A dispute between two adult sisters who missed their flight at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja caused a stir and disrupted operations on Sunday when one of them fainted following a fight between them.
The two sisters, reportedly booked to travel via a NG Eagle flight but they missed the flight after arriving the airport late.
The incident was said to have occurred as the women argued over the missed departure, with the disagreement escalating into a fight.
Luggage and personal items were scattered as airport security intervened, eventually escorting the sisters to the interrogation office.
Spokesperson of the NCAA, Mr. Michael Achinmugu, confirmed the development in a post on his X handle.
The strangest thing just happened at the Abuja airport. Two sisters, both adults, booked to travel via a NG EAGLE flight. They missed the flight because they were late,” Achimugu said.
Perhaps one of them blamed her sibling for their missing flight (not sure), but these two siblings began to fight each other. They scattered luggage and other items before being dragged to the interrogation office by airport security.”
He said when the two sisters got inside, they began to fight again until one of them fainted. Calls were made for an ambulance to take her to the hospital, but her sister said that the problem is more spiritual than medical and, therefore, did not need a hospital.
Standard procedure is that passengers travelling on a domestic flight are expected to arrive at the airport one hour before departure to complete the pre-departure formalities while for the international passengers, they are to arrive two hours before the flight.
Members of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) must move beyond assumptions and normative hopes if the profession is to thrive in today’s complex business environment, so says its former national president, Amaopusenibo Bobo Sofiri Brown.
Brown made the call in his goodwill message at the Rivers State Chapter’s maiden Public Relations Week. He described the theme of the event, “Refocusing Stakeholder Engagment And Public Trust In A Challenging Economy”, as both “challenging and timely,” noting that PR practice must now be guided by systematic understanding rather than guesswork.
He said the frequent use of the term “stakeholders” without clear definition or research-backed analysis has created a gap in professional practice.
“Too often, we use ‘stakeholders’ as a catchword without a proper understanding of who they are or how they behave. This weakens strategic planning and communication outcomes,” Brown said.
Amaopusenibo Brown, who is also a former Managing Director of defunct Garden City Sunray Newspapers, urged practitioners to rethink the concept of stakeholders and how they differ across sectors.
“Are stakeholders in oil and gas the same as those in aviation or education? Does the business environment shape stakeholders, or do stakeholders shape the environment?” he asked.
He said the Institute must develop frameworks that help members identify and categorize stakeholders, study their behavior, and predict what works best among them.
“NIPR must not only use the term ‘stakeholders’ — we must own it through deeper study, analysis, and application,” he added.
Drawing lessons from experience, the former NIPR national president cited recent events in Rivers State as a practical lesson in stakeholder influence. He noted that during the Sole Administratorship period, citizens, particularly women, raised their voices peacefully against injustice and were able to effect change.
“That episode showed how powerful organized, peaceful stakeholders can be when they understand their role and responsibility,” he said.
Brown stressed that predicting stakeholder behavior is now central to effective Public Relations and should form part of practitioners’ strategic planning.
Insisting that professional standards must be consistent, Brown decried the lack of uniform professional standards across NIPR Chapters, comparing the situation unfavorably to medicine and law.
“A PR professional from Jos should be able to deliver the same standard of work in Asaba or Aba. That’s the hallmark of a true profession,” he maintained.
He lamented that many Chapters tolerate substandard work in the name of convenience, adding that such laxity erodes public confidence. “When a media post or publicity material falls short, we often hear, ‘let it go.’ But no serious client would accept that,” he said.
While calling for a new professional mindset, Brown urged Chapters to function as credible resource centres that promote excellence, accountability, and ethical practice. He said Public Relations will only earn respect when practitioners deliver consistent value based on research and professionalism.
“If we achieve clarity in defining our stakeholders, uphold high standards, and embrace accountability, it will mark a new dawn for Public Relations practice in Nigeria,” Brown concluded.
The maiden Rivers Public Relations Week Week And Alabo Olu Benibo Fubara Memorial Gold Paper Lecture took place at the La Sien Pavilion along Forces Avenue in Port Harcourt Rivers State from October 8 to October 10, 2025.
The Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN) has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to sustain its ongoing reforms to ensure the steady recovery of the Naira in the foreign exchange market.
BCAN President, Dr Uju Ogubunka, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos, following the continued appreciation of the Naira at the official foreign exchange market.
