Year: 2026

By Talatu Maiwada

P-GAT Industries Ltd. on Monday unveiled 300 electric tricycles under its Affordable Transport Solution (ATRaS) initiative to ease transportation costs and create employments in the North-East.

The Chairman of the company, Mr Prime Timothy, disclosed this at the ATRaS Mobility Transition Summit in Numan, Adamawa State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit attracted government officials and stakeholders from the six North-East states.

Timothy said the ATRaS ecosystem was a long-term strategy designed to expand access to affordable, efficient and environmentally friendly mobility services.

“The initiative will provide an integrated transportation system across the six North-East states in its first phase.

“The electric-powered tricycles will reduce transportation costs, create employment opportunities and support the transition to cleaner energy.

“Passengers will pay about half of the fares charged by conventional commercial tricycles,” he said.

Timothy added that the initiative would also create economic opportunities for women and youths across the region.

In his remarks, Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno State said his administration had created a conducive environment for investors to thrive.

Represented by Mrs Nafisa Tijani of the Borno State Investment Promotion Agency, the governor said the state had removed bottlenecks in licensing and regulatory processes, enabling businesses to commence operations within two months.

He expressed confidence that the favourable business environment would support the successful implementation of the transport scheme in the state.

Also speaking, Mr Timothy Iwuagwu, National President of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, expressed optimism about the success of the project.

Iwuagwu said improved security across the North-East would attract more investments to the region.

He described the ATRaS initiative as a major step toward making transportation more affordable, accessible and environmentally sustainable.

NAN also reports that officials from Taraba, Yobe and Bauchi states pledged support for the initiative and expressed readiness to partner with the company in their respective states. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

 

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday adjourned a suit filed by Mr Nafiu-Bala Gombe to stop the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from parading themselves as leaders of the party until June 30.

The matter, which was fixed for today for hearing of all pending applications, could not proceed.

Earlier when the matter was called, all the lawyers to the parties were present except Mr Suleiman Usman, SAN, counsel for Sen. Mark, the embattled National Chairman of ADC.

With the agreement of counsel, Justice Peter Lifu stood down the matter for 15 minutes to give Usman the opportunity to also be heard, and another case was called pending the senior lawyer’s arrival.

However, after the case ended, Justice Lifu stood down proceedings and rose.

Lawyers were then asked to take another date after waiting for some minutes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Lifu had, on June 16, fixed today for hearing of all the pending applications after he dismissed the application seeking his recusal from the case.

The judge, who held that the two motions filed by ADC and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (1st and 3rd defendants) lacked merit, awarded a fine of N1 million each against ADC and Aregbesola, the embattled National Secretary of the party, in favour of Gombe.

ADC and Aregbesola had, in separate motions, asked Justice Lifu to withdraw from the suit filed by Gombe, an aggrieved party member, citing alleged bias.

NAN reports that Gombe, in the suit, is seeking an order restraining Mark, Aregbesola and members of their interim National Working Committee (NWC) from parading themselves as the party’s leaders.

He had argued that the emergence of Mark, Aregbesola and other interim NWC members as party’s leaders breached the provisions of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

Gombe had sued ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Ralph Nwosu as 1st to 5th defendants respectively in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025.

Nwosu was the former ADC National Chairman who stepped down for David Mark leadership of the party.

The organisation also claimed that there was alleged disagreement over funds which was responsible for a reported dispute between Gbajabiamila and Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew.

 

President Bola Tinubu has been asked to probe his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and order a full, independent and transparent investigation into allegations of misconduct and an alleged kickback request.

 

In an open letter addressed to the President and copied to the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), BudgIT,

Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE Nigeria), a civil society, Nigerians for Accountability and Integrity (NANI), said it was concerned about alleged irregularities surrounding the purported establishment and recognition of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

 

The letter, signed by NANI’s Public Relations Officer, Hauwa Yelwa, claimed that there were unresolved contradictions between official denials of knowledge of the councils and their alleged inclusion in official government documents.

 

The group stated: “We demand the immediate suspension of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, pending the outcome of a full, independent, and transparent investigation into serious allegations relating to the purported establishment, recognition, and inclusion of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).”

 

According to the group, documents allegedly linked to the councils and provisions reportedly contained in the 2026 Appropriation Budget raise questions about governance, due process and accountability.

“Our investigations and collated reports have shown that there are unresolved contradictions between official denials of knowledge by Femi Gbajabiamila regarding these councils and their apparent inclusion in official state documentation, including provisions reportedly reflected in the 2026 Appropriation Budget,” the statement said.

 

NANI further alleged that it was in possession of evidence linking the Chief of Staff to the processing of grants earmarked for the councils.

