter data, particularly records that had not been revalidated. If unresolved, these failures could disenfranchise eligible voters, generate tension at polling units and undermine confidence in the credibility and legitimacy of the election.”

Resign in 30 Days, Ajibola Tells Fadahunsi

Osun State House of Assembly member, Hon. Kanmi Ajibola, advised the senator for Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi, to quit his position as federal lawmaker in 30 days over his directive to his supporters to kill members of Accord Party in Ilesa.

Although Fadahunsi had claimed he was quoted out of context, Ajibola, a former Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilesa Branch, said refusal by Fadahunsi to resign from office will be met by legal action.

In a letter signed by Ajibola’s counsel, Ekene Amadi, titled, “Resign now, you have a killer’s mind and lacking strength of character for public office representation,” sent to Fadahunsi, the Osun lawmaker stated that since October last year, the National Assembly member had been threatening to deal with members of Accord Party in the state.

In the letter copied to President Bola Tinubu and Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Ajibola disclosed that himself and Fadahunsi were from the same constituency and belonged to the same party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), before they parted ways when Fadahunsi defected to APC while he left for the Accord Party.

While stating that Fadahunsi was still enjoying his second term in office, Ajibola said he and other members of PDP, majority of whom were now in Accord Party, financially, electorally and energetically worked for his electoral victory in 2019 and 2023.

TICC Questions Unofficial Presence of Ebonyi REC, Pauline Ugoyenka, in Osun

The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) raised the alarm over some disturbing developments ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, particularly the alleged deployment of un-customised ballot papers and result sheets, and the reported unofficial presence of Ebonyi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Pauline Ugoyenka, in Osun State.

A statement by Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee, TICC, Representative Bamidele Salam, said Mrs Ugoyenka, an ICT expert and a close confidant of Governor Hope Uzodinma, was not on the list of Resident Electoral Commissioners deployed to Osun State but lodged at Tees Continental Hotel, Laro Timileyin Street, Ayekale, Osogbo.

Salam alleged that credible reports indicated that she was brought in and previously lodged at Aenon Suites, where alleged hackers brought by APC from Lagos and Abuja were staying as part of a rigging plot.

He stressed that the INEC letter dated August 3, 2026, addressed to RECs from 15 contributing states, identified the officials and states providing supervision contingents for Osun, adding that Ebonyi is not on the list.

Salam stated, “So, who authorised Mrs Pauline Ugoyenka’s presence in Osun, and what exactly is she doing here? This is an election, not a covert operation. INEC must immediately explain her role, authority and activities in Osun and publish the full list of all officials deployed for the election.

“We call the attention of the National Chairman of INEC to this ugly development where a REC chooses to leave her place of posting for an hatchet job in another geo-political zone.

“We demand immediate exit of the Ebonyi REC as she was not posted here for any official duties and her presence constitutes grave danger to the electoral health of Osun people.

“We also seek immediate clarification from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on why electoral materials meant specifically for the Osun governorship election would not be duly customised. Accord will not accept any arrangement capable of compromising the integrity, transparency or credibility of the August 15 election.”

Ijesa South Calls for Peaceful Election

ljesa South Federal Constituency, comprising llesa East, llesa West, Atakumosa East, and Atakumosa West, yesterday, appealed to the people of the area to ensure a secure and peaceful governorship election on Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference, Chairman, ljesa South Campaign Council, Hon. Babatunde Dosu, said, “Our primary objective is to allay any fears regarding the security architecture for the upcoming governorship election scheduled for Saturday, 15th August.

“Your safety is guaranteed, and your vote will count.”

Dosu added, “We wish to assure the public that the election will be peaceful.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria is providing robust security arrangements, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to protecting the democratic process in Osun State.

“At the highest level of leadership, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has personally assured relevant stakeholders that the election will be free, fair, and credible.”

CISLAC: Why Osun Poll Is Under Threat

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) expressed concerns over “the growing threat of electoral violence, political intimidation and vote buying” ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.

It stressed that the combination of violence, intimidation, voter inducement, and heightened security concerns posed serious threat to the credibility of the Osun governorship election and could have wider implications for Nigeria’s democratic development ahead of the 2027 general election.

CISLAC particularly raised the red flag over reports of the deployment of armed military personnel to the state office of INEC ahead of the election.

