Category: Local

President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to lift the six-month flight ban imposed on Fuji music icon, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1). The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) sanctioned KWAM 1 after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) accused him of breaching aviation rules during boarding for a ValueJet flight (VK 201) from Abuja to Lagos. FAAN spokesperson Obiageli Orah alleged that the 68-year-old musician brought alcohol on board — an act prohibited on domestic flights — sparking an altercation with a flight attendant. The NCAA subsequently placed him on a no-fly list and petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for prosecution. NCAA’s Director of Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, confirmed the six-month ban, which also affected pilot Oluranti Ogoyi. In an Instagram statement, MC Oluomo likened KWAM 1 to “a prodigal son” who had acknowledged his mistake, apologised, and shown readiness to make amends. “To His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I humbly appeal for mercy towards Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal. I also urge NCAA DG Capt. Chris Najomo and Minister Festus Keyamo to temper justice with mercy and lift the ban imposed on K1 and the pilot,” MC Oluomo said. He extended apologies on behalf of the Fuji star to ValueJet CEO Kunle Soname, the airline’s staff, the pilot, and the public, urging authorities to consider KWAM 1’s five-decade contribution to Nigerian music and Yoruba cultural heritage. The appeal comes two days after KWAM 1 personally apologised for the incident, describing it as “unfortunate” and expressing regret over the altercation. Minister Festus Keyamo has, however, condemned the singer’s conduct as “unacceptable,” calling it “a temporary loss of sanity and control on both sides” and warning that such lapses could have led to tragedy.

Five defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges of carrying out the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. The suspects were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, by the Federal Government on Monday. After their pleas were taken, the prosecution counsel requested that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) pending the commencement of their trial. The defence counsel raised no objection but asked the court to instruct the DSS to allow the accused access to their legal team and family members. In response, the prosecution assured the court that the DSS would comply with the law and grant the defendants the necessary access. Justice Nwite adjourned the case to August 19, 2025, ordering that the defendants remain in DSS custody until trial begins. The Owo church massacre, which left dozens dead and many injured, remains one of Nigeria’s deadliest attacks in recent years, sparking national and international outrage.

By Kamal Yalwa August 11, 2025 The Federal Government has placed 15 northern states on red flood alert, warning residents in high-risk areas to take immediate precautions to safeguard lives and property. In a circular issued in Abuja, the Ministry of Environment’s National Flood Early Warning Centre said possible flooding is expected between August 10 and 14, 2025 due to forecasts of heavy rainfall. The statement, signed by Usman Abdullahi Bokani, Director of the Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, listed the affected states as: Adamawa, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kano, Niger, Taraba, Jigawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto, Borno, and Kwara. Kebbi State tops the list with the highest number of flagged flood-prone locations — 10 towns including Kamba, Kangiwa, Kalgo, Ribah, Sakaba, Saminaka, Gwandu, Jega, and Birnin Kebbi. Bokani urged residents to act swiftly by relocating from flood-prone zones where necessary. He also called on local authorities and state emergency management agencies to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable communities. If you want, I can also make a short breaking-news version of this for social media updates with key points and hashtags to drive engagement.

By Kamal Yalwa: August 11, 2025 The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has announced the dissolution of the State Executive Council with immediate effect. In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Habibat Adubiaro, and released on Sunday evening, all affected Commissioners and Special Advisers have been directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary or the most senior civil servant in their respective ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). Governor Oyebanji thanked the outgoing members for their service and wished them success in their future endeavours. The dissolution, however, does not affect: In addition, all Directors General who are members of the State Executive Council will retain their positions, including:

Jerusalem — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly pushing for the full occupation of Gaza, despite opposition from the public, senior military officers, and the international community. Israeli media quoted an aide as saying: “The die is cast – we are going for a full occupation of the Gaza Strip,” even if it risks the lives of remaining Israeli captives held there since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack. After nearly two years of war — killing more than 60,000 Palestinians and pushing Gaza to the brink of famine — critics say Netanyahu’s move is aimed at prolonging the conflict to maintain his political coalition and delay his ongoing corruption trial. Military and Public Resistance Analysts warn the Israeli army is overstretched, with troop shortages of over 100,000, widespread PTSD, and growing refusals to serve. Several senior officers, including Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, reportedly oppose further escalation. More than 600 former Israeli security officials signed an open letter urging US President Donald Trump to push for an end to the war, arguing Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat. “From the military point of view, Hamas is destroyed. But as an ideology, it’s growing stronger,” said Ami Ayalon, ex-head of Shin Bet. Political Gamble Public frustration is rising over Netanyahu’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire that could secure the captives’ release. A May poll found most Israelis believe he prioritises staying in power over winning the war. “This is madness,” said Yossi Mekelberg of Chatham House. “Any decent leader would have resigned long ago. Everything with Netanyahu is about political survival.Netanyahu wants to ‘occupy Gaza’, what do Israeli people, military think?

Protest is a constitutional right — powerful when purpose-driven, goal-focused, and well-coordinated. But when agitation becomes a theatre of personal drama, it risks losing its soul and inviting cynicism. That appeared to be the case on July 21, 2025, when a demonstration purportedly staged in support of retired police officers took a strange turn under the spotlight of Omoyele Sowore. Multiple video footages from the protest show moments that raised more questions than they answered. In one widely circulated clip, Sowore and a group of co-protesters are seen physically shoving uniformed officers while chanting “Pay Police!” — a curious scene of protesters demanding the police pay… the police. In another video, Sowore is caught on camera pushing a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) to the ground during a heated attempt to breach the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja — a secured facility that is neither responsible for pensions nor gratuities. The confrontation hardly fits the definition of a peaceful protest. Then came the twist. In the middle of his forceful advance, Sowore reportedly lost his eyeglasses. Suddenly, the core issue — pension justice for ageing officers — took a back seat as his post-protest commentary focused on the missing glasses rather than the plight of the retirees. Clips from that day also reveal a pattern in Sowore’s approach: confrontations with officers marked by disdain and public humiliation, even when the officers attempted civil engagement. For many observers, his sudden solidarity with police retirees rang hollow, given his longstanding antagonism towards the institution. This is not without precedent. Sowore has faced similar criticism in the past, particularly after the EndSARS protests, where he was accused by some activists of turning youth-driven struggles into personal platforms — earning the satirical moniker “cashtivist.” The choice of protest location deepens the suspicion. The Force Headquarters has no jurisdiction over pensions; that lies with other government bodies. But the headquarters is home to the current Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun — a figure Sowore has publicly insulted on multiple occasions. Was this protest a genuine call for reform, or a calculated bid to provoke a direct clash with the IGP for viral effect? If there were legitimate gains from the demonstration, they were drowned out by the spectacle — the pushing, the grappling, the grandstanding, and the glasses. The retirees deserve better representation. Better will not come through chaotic chants, forceful incursions into secure premises, or the theatrics of personalities who place themselves at the centre of the story. Given the documented footage of Sowore physically assaulting a uniformed officer and attempting to force entry into a secured national facility, it is fair to ask: should this not warrant an official review or questioning? If such conduct is left unchecked, where is the line to be drawn?