The Chairman of the Ondo State Sports Council, Hon. Oladimeji Abimbola, has expressed his readiness to support the fourth edition of the Adu Unity Football Competition.
Abimbola stated this while receiving members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Adu Unity Football Competition in his office in Akure, the state capital.
“We started the maiden edition together and, since then, I have been supportive of the competition,” he said. He commended the sponsor of the competition, Barrister Olumuyiwa Adu, popularly known as Cubana, for his consistency in promoting grassroots football.
Abimbola added that sports, particularly football, remain among the best tools for keeping young people away from social vices.
“On behalf of the Ondo State Sports Council, I assure the Local Organising Committee of the Adu Unity Football Competition of our support. We are going to support the successful organisation of the competition,” he said. He advised the organisers to expand the competition across all 18 local government areas of the state.
According to him, Barrister Olumuyiwa Adu has expanded the competition beyond the Ondo Central Senatorial District, making it necessary for all 18 local government areas to be represented.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Raymond Abdulsalam, thanked Abimbola for receiving the committee and congratulated him on his appointment as Chairman of the Ondo State Sports Council.
“This is our fourth year of coming here to seek the support of the council. Three General Managers have hosted us, and now that we have you as the Chairman, we have no doubt in our minds that this year’s edition will be successful.
“You are one of us, and you have shown this through the warm reception you have given us,” Abdulsalam said.
According to him, this year’s competition will be the fourth edition and has been consistently sponsored by Barrister Olumuyiwa Adu (Cubana).
“Our plan is to make this year’s competition an improved edition of the previous three editions by ensuring that all 18 local government areas participate,” he said.
Abdulsalam noted that sports development should not be left to the government alone, stressing the importance of private-sector involvement in identifying and nurturing talents at the grassroots.
“We cannot leave sports development at the doorstep of the government alone.
That is why Barrister Olumuyiwa Adu (Cubana) is joining hands with the government to discover the hidden talents that abound at the grassroots,” he said.
The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the Chairman’s portrait in his office.
The Ondo State Government has denied reports circulating on social media that an aide to Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa was arrested over alleged possession of illicit drugs and firearms.
The government described the report and accompanying image as misleading, clarifying that the young man identified in the report is not an aide to the governor and does not hold any political appointment in the present administration.
The clarification was contained in a disclaimer issued on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan.
The statement urged the Nigeria Police Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and ensure that due process was followed in accordance with the law.
The government’s clarification followed the circulation of the report and image identifying the suspect as an “Ondo Governor’s Aide.”
…drumming banned, roads to palace closed for seven days
The Deji and Paramount Ruler of Akure Land, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II, will on Wednesday commence his annual traditional Ulefunta leave.
The seven-day traditional observance will run from Wednesday, September 16, to Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the monarch’s Chief Press Secretary, Adeyeye Michael.
According to the statement, residents are expected to observe certain traditional restrictions during the period, including a ban on the beating of drums within Akure main town.
It added that all roads leading to the Deji’s Palace would be closed throughout the period, advising motorists and other road users to make use of adjoining routes.
Markets, shops and stalls located around the palace will also remain closed during the observance.
The statement urged residents to comply with the directives and continue their lawful activities without fear.
It explained that the period of seclusion would allow the monarch to pray and seek the good and peace of Akure Land, Ondo State and Nigeria.
The Federal Government has announced the expansion of its National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) to Oyo, Enugu and Kebbi states as part of efforts to equip Nigerian youths with practical skills and promote economic empowerment.
The initiative, being implemented through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAP-TVEE), is aimed at lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within 10 years through economic growth and targeted social protection.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on TVEE, Dr Abiola Arogundade, said the programme was a central pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Arogundade emphasised the administration’s belief that Nigerian youths were not the problem facing the country but a key part of the solution to its challenges.
Abuja pilot
The NPRGS commenced its pioneer cohort in Abuja on June 30, 2025, with an intensive 10-day training programme in cybersecurity, web development and solar energy installation upscaling.
According to Arogundade, the pilot phase recorded significant success, with participants acquiring practical, marketable skills, including website development and digital security fundamentals.
The graduates also received laptops and certificates of completion.
The Abuja phase attracted more than 7,000 applications, indicating strong public interest in the programme.
National expansion
Building on the Abuja pilot, the programme is being expanded across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, with each zone hosting 200 trainees for training sessions lasting between 10 days and two weeks.
The skills offered in each state are selected based on local market demand, relevance and the preferences of participants.
The initial nationwide phase is expected to benefit 1,200 Nigerian youths.
In Oyo State, representing the South-West zone, training is scheduled to begin on September 28, 2026, and will run daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for two weeks.