A statement by Executive Director of CISLAC, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said while extraordinary security measures might be necessary where there were credible threats to lives, electoral materials or critical infrastructure, any deployment of the military in connection with an electoral process must have a clear legal and operational basis, remain strictly within its defined mandate, and be guided by the principles of neutrality, proportionality and respect for the rights of citizens.

CISLAC stated, “The relevant authorities should clearly communicate the purpose, scope and legal basis of the military presence at the INEC office and to ensure that the deployment did not interfere with the independence of electoral officials, intimidate voters or undermine public confidence in the neutrality of the electoral process.”

It expressed worries over the activities of some powerful individuals and groups involved in the recruitment, financing, and deployment of political thugs and other agents of violence to intimidate voters, attack opponents, disrupt political activities, and influence electoral outcomes.

The organisation stated that several unpalatable election-related incidents had been recorded across different parts of the state in recent months, particularly with reports of killings, shootings, clashes, attacks on political gatherings, destruction of property and other forms of intimidation.

CISLAC said findings from independent monitoring, media reports, and ongoing assessments of the electoral environment indicated a worrying pattern of violence, intimidation, and voter inducement targeted at undermining the credibility of the election as well as discouraging citizens from participating freely.

The statement further expressed concerns over reports of the killing of a 14-year-old boy, Ezekiel Olapade, in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, after he was reportedly struck by a stray bullet during a clash.

Edo Govt Blasts Adeleke

Edo State Government lambasted Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke over his comments on the Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

Okpebholo had mocked Adeleke, describing him as a “dancing governor” during a campaign stop ahead of the Osun governorship election this weekend.

But Adeleke declared that he was a “bulldozer” and was unbothered by outside critics.

While campaigning in Osun State for Oyebamiji, Okpebholo criticised Adeleke for spending four years dancing instead of working, saying Adeleke dances before signing documents or eating breakfast, and claimed poor roads in Osun caused his own vehicle to “shake and dance”.

Hitting back at the remarks, Adeleke dismissed Okpeholo, describing him as non-voter and criticised him for entering Osun without proper clearance.

He stated:, “I’m a bulldozer… Some of them are well educated, not like Governor Okpebholo who came to my state. What kind of name is that? You came to my state without clearance from me. These people are not civilised.”

However, Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, during the monthly briefing in Benin, said Adeleke and his nephew Davido, a music icon, were not fair in their criticisms of Okpebholo.

Afegbua said, “So, people have been asking, what is the business of the Edo governor in Osun? The question is, what is wrong to go and campaign for his own party member or his party man who is also contesting the election?

“He needed to show solidarity to his fellow party member, party candidate to see that APC candidate wins the election on Saturday.”

Afegbua asserted that Davido ought to be busy in the studio, composing songs than campaigning on the streets, saying he has become a politician.

He said, “But he has forgotten that people who buy and listen to his songs are not members of our party alone. For which his brother or his uncle is a governor. All kinds of people. So, people should know where to draw the line.”

The commissioner condemned the singer’s attempt to drag Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, into Nigeria’s election.

Afegbua stated, “And the most annoying statement he made was that he was going to write to Donald Trump. Want to write to Donald Trump to ask him to do what? excuse me to just take a lesson.

“Can you imagine the extent people can go when it comes to our democracy. We will sell ourselves as slaves to foreigners in the name of trying to cut relevance. Who the heck are you that you, don’t know who is the governor?”

CSO Raises the Alarm over Alleged Pre-poll Violence, BVAS Concerns Ahead Election

Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA) expressed concern over what it described as worsening security threats, inflammatory political rhetoric, and technical concerns surrounding the INEC Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

The organisation, in a pre-election observation report signed by its Director-General and Head of Mission, Dr. Nwambu Gabriel, urged security agencies to take urgent steps to prevent violence and ensure a peaceful, credible and transparent election.

According to the group, the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise increased the number of registered voters in Osun State from 1,954,800 to 2,339,233, representing an addition of about 384,000 voters.

It described the increase as evidence of growing public confidence in the democratic process but warned that rising political tension and violence could undermine voter participation.

The group also expressed concern over the outcome of INEC’s mock accreditation exercise conducted across selected local government areas, alleging that some BVAS devices experienced difficulties recognising fingerprints, facial features, and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

It said the reported glitches had generated anxiety among voters and urged INEC to ensure all technical issues are resolved before election day.

