Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, has demonstrated grassroots governance through a series of empowerment and welfare initiatives in her constituency, Apapa 1. During the Annual Stakeholders’ Meeting themed “Governance in Action: The Gains of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Meranda distributed food palliatives to over 500 households and provided N100,000 each to more than 100 small-scale traders. In partnership with Zenco Group, five students were awarded full tertiary scholarships, while 200 students graduated from a summer coding boot camp. She highlighted these efforts as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing progress in job creation, education, and infrastructure. Meranda also announced upcoming road rehabilitation projects in collaboration with the Lagos State Public Works Corporation and cited ongoing community water projects. Reaffirming her dedication to education, employment, and social welfare, she pledged continued collaboration with residents to make Apapa 1 a model of effective governance in Lagos State.

Long queues in filling stations across Lagos State have been reported, despite the suspension of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) strike. The queues began to build up on Tuesday due to fear that premium motor spirit might become scarce due to the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) strike. Independent marketers, including Mobil, Total, and Conoil, have also experienced supply shortages. The queues have caused traffic gridlock on major roads in Lagos. Filling stations along the Alausa axis, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited stations, and stations near Isolo General Hospital have also experienced fuel shortages. The Vice National President of Independent Petroleum Marketers, Hammed Fashola, stated that the fuel queues were caused by the two-day strike by tanker drivers. The National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) members called off their strike on Tuesday and resumed loading fuel today. Lagosians have expressed frustration over the fuel scarcity, with some calling on President Bola Tinubu to call oil marketers to order.

The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) Chairman, Prof Tunji Olaopa, has emphasised the importance of working with the National Youth Service Corps for the development of a new generation of public service managers. He emphasised the need for inter-generational conversation, mentoring, and education to create a new generation of leaders and public managers. Olaopa emphasised the importance of aligning national values and diversity elements with the merit system. The goal is to build a value-based civil service that is people-focused, professional, technology-enabled, entrepreneurial, and accountable for quality service. The FCSC and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development are seen as strategic partners, and an inter-agency public service orientation mentoring program will be developed to build upcoming youth as new generation public managers.

Magboro residents in Ogun State are frustrated by the poor condition of the road linking various communities to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The Chairman of the Accord/Charity Community Development Association in Makogi, Pastor Kehinde Solomon, has appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to repair the roads. The road's deplorable state has caused hardship for commuters and has led to some commercial motorcyclists avoiding the area during rainy periods.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, presented a proposed budget of N4.237 trillion for the 2026 fiscal year to the House of Assembly, highlighting its goal of promoting shared prosperity. The proposal is anchored on four pillars: a human-centred approach, modern infrastructure, a thriving economy, and good governance. Sanwo-Olu noted that the budget reflects significant growth, increasing from N1.1 trillion in 2021 to the proposed N4.2 trillion in 2026, marking an increase of over N3 trillion during his administration. He emphasized the commitment to complete ongoing projects and improve the quality of life for all residents.

President Bola Tinubu has extended his condolences to the government and people of Namibia over the passing of their president, Hage Geingob. Geingob died in the early hours of Sunday in a hospital in the capital city of Windhoek, Namibia’s presidential office said in a statement. The 82-year-old, who was serving his second term as president, revealed last month that he was receiving treatment for cancer. Tributes for the 82-year-old statesman poured in from African leaders who saw him as a hero of democracy. Also, former President Olusegun Obasanjo described the late Geingob as “a patriot and a veteran of Namibia’s independence struggle who served in top political positions since independence in 1990.” Also, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, in a post on X, said, “Today, South Africa joins the people of our sister state Namibia in mourning the passing of a leader, patriot, and friend. AFP also reports that United States President Joe Biden, hailed the late president as “a fearless leader, fighting for independence, overseeing the drafting of the new nation’s constitution, and serving his country twice as prime minister and finally as president.