Participants will be trained in:
Graphics and artificial intelligence (AI) design
Makeup
Fashion designing
In Enugu State, one of the six designated training hubs in the South-East zone, participants will receive training in:
Makeup
Solar energy installation, including panel installation, maintenance and off-grid solutions
Fashion designing
In Kebbi State, representing the North-West zone, the training areas are:
Graphics and artificial intelligence (AI) design
Fashion designing
Agriculture, specifically yoghurt making, dairy processing, packaging and small-scale agribusiness
The programme provides each participant with a complete training kit to take home upon completion.
The kits include laptops for graphics and AI trainees, fully equipped makeup kits, sewing machines and starter kits for fashion designing trainees, and fermentation kits for participants in yoghurt making.
The NPRGS is designed to equip youths with practical and marketable skills, reduce unemployment and underemployment, promote entrepreneurship and self-reliance, and contribute to the Federal Government’s poverty reduction target.
OSSAP-TVEE called on state governments, traditional rulers, community leaders and the private sector to partner with the Federal Government as the programme expands to more states across the country.
Concludes high-level engagements on trade, investment, technology, stronger Nigeria-India ties
Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Nigeria after representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India.
During the visit, Shettima participated in high-level sessions at the summit and held bilateral engagements focused on advancing Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic interests.
A major highlight of the visit was his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where both leaders discussed opportunities to renew crude oil trade and strengthen cooperation in investment, pharmaceuticals, defence, digital technology, fintech, renewable energy and other strategic sectors.
The Vice President also met with the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, where he reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for multilateralism and the promotion of a more inclusive global economic order.
At the summit, Shettima delivered President Tinubu’s message advocating reforms of global governance and international financial institutions.
He also positioned Nigeria as a gateway to Africa’s expanding market under the African Continental Free Trade Area, highlighting the country’s strategic role in regional trade and investment.
Nigeria further used the summit to deepen its engagement with BRICS member and partner countries in areas including agriculture, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare, energy and human-capital development.
The Vice President’s return marks the conclusion of the high-level diplomatic and economic engagements undertaken during the visit to India.
The Ondo State Police Command has rescued two kidnap victims and arrested three suspected kidnappers following a gun battle in a forest along the Ifira–Idoani axis in Isua-Akoko.
The command also recovered N1.5 million suspected ransom proceeds during the operation.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu.
According to the statement, the operation began on Friday, September 11, following credible intelligence that suspected kidnappers hiding in the forest were planning to emerge to collect ransom.
Acting on the intelligence, operatives of Isua Division, in collaboration with personnel of the Ondo State Security Network, also known as Amotekun, and Agbe-Koya, launched a coordinated rescue and ambush operation in the forest.
The security operatives, who positioned themselves along the suspected route, maintained surveillance for several hours before the kidnappers, numbering about four and armed with firearms, emerged at about 11:30 p.m.
The suspects reportedly opened fire after sighting the security operatives, prompting the team to tactically repel the attack and rescue the two victims, identified as Mr Owolabi Patrick and Asoto Dada, unhurt.
The statement added that the security operatives recovered N1.5 million suspected to have been brought for ransom payment during the encounter.
It said the suspected kidnappers sustained gunshot injuries and escaped into the forest.
However, following sustained follow-up operations and credible intelligence, the suspects were sighted along Idoani Road at about 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 13.
The police subsequently arrested three suspects, two of whom had sustained gunshot injuries to their legs.
The suspects were identified as Abdullahi Abubakar, Ibrahim Abubakar and Oseni Abubakar, all residents of the Akunnu area.
The command said the rescued victims later visited the police station and positively identified the arrested suspects as the persons who abducted them.
A Bajaj motorcycle earlier recovered by the police was also identified by the victims as being connected to the criminal operation. The motorcycle remains in police custody as investigations continue.
The Commissioner of Police commended the officers and men of Isua Division, as well as the personnel of Amotekun and Agbe-Koya, for their courage, professionalism and effective collaboration.
CP Ohagwu has ordered the transfer of the case to the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Akure for discreet investigation, with a view to uncovering the full criminal network and bringing all those connected with the operation to justice.
The command reiterated its determination to deny criminal elements access to forests and other hideouts in the state, assuring residents that intelligence-led operations against kidnappers and other criminals would be sustained.
…There’ll be no space for transnational drug cartels in Nigeria, Marwa vows
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled yet another industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory and arrested a Mexican drug kingpin who was attempting to flee the country through the Lagos airport, in a fresh operation that further exposes the desperation by transnational cartels to infiltrate Nigeria’s forests and rural communities.
Briefing the media on the latest development in Lagos on Tuesday 15th September 2026, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the breakthrough follows months of painstaking investigation into a wider criminal network behind a string of clandestine drug laboratories uncovered in parts of the country this year.