“The electorate expects a seamless accreditation process. The mock exercise should build confidence rather than create doubts about the credibility of the election,” the report stated.

Group: Don’t Turn Yorubaland into Killing Field and Voter’s Card into War Weapon

Yoruba for Democratic Values (YDV) condemned the inflammatory statements, threats, intimidation, and political rhetoric capable of provoking violence ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State.

The group said, “Yorubaland must not be turned into a killing field simply because politicians are competing for political power. A voter’s card is a democratic instrument, not a weapon of war, and no election is worth the blood of a single Yoruba son or daughter.

“The Yoruba people are historically known for their enlightenment, civilisation, intellectual tradition and deep respect for human dignity. Our rich cultural heritage must not be twisted into a culture of political barbarism where opponents are threatened, attacked or eliminated simply because of their political affiliations.”

It added, “Politics, under ideal democratic conditions, should be a contest of ideas, programmes, character and competence not a contest of violence, bloodshed and intimidation. The lives and safety of citizens must never become instruments of political coercion.

“YDV is particularly concerned about the consequences of reckless utterances and the fanning of the embers of war by politicians and their supporters.

“Such rhetoric can create an atmosphere of fear, deepen political divisions, encourage the activities of thugs and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.”

Group Demands Probe into 29 Deaths, Fadahunsi Threat Claims

Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM) called for an immediate investigation into the alleged death of 29 people reportedly linked to 73 incidences of electoral violence in Osun State ahead of the governorship election, warning that political violence is threatening the credibility and safety of the poll.

The group also demanded a transparent investigation into alleged death threats reportedly issued by Senator Francis Fadahunsi against supporters of the Accord Party in Ilesa.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Salako Kayode, RSM described the reported violence as a disturbing indication of the extent to which political competition had degenerated in the state.

The socialist organisation said no politician, regardless of political affiliation or position, should be allowed to use threats, intimidation or violence against opponents without facing the consequences of the law.

“Such threats must not be dismissed as ordinary political rhetoric,” the group said, insisting that the allegations against Fadahunsi should be investigated and that prosecution should follow if they are substantiated.

RSM called for investigation into all 73 reported cases of electoral violence and the 29 deaths, as well as the prosecution of anyone found culpable for killings, assaults or threats.

“There are far too many unproductive state-owned enterprises, always reporting losses while claiming profits — those profits are just made up,” Prabowo said in his state of the nation address to parliament.

With the establishment last year of Indonesia’s Danantara sovereign wealth fund to manage state assets, “we discovered that there are 1,074 state-owned enterprises,” the president told lawmakers.

“I had thought there were 300 or 400 state-owned enterprises, but it turns out there are 1,074. And these state-owned enterprises sometimes operate as they please, with no sense of responsibility to the nation, to the state.”

So far, 290 have been closed, Prabowo added, and by December 31, there should be no more than 300 left.

“We will close more than 750 enterprises and retain only those that are productive, those that create added value for the people,” the president added, in what “may be the largest corporate restructuring in the world.”

The drive has already saved about 50 trillion rupiah (more than $2.8 billion) in overhead costs, including directors’ and commissioners’ salaries, building and car rentals and business travel, said Prabowo.

The target for this year was to save more than 70 trillion rupiah.

Prabowo mooted the creation of “a special ad hoc court to investigate the management and boards going back 30 years, maybe.”

But he also asked lawmakers to consider a kind of “special amnesty for those who repent.”

AFP

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the materials were distributed under the supervision of the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola.

The distribution had earlier been delayed following a Federal High Court judgment directing INEC to include the Social Democratic Party on the ballot.

The SDP was subsequently added to the list of the 14 political parties for which ballot papers had earlier been printed.

As of 11:30 p.m., buses deployed for the exercise were leaving the Central Bank of Nigeria premises in Osogbo for their assigned local government areas.

Addressing journalists, the Senior Programme Manager, Kimpat Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, Mr Umar Mohammed, described the distribution and arrival of the materials as encouraging.

“It is a very good thing that the materials arrived today. Hopefully, by the time INEC finishes sorting, they will distribute them to all the local governments,” he said.

Mohammed said there had initially been concerns that the court ruling could affect the election timetable.

He explained that INEC had to print additional ballot papers and result sheets following the court order.

“We were worried after the court pronouncement, which led to the addition of SDP to the ballot. This created a logistical challenge for INEC. We felt it could affect the election and probably lead to a call for postponement, but it is good that the materials have arrived,” he said.

