President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ikechukwu Ugwuegede to represent the South-East on the board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Ugwuegede, a former Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) between 2011 and 2015, had also contested to represent the Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives during the 2019 general elections under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This latest nomination follows public criticism of the earlier NCC board list sent to the Senate, which had no representative from the South-East.

In a fresh letter to the Senate, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Wednesday, President Tinubu announced Ugwuegede’s inclusion on the board.

Other members of the NCC board earlier nominated and confirmed include Idris Olorunnimbe as Chairman (South-West), Aminu Maida as Executive Vice-Chairman (North-West), and Abraham Oshidami as Executive Commissioner, Technical Services (North-Central).

Also confirmed are Rimini Makama (Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, North-East), Hajia Maryam Bayi, Col. Abdulwahab Lawal (rtd), Senator Lekan Mustafa (South-West), Chris Okorie (South-South), and Princess Oforitsenere Emiko (Commissioner, South-South).

In his letter, Tinubu urged the Senate to give the nomination expedited consideration, assuring lawmakers of his “highest regards and consideration.”

The Publisher of Sahara Reporters and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, has been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja.

Sowore was reportedly picked up on Thursday shortly after leaving the Federal High Court, where he had appeared for a scheduled hearing before Justice Emeka Nwite over an alleged forgery case.

Sources said the activist, who was informed that the court would not be sitting, was accosted by a police officer as he made to leave the premises. The officer allegedly informed him that he was under arrest.

Members of his legal team, led by human rights lawyer Tope Temokun, confronted the officers to demand an explanation. However, the police reportedly stated that they were acting on the “direct instruction” of the Commissioner before escorting Sowore into a waiting vehicle.

As of the time of filing this report, the reason for the arrest remains unclear.

More to come…

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving a cleaner, flood-free, and sustainable environment through closer collaboration with the 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

At a strategic meeting held on Wednesday in Alausa, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, urged council chairmen to intensify efforts in educating residents on proper waste management and sanitation habits.

Wahab said the state was transitioning from a linear waste system (“pick and drop”) to a circular model where waste becomes a resource. He stressed the need for councils to partner fully with the state in tackling environmental challenges and reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills.

He disclosed that the government plans to decommission the Olusosun and Soulos III landfills, which have outlived their lifespan, while maintaining others like the Epe landfill.

Wahab also directed the LGAs and LCDAs to complement the state’s ongoing flood-control efforts by ensuring regular desilting of drainages and maintaining existing flood infrastructure.

> “Now is the time for all LGAs and LCDAs to work collaboratively with the state to find a lasting solution to flash flooding. We have continued to build resilient infrastructure, and local councils must now replicate this effort in their communities,” Wahab said.

He noted that the ban on street trading remains in force and urged council chairmen to enforce it rigorously.

> “If government cannot enforce its own laws, then it begins to look like a failed state,” he warned.

The commissioner assured that Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste operators continue to function effectively and that the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) intervenes when necessary to sustain smooth operations.

Responding, the Chairman of Conference 57 and Executive Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Hon. Sesan Olowa, commended the state government for the engagement, noting that councils were already working toward a cleaner Lagos through improved waste management systems.

Olowa added that some LGAs and LCDAs had procured waste collection tricycles for inner streets to promote house-to-house waste collection, rather than residents dumping refuse along major roads and medians.

He further appealed for support in establishing mini Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) across local councils to enhance waste disposal efficiency.

Also present at the meeting were the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, and the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mr. Bolaji Robert, among others.