 

The organisation also claimed that there was alleged disagreement over funds which was responsible for a reported dispute between Gbajabiamila and Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew.

 

In addition, the group alleged that individuals who attempt to raise concerns regarding the matter have faced intimidation and threats, and called for protection for potential witnesses.

 

The group said: “There are additional allegations circulating from multiple independent sources suggesting a recurring pattern in which access, appointments, or official facilitation within certain government structures are allegedly influenced through unofficial or monetised channels, only for such arrangements to later be disowned when controversies arise.

 

“It is also alleged that individuals who attempt to raise objections or report grievances in relation to such dealings are subjected to intimidation or threats. These are grave allegations that, if left unaddressed, risk undermining public confidence in the integrity of this government.”

 

NANI also expressed concern for the safety of Prince Matthew, alleging that he was reluctant to publicly discuss the matter due to fears for his security.

 

The group drew parallels with previous anti-corruption actions taken by the Federal Government, including the suspension of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, arguing that similar standards of accountability should apply to all public officials regardless of status.

 

The organisation urged the President to take five immediate steps, including the suspension of the Chief of Staff pending investigation, the establishment of an independent investigative panel, a comprehensive audit of all documentation and budgetary allocations linked to the councils, protection for whistleblowers and witnesses, and assurances that due process would be followed,” the group stated.

Copies of the letter were sent to several national and international organisations, including anti-corruption agencies, civil society groups, security agencies, diplomatic missions and multilateral institutions.

 

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Presidency nor Gbajabiamila had publicly responded to the allegations contained in the letter

 

– under the partnership, IDENTICO ”will create a respectable and trustworthy identity for each artisan certified by BACSAAN as a reliable and competent skilled handwork professional” – Adekola

 

–  Contact and artisans’ support Officer –  Ms. Dolapo Aladeokomo –    09021451667

 

(BACSAAN National President. Haj. Fasasi Muhammad Jamiu)

 

By Biola Lawal
Lagos (FLOWERBUDNEWS): The Managing Director of IDENTICO, a high-class Nigerian information Technology firm, Adedamola Adekola, has charged Nigerian Artisans to key into the emerging IDENTICO-BACSAAN Economic Empowerment Scheme to improve their trade and financial well-being.

Answering questions from Newsmen in Lagos on Monday, Adekola said that the Conglomerate, CHAMS which owns IDENTICO, was motivated into designing programmes to help Nigerian Artisans out of poverty.

Adekola noted that in several successful countries of the world, artisans played major roles in the economic well-being of the nations, especially in the area of poverty alleviation via entrepreneurship and small scale businesses.

 

(Adedamola Adekola, Managing Director, IDENTICO integrated services Limited)

 

The IDENTICO Chief Executive Officer (CEO) said that CHAMS conglomerate initiated the evolving economic empowerment scheme for Artisans leveraging on BACSAAN’s high national membership strength and nationwide spread.

”We see it as a way of giving back to the society. CHAMS is a highly successful business conglomerate which has benefited the country in several areas and has decided to extend the same hand of support to Nigerian handwork professionals through collaboration with BACSAAN,” the IDENTICO CEO stated.

He said that under the partnership, IDENTICO ”will create a respectable and trustworthy identity for each artisan certified by BACSAAN as a reliable and competent skilled handwork professional”.

” We, CHAMS’ -IDENTICO do not know individual Artisans, but BACSAAN does, and has been training and ascertaining the competence and capability of each artisan, that is why we will only accept and design identity for artisans cleared by BACSAAN,” the IDENTICO Managing Director declared.

Adekola urged Artisans to avail themselves of the sure economic empowerment and poverty reduction opportunity which is coming with the unique initiative of IDENTICO- BACSAAN partnership platform.

”I can assure you that CHAMS, our parent conglomerate, is a highly respected private sector organisation which has evolved many beneficial programmes for Nigeria, including the Bank Verification Number (BVN), the National Identification Number (NIN) among others, Adekola told the reporters.

‘:So, our involvement with Nigerian skilled artisans through BACSAAN, will change the fortune of thousands of artisans within a short period,,” he assured.

‘It is a known fact, anywhere in the world, that no government of any country can eradicate poverty alone. Successful private sector organisations and bodies were also always involved as complement to the efforts of the government,” Adekola stressed.

Flowerbudnews reports that BACSAAN, the Builders Construction and Skilled Artisans Association of Nigeria, is the national umbrella body for all Artisans in Nigeria. Its members include welders, bricklayers, tilers, electricians, iron benders, Rewires, mechanics. Shoe makers, Tailors, POP Makers,