He commended INEC’s deployment strategy, saying the commission appeared to be prioritising local governments considered distant and difficult to access.

Mohammed, however, expressed concern that rainfall could disrupt the distribution of election materials.

“I pray it does not rain because the dark clouds are already gathering. Rainfall could make the distribution of election materials difficult,” he said.

NAN

 

ABUJA- It is 1:45pm on Herbert Macaulay Way, one of the busiest roads in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. Top ranging vehicles ply here as a routine because of the presence of the National Oil company on this road. On this particular day a black colour Sports Utility Vehicle idles outside the popular NNPC Towers. Men in suits pace around them, shouting into phones.

Across the road, cars crawl into a Total filling station. Horns blare ceaselessly in a bid to draw attention. But that causes more distraction of its own. However, beside the station, nylon sheets are spread on the ground. Sachet drinks, groundnuts, cucumber, roasted yam, boiled cassava and roasted corn are arranged in rows. Umbrellas and old campaign posters with faded faces provide shade for traders and customers. This is like a full market in session but it is not. It is actually the mini-market that hawkers have unwittingly created to make a living amid the soaring sun.

“This sun can fry an egg,” Paul, a regular at the roadside eatery, says as he fans himself with a file. He shops here as a means of avoiding the high stakes supermarkets that dot the length and breadth of the city.

Less than a metre away, Mama Ada, 52, arranges boiled corn and coconut in a plastic basin. Her customers are bankers, drivers and dispatch riders from offices in the old NITEL building. She is calling out prices when two white Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB, vans screech to a stop nearby.

Fifteen-year-old Hauwa is coming from the other direction with a plastic bowl on her head. Inside the container are various goods for her customers – Water, Gala, chewing gum and sweets inside. Men in a black car jump down and Hauwa drops everything and flees with the speed of light to avoid being taken away. She disappears between taxis in seconds, leaving her tray and her goods behind. Sachets of water and other items scatter on the road. A driver menacingly swerves to avoid brushing them.

Other traders who see the task force in time also took off. Mama Ada drags her basin behind an SUV. A young man with phone chargers tucks his wares into a backpack and disappears into the crowd. In less than two minutes, the stretch is almost empty. This has become the daily routine of hawkers, who had since been barred by the FCTA and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB. But they have refused to leave the road irrespective of measures churned out by the authorities.

They flog the busy areas such as Wuse, Garki, Area 1, Berger, Area 3, Jabi. Hawkers defy government bans to sell in traffic, at bus stops and around government buildings.

‘How Do We Feed?’

For Hauwa, life as a teenager has been difficult and requires struggling to survive. She shares a single room with her two siblings and three cousins in a slum outside Mpape. The room has no running water. They fetch from a borehole 10 minutes away. At night, they sleep on mats on the floor. Her parents are farmers in Niger State. Two years ago, bandits attacked their village. They took food, money and two goats. Months later, drought destroyed the rest of the harvest. “School finish for JSS2,” Hauwa says quietly. “No money again.”

She followed her aunt to Abuja. The aunt sells vegetables in Garki Market and sleeps in a shop. “People say money dey for Abuja. Nobody go tell you say e hard for poor person to get am,” she says, switching between broken English and Hausa as she sets up another tray 30 minutes after the raid. She borrowed the tray from another hawker.

She admits that on a good day she makes between N3,500 and N6,000. Every Friday she sends N10,000 to N15,000 home through a bus driver to her aged parents.

“My capital na N8,000,” she says, wiping sweat with the back of her hand. If they break my tray today, na two weeks food gone.”

She knows the risks. Last month, a friend was hit by a motorcycle while running from AEPB in Wuse. The girl spent four days in hospital. No one paid the bill. The friend now hawks with a limp.

Yet Hauwa is back on the same spot. “If I no come, how we go chop?” she asks.

Her story is not different from that of Felicia who hails from Nasarawa State. “I am a secondary school student. I am selling this groundnut to help my family.” According to her, she has been “lucky enough” to evade the several raids by AEPB enforcement officers because, “I only sell cooked groundnuts and I don’t go near areas where they patrol.”

‘Task Force Collect My Okada’

At Berger roundabout, Musa, 28, moves between cars selling phone chargers, screen guards, earphones and car perfumes. He is fast. He knows which window will open and which driver will wave him off.