Marwa who was represented by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, recalled that operatives had earlier this year arrested three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerian collaborators at a forest hideout in Ogun State on Saturday, 16th May 2026, and, on 17th June, arrested another Mexican national alongside four Nigerian collaborators at a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory hidden in a forested part of Tapa village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, where field tests confirmed large quantities of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals.
Investigations by the Agency’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) into the Oyo State arrest led operatives to establish that the 56-year-old Mexican Methamphetamine expert, Jose Villa Ochoa arrested at the forest lab had been recruited into Nigeria by a Mexican kingpin Arturo Carrera Loaiza. Working with international partners, NDLEA investigators obtained a photograph of Loaiza, which the arrested suspect positively identified as the man who recruited and moved him into Nigeria. Intelligence further showed that Loaiza entered Nigeria on 10th June 2026, alongside another Mexican national, Jose Ceballos Perez. According to the Agency, “On 19th August 2026, our operatives tracked down and arrested Arturo Carrera Loaiza attempting to flee the country through the Lagos airport. During interrogation, he claimed he had been invited to Nigeria by a Nigerian contact, identified only as “Henry,” under the guise of a restaurant business venture, and denied any knowledge of methamphetamine manufacturing or involvement with the Tapa village laboratory. “However, our findings told a different story.
Investigators recovered images of Arturo dressed in a blue laboratory coat, standing amid equipment consistent with methamphetamine production. Analysis of the location metadata embedded in these images led our operatives to a property undergoing construction at Isiata Ugoni Okposi, Ebonyi State.
“On 30th August 2026, our operatives moved on the Ebonyi State property, linked to one John Samuel Ivo Okike. Interviews with persons found at the site, including the site engineer and a caretaker, revealed the erection of a suspicious temporary structure over the septic tank area at the rear of the building, and persistent strong chemical odours emanating from the premises.
“A CCTV memory card recovered from the property proved decisive. Forensic review of the footage showed a foreign national in a blue laboratory coat on the premises, matching the image of Arturo Carrera Loaiza earlier recovered, as well as repeated appearances by John Samuel Ivo Okike. Critically, the footage captured, at about 9:00 p.m. on 21st August 2026, the movement of chemicals and laboratory equipment out of the property, with John Samuel Ivo Okike seen directing the operation alongside others assisting in the relocation.
“Acting on further intelligence from a confidential source, operatives traced the relocated materials to an isolated house in a neighbouring community, kept under the custody of one Nwanja Obasi. A raid on this location led to the recovery of a substantial cache of methamphetamine-related chemicals, equipment and paraphernalia, including: “A dehydrator containing a white cloth sieve embedded with loose methamphetamine, and three additional empty dehydrators; 442.8 kg of Acetone, 37.1 kg of Toluene, a 20 kg mixture of Acetone/Bromobenzene, 1.7 kg of Ethanol, 5.1 kg of Chloride Salt, 31.5 kg of Hydrochloric acid, 200 kg of P2B, and 1 kg of Tartaric acid; Condensing units, a condenser head, a condenser, and a fabricated reaction pot. Additional equipment including an access pump, weighing scales, mixers, drums, gas burners, gloves, and a blue laboratory coat matching the one recovered at the John Samuel property.
“This recovery, taken together with the CCTV evidence, other forensic evidence and eyewitness accounts, has significantly strengthened the case against all persons connected to this network.”
Speaking on the capacity and capability of the Agency under his leadership to root out every element of transnational drug cartels looking for a foothold in the country, Marwa warned that Nigeria will never become a safe haven for merchants of death.
“Let me be unequivocal, Nigeria will not be allowed to become a haven for transnational drug cartels seeking to relocate their laboratories from other jurisdictions into our forests and rural communities. The arrest of Arturo Carrera Loaiza and the dismantling of the Ebonyi State facility, coming so soon after the Ogun and Oyo State operations, demonstrate that this Agency’s intelligence and forensic capabilities are more than a match for these syndicates, however sophisticated they may believe themselves to be”, he stated.
The NDLEA boss commended the officers of the Special Operations Unit, Strike Force, Forensics and the Oyo, Ogun and Ebonyi State Commands for their diligence, professionalism and courage in the discharge of their responsibilities in the three spectacular operations. He vowed that the Agency would continue pursuing every lead until the full network, its financiers and local enablers are brought to justice.
The Ondo State Government has sealed Olukayode Shopping Plaza in Akure following a court order over the alleged improper evacuation and disposal of waste from the facility’s soakaway pit.
The sealing followed the presentation of evidence by the state Ministry of Environment that the plaza allegedly evacuated a filled soakaway pit manually in a manner capable of generating offensive odour and posing a risk to public health.
