Nkem Okereh 

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau  Jibrin, has congratulated the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on the occasion of her 66th birthday.

Senator Barau, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, stated in a release issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, that the First Lady’s contributions to national development and democratic governance have been significant and enduring.

Through her flagship initiative, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), the Deputy President of the Senate said the First Lady has continually made meaningful efforts to address some of the challenges facing the nation, especially in the areas of education, healthcare, social welfare, women and youth empowerment, and support for vulnerable Nigerians.

“Her commitment to nation-building, however, predates her role as First Lady. As First Lady of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, she founded the New Era Foundation and used the platform to positively impact the lives of women, children, and young people across the state.

“Similarly, during her tenure as Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District from 2011 to 2023, she distinguished herself through her legislative work and service on various Senate committees, where she actively participated in addressing issues of national importance.

“As she reaches this significant milestone, I pray that Almighty God will grant Her Excellency many more years in good health, wisdom, strength, and fulfilment to continue supporting the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in the service of our nation and the pursuit of peace, stability, and sustainable development,” he said.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has disowned a viral notice circulating on social media.

The fake notice directed applicants who were not shortlisted or did not receive invitation messages to report to the nearest FRSC camp for verification.

The FRSC issued the warning via its official social media platforms on Sunday in Abuja.

The corps described the notice as fake and unauthorised, urging members of the public, particularly applicants for the 2026 recruitment exercise, to disregard it.

The corps said the fraudulent notice directed affected applicants to report to the nearest FRSC camp for verification on or before Sept. 25.

It clarified that no such directive had been issued by the corps and warned applicants against acting on the information.

The corps advised applicants not to report to any FRSC office, camp or training institution based on the circulating message.

It urged members of the public to rely exclusively on official FRSC communication channels for authentic information and updates concerning the 2026 recruitment exercise.

The corps further warned applicants against falling victim to individuals who might seek to exploit the recruitment exercise for fraudulent purposes.

It  advised applicants not to make payments, share personal information or follow links circulated by unauthorised persons claiming to facilitate recruitment into the Corps.

The FRSC said any individual found using the recruitment exercise to deceive or defraud members of the public would be reported to the appropriate law-enforcement authorities.

The corps reiterated its call on members of the public to disregard the fraudulent publication and exercise caution to avoid becoming victims of recruitment scams.

It also advised prospective applicants to verify any recruitment-related information through its recognised and official communication channels before taking any action.(NAN).

President Bola Tinubu has commended the Kaduna State Government’s free Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) mass transit scheme.

Tinubu described the initiative as an example of practical, people-centred intervention capable of reducing transportation costs for Nigerians.

The scheme, involving 100 CNG powered buses, recorded about 3.2 million passenger trips and saved commuters more than N3.5 billion in its first year.

The President made the commendation in a post on his official X account, where he made special mention of Kaduna’s intervention.

“This is more of what we need to see at the subnational level,” Tinubu stated.

The commendation came amid renewed efforts by the Federal Government and the 36 states to accelerate the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme.

The initiative is aimed at reducing transportation costs and providing relief to Nigerians affected by rising fuel and commuting expenses.

At a meeting with governors on Aug. 27, Tinubu and the state governors agreed on coordinated action to reduce transportation costs.

The governors subsequently constituted an implementation committee under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to drive the initiative.

The committee is chaired by Kwara Governor and NGF Chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Working with the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles, the committee is identifying priority transport corridors and appropriate interventions.

It is also developing an operational framework for effective implementation of the programme across the states.

The Federal Government says Nigeria’s abundant gas resources provide an opportunity to reduce dependence on imported fuels and exposure to global energy shocks.

Tinubu has ruled out a return to the petrol subsidy regime, saying such a move would expose the economy to international oil price fluctuations.

He said the government would instead support states adopting CNG transportation and other interventions capable of providing measurable relief to citizens.

Reacting to the commendation, Kaduna Governor Uba Sani expressed appreciation to Tinubu for recognising the state’s intervention.

Sani reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to policies aimed at protecting vulnerable households and expanding access to essential services.

“We deeply appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this recognition and his administration’s continued support to subnational governments,” Sani said.

The governor said Kaduna had continued to set benchmarks in education, vocational training, skills development and CNG mass transportation.

“Kaduna remains the only subnational government providing free CNG mass transit rides to its citizens,” he said.

According to him, the scheme recorded about 3.2 million passenger trips and saved commuters more than N3.5 billion during its first year.

Sani said the intervention had become one of the state government’s major measures for cushioning the effects of petrol subsidy removal.

“Our commitment remains clear: to put people first, reduce the burden on vulnerable households and ensure dividends of governance reach ordinary citizens,” he said.

The free CNG transit scheme provides fare free transportation on designated routes, benefiting workers, traders, students and other residents.

The intervention forms part of the state government’s wider investments in education, skills development, economic inclusion and human capital development.

The state government said the scheme demonstrates how targeted public interventions can reduce household expenditure and improve access to affordable transportation.

The President’s recognition also places Kaduna’s experience within the Federal Government’s broader effort to promote cheaper and cleaner domestic energy alternatives.

The Kaduna Government said it would sustain the initiative and continue implementing policies designed to deliver tangible benefits to residents.(NAN).