Before the okada ban in 2023, Musa was a commercial motorcyclist in Mabushi. On a good day, he makes about N10,000. Then the FCTA banned commercial motorcycles from the city centre and he quickly moved away into hawking, which appears as a fast-moving business in the FCT.

“Colleagues say Area 1 dey move. I follow them,” he says.  Now he averages N3,000 to N4,000 daily. On days when task force raids are serious, he returns home with less than N1,000.

“Now if I see N4,000 I thank God. Government say no okada. Wetin I go do? I get wife and three children for Nyanya,” he says.  He finished primary school in Kankiya, Katsina State. He also studied Arabic under his late father, an imam.

“I go school. Now I dey run from task force like thief. But hunger no dey hear grammar,” he says.  He considered returning to farming during dry season. But his village is close to a forest where bandits operate. Two of his cousins were kidnapped last year. Ransom was paid before they were reluctantly freed and that memory still haunts him even after relocating from his state to Abuja.  He rents a room in Nyanya for N200,000 a year. He wakes at 4:30am to catch the first bus. He returns after 9pm.

“They seized my phone once, and I paid N7,000 to collect it. That week, my children no chop well.”  Musa says he has applied to several driving jobs. “They ask for experience, license, and money for ‘processing’. I no get.”

Mama Blessing, 45, is a familiar face at a traffic light in Wuse II. She sells roasted yam, plantain, peppered beef, dried fish and sachet drinks. She has a small charcoal stove and a cooler strapped to a trolley. This year, AEPB has seized her wares severally but she is determined to keep the business running no matter how hard they push her.

“Sometimes they say pay N10,000 before you collect am. If you no get, them go scatter everything. You go lucky if them no carry you go office,” she says.

She lives in Gwagwalada and manages to pay the annual rent of N350,000. She leaves home at 5am and returns after 10pm. Transport alone costs N1,500 daily.

“Na here better market dey,” she says when asked why she travels from the outskirts to come and sell in the city. “For Gwagwalada, people no dey buy like this.”

Her husband died in 2021 after a brief illness. They have three children, who are all in secondary school. The eldest wants to study nursing.

“I dey manage. Sometimes I borrow money to buy yam and plantain. If they seize am, na wahala,” she says.

She tried selling in Gwagwalada market. “Sales no dey. People dey wait till month end. Here, even civil servant go buy N500 yam when traffic hold am.”

On days AEPB task force does not come, she makes N8,000 to N12,000. After food, transport and savings for rent, she has little left.

BUYERS KEEP THEM ALIVE

In Abuja’s daily gridlock, hawkers are part of the system. In 40-minute traffic jams, N50 sachet water, N100 Gala, N200 plantain chips and N500 roasted corn sell fast.“It’s easier,” says Mr. Emmanuel, a civil servant from Lugbe. “And you pity them too. These children suppose dey school. But wetin you go do? If you buy, you help somebody.”

A banker who works on Herbert Macaulay Way says she buys from Mama Ada twice a week. “Corn and coconut is what I buy for my lunch. It’s cheaper than the canteen and it’s fresh.”  For many drivers, buying is also about time. “If I enter market, I go waste one hour. Here, they bring it to me,” says Danjuma, a taxi driver.

The trade thrives on convenience and compassion. But it also thrives on desperation.

FCTA: ‘ABUJA IS NOT A MARKET’

Over the years, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has tried to enforce the ban on street hawking. Officials say there is no place for it in a modern capital.  They argue that hawking blocks drains, causes traffic, litters the streets and attracts crime.  To streamline its work, the Board maintains outposts in key areas across the city centre backed by mobile teams that conduct periodic raids.

A former Director of AEPB, Dr. Baba Lawal, who has since retired was quoted as saying, “Abuja was not designed for this. We have markets in every district. We have skills centres. We are not fighting the poor. But we cannot allow the city to turn to a motor park.”

“Every week we seize goods and we talk to them. We even counsel them. Two hours later they are back. Until people stop buying in traffic, this will continue.”

The AEPB impounds hundreds of trays, coolers and goods monthly. Offenders pay fines ranging from N5,000 to N20,000 before retrieving seized items. Repeat offenders are taken to court. Successive administrations have built markets in Kubwa, Gwagwalada, Kado, Wuse and Garki. The FCTA also runs skills acquisition centres in some parts of the city where physically-challenged persons taken off the streets are given life skills.  Many of the hawkers argue that the markets are either “too far or the rent is high.” A lock-up shop in Garki can go for N150,000 to N300,000 annually, plus agreement fees.