The ministry also informed the court that an unregistered private service provider engaged to carry out the evacuation allegedly dumped the waste indiscriminately by the roadside along the Oba Ile–Airport Road, resulting in an obnoxious odour and potential environmental hazards.
Speaking during the enforcement exercise, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Engr. Akinluyi Omotola, said the ministry approached the court after receiving credible reports about a vehicle conveying substances emitting a highly offensive odour.
According to him, information provided by a concerned citizen led to the discreet trailing and interception of the vehicle, after which the driver was handed over to the police for questioning and appropriate action.
He said the driver, identified as Olorunwa Sunday, a native of Delta State and resident in Oke-Aro, disclosed that he had been contracted to dispose of the suspected malodorous substance from Olukayode House at any convenient location.
The Commissioner for Environment, Dr Tob Loko, assured residents that the state government remained committed to taking necessary measures to protect public health, safety and the wellbeing of residents.
Loko said proper inspection of the premises, including the septic tank, would be carried out, while the facility would be fumigated by environmental professionals to ensure the safety of occupants and the general public.
Although the defendant, Olukayode Shopping Plaza, was not represented in court, the judge, citing the sensitivity of the alleged offence and the need to safeguard public health, ordered that the premises be sealed.
The matter was adjourned until Thursday, September 17, 2026, for further hearing.
The court also ordered that the driver of the vehicle conveying the suspected harmful substance be remanded at the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
A man identified as Mr Olorunwa Sunday has been remanded at the Olokuta Correctional Centre following his arraignment over the alleged transportation of substances emitting a highly offensive odour to an undisclosed destination.
The Ondo State Ministry of Environment disclosed this in a statement signed by its representative, Henry Johnson Olagundoye, and dated September 15, 2026.
According to the ministry, the suspect was arrested after the vehicle conveying the substances was intercepted over an alleged environmental infraction.
It said laboratory analysis conducted to ascertain the nature and composition of the substances revealed that they were faecal materials in substantial quantities.
The ministry stated that the suspect had been arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction and remanded pending the determination of the case.
It added that the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Kayode Ajulo, SAN, had provided the necessary legal support to the Ministry of Environment to ensure that the matter received appropriate legal attention and was prosecuted in accordance with extant environmental laws.
The ministry reaffirmed the commitment of the Ondo State Government to protecting the health, safety and well-being of residents, while ensuring strict compliance with environmental laws and regulations across the state.
Ondo workers groan under rising commuting costs, demand urgent government intervention
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ondo State Council, has called on the state government to introduce transportation support measures, including the provision of CNG-powered buses or transport allowance, to cushion the impact of rising transport fares on workers.
The call came as the organised labour raised concerns over the escalating cost of transportation, which it said was placing an increasing financial burden on workers across the state.
With the price of petrol reportedly rising to as much as N1,450, N1500 per litre, workers are facing mounting pressure as transport operators adjust fares to reflect the rising cost of fuel and vehicle maintenance.
The NLC made the demand during a courtesy visit to the Head of Service, Chief Olusegun Odusanya, in Akure, led by its State Chairman, Comrade (Prince) Ademola Olapade.
The visit was aimed at strengthening the relationship between organised labour and the state government, while providing an opportunity to present pressing issues affecting workers and the public service.
On transportation, the NLC said the continued increase in commuting costs was substantially eroding workers’ disposable income and making it increasingly difficult for many employees to travel to and from their workplaces.
The Congress appealed to the state government to consider immediate and practical interventions, particularly transportation allowance or the deployment of CNG buses, to reduce the burden on workers.
The labour body noted that the rising cost of transportation was coming at a time when workers were already contending with increased living expenses, stressing the need for measures that would protect their welfare and sustain productivity in the public service.
Other issues presented by the NLC included the prompt payment of the 2026 leave bonus to eligible workers and a review of the proposed or ongoing executive elongation for officers in the Executive Cadre of the state civil service.
The Congress also requested government sponsorship for workers to undergo professional and capacity-building programmes at the Public Service Training Institute (PSTI), emphasising that continuous training was essential to an efficient and modern public service.
The NLC further appealed for urgent intervention over the payment of August salaries to non-captured staff of the Federal University of Technology, Akure Teaching Hospital (FUTATH).
It expressed concern over the hardship being experienced by the affected workers and urged the relevant authorities to resolve the payroll-related issues to ensure that those who had rendered their services were not subjected to undue hardship.
The Congress congratulated Chief Odusanya on his appointment and expressed its readiness to work constructively with his office and the state government to advance workers’ welfare and improve the effectiveness of the public service.
It also commended the administration of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for its disposition towards workers and pensioners, particularly its efforts in the regular payment of salaries and pensions and its engagement with organised labour.
The NLC expressed confidence in the leadership of the Head of Service and pledged to continue pursuing the issues raised through dialogue and consultation.