THE OTHER SIDE

For all the talk about city planning, the human cost is clear.  At an FCT shelter in Bwari, a welfare officer who asked not to be named says most of the children picked up by AEPB are not from Abuja.

“They come because of insecurity, hunger or to meet relatives. Parents think Abuja has money. Abuja is expensive,” she says.

The shelter houses boys and girls between ages 10 and 17 rescued from the streets. Some are reunited with families. Others stay for months.

“It’s not clean,” she says. “Girls get harassed. Boys get into fights. Some get knocked down by vehicles.”

Not too long ago, a thirteen-year-old boy was hit by a car at Area 3 while trying to run away from the task force. He spent two weeks in hospital with a broken leg. A church group paid the bill.

The officer says the cycle continues because there is no alternative. “We counsel them. We tell them to go to school. But when they go home, there is no food for them and they return to the street to struggle for survival,” the official maintains.

‘TELL US WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO EAT’

Although government officials keep mentioning that there are alternatives areas such as Kubwa, Gwagwalada and Area 10 skills centres, Wuse, Garki and Kado markets with lock-up shops, which street traders can patronize for their business, the traders complain that they have no idea on how to access those places and what it costs to do so.

“Government say make we no hawk. Government never tell us wetin we go chop,” Mama Blessing, a roadside corn seller, says, turning her items of trade on fire as she spoke.

But Musa is tired of the talk and he does not believe the government is serious about addressing their needs. “Give us loan. Give us shop. Then talk. You no fit tell person wey dey hungry to wait,” the hustler says

Many others like Musa have tried to survive the hassles on Abuja roads but for how long can they continue without any serious and practical intervention by the relevant authorities? they ask.

For instance, Hauwa’s aunt registered for an empowerment programme being promoted by a local politician last year. She was told to pay N5,000 for forms but nothing came out of it at the end of the day. She is still lamenting how she lost her money to something she now believes was scam dressed like empowerment.

Similarly, Mama Ada, who applied for a space in Garki Market as far back as 2023, said she was put off when the officials demanded for a compulsory N150,000 payment for the “processing” of her application and she lost out because she could not afford the cash.These antics by those who are supposed to help sort out things, have tended to kill initiatives and dampen the creativity of innocent persons.

The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, says banning hawking without addressing unemployment will not work.

“You cannot criminalise poverty,” he says. “Abuja’s economy is built on government and you must understand that when government jobs are few and the cost of living is high, people will certainly find a way to survive.”

He suggests designated vending zones, micro-credit and linkage to markets, adding, “You don’t chase people away; you organise them.”

Economists note that Abuja’s informal sector employs thousands. A 2024 NBS report puts informal employment in the FCT at over 60%. For many, hawking is the only entry point.

A CITY OF TWO WORLDS

By day, Abuja projects order. New flyovers in Wuye and Jahi. Glass buildings in the Central Business District. Police vans patrol major roads. Diplomats and ministers move in convoys. But, in the evening, another Abuja emerges.

At 7pm, the AEPB vans leave. Traffic eases. Hauwa is back at Area 1 with a borrowed tray. She needs N2,000 before going home. Mama Ada made N3,200 today. She will use N1,000 for transport, N1,000 for food, and save the rest.

Musa counted N3,800. He will send N2,000 home and keep the rest for food and bus fare. Mama Blessing covers her stove as the night business ends but she will undoubtedly return at 6am to continue the daily routine of hustling to survive just like others in her group, who see Abuja as the only place where people buy well on the street.

Irrespective of what the FCT and its numerous agencies do to deter them, the hustlers remain under the sun, in the rain, and under streetlights. But, while they run between cars and trucks to avoid being crushed, they are quick to escape before the task force men can pick them or their wares.

In a city designed to be a model capital, they represent a reality officials detest and try to eradicate but with serious headache.

Street vendors interviewed for this report said they are aware of the law but have no alternative than to use available public space for survival.

“If government give us place where people go pass and rent no too much, we go leave road,” Mama Ada said.

Until the economy changes, until there are jobs and affordable markets, Abuja’s last hawkers will keep running.  Because for them, the choice is simple: obey the ban and go hungry, or risk arrest and feed their families.