NAN reports that the local currency closed bullish on Friday, appreciating to N1,455.17 against the dollar at the official window.
Data from the CBN showed that the Naira gained N11.48, or 0.78 per cent, compared to N1,466.65 to the dollar on Thursday.
The Naira, however, recorded a marginal depreciation of 0.05 per cent on Tuesday, trading at N1,471.08, while it exchanged at N1,470.26 on Monday.
Reacting to the trend, Ogubunka, a financial expert, urged the apex bank to sustain the measures responsible for the recent gains.
“Let the CBN keep doing whatever it has been doing that made the Naira appreciate. Let them do more of it. They should sustain the reforms,” he said.
He attributed the Naira’s improvement to monetary policy controls that regulate money supply, stressing that such measures were helping to stabilise the currency and strengthen economic growth.
The BCAN president, however, called for complementary fiscal measures to boost local manufacturing and productivity for the gains to translate into better living conditions for Nigerians.
“People are still suffering due to low purchasing power. We should increase productivity, tackle insecurity, and attract more investors to bring funds into the system so that more people can be employed.
“Once we can do some of these things, the economy will begin to move up, and as long as the economy grows, the Naira will continue to appreciate.
“However, if there is too much money in circulation, the Naira will not appreciate as expected,” he said.
Investors in the Nigerian stock market traded a total of 2.286 billion shares worth N90.280 billion in 138,177 deals during the week.
This was lower than the 8.403 billion shares valued at N115.501 billion exchanged in 115,801 deals the previous week, representing a 27.9 per cent decline in transaction value.
The figures are contained in the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) weekly in Lagos.
The Financial Services Industry led the activity chart with 1.355 billion shares worth N24.588 billion traded in 59,553 deals, contributing 59.28 per cent and 27.23 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively.
It was followed by the ICT Industry with 182.822 million shares valued at N7.807 billion in 12,597 deals, while the Agriculture Industry ranked third with 181.501 million shares worth N3.548 billion traded in 8,924 deals.
Trading in the top three equities, Ellah Lakes Plc, Chams Holding Company Plc, and Fidelity Bank Plc, accounted for 430.968 million shares worth N5.597 billion in 10,254 deals, contributing 18.86 per cent and 6.20 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively.
The NGX All-Share Index and Market Capitalisation appreciated by 2.37 per cent to close the week at 146,988.04 points and N93.296 trillion, respectively.
Similarly, all other indices closed higher, except for the NGX Banking, NGX ASeM, and NGX AFR Bank Value Indices, which declined by 0.41 per cent, 9.44 per cent, and one per cent, respectively.
Fifty-one equities appreciated in price during the week, compared with 53 in the previous week, while 41 equities declined, lower than the 43 recorded previously.
Fifty-five equities remained unchanged, up from 51 in the preceding week.
The top five losers were LivingTrust Mortgage Bank, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals, UH Real Estate Investment, Meyer Plc, and Juli Plc, which shed 89k, 74k, N5.75, N1.65, and 95k, respectively.
Conversely, the top five gainers were Sovereign Trust Insurance, Omatek Ventures, AXA Mansard Insurance, Chams Holding Company, and Eunisell Interlinked, which gained 46k, 15k, N1.70, 45k, and N4.50, respectively.
Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has tasked military commanders and graduating officers to lead by example and serve the country with courage.
He stated that the Airforce was poised to respond to the security challenges confronting the country as it has recorded major operational gains, including 15 new aircraft acquisitions, over 3,000 sorties as of September, and a serviceability increase from 66 to 70 per cent under his watch.
Abubakar stated this while delivering a lecture titled “From Vision to Reality: Strategic Leadership Insights from the CAS Command Philosophy” at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Saturday in Abuja.
The CAS said these values remain the bedrock of effective leadership and institutional transformation in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
According to him, leadership remains the most decisive factor in determining the success or failure of any military organisation. Everything rises and falls on leadership.
Abubakar explained that the transformation in the NAF under his command is anchored on five key enablers — force optimisation, mission-oriented training, proactive logistics, research and development, and personnel welfare.
He said these enablers, driven by leadership by example, courage and prudence, had strengthened NAF’s agility and responsiveness across all theatres of operation.
Highlighting leadership by example, Abubakar revealed that he had undertaken over 40 operational visits covering 98 of 99 NAF units nationwide within two years.
According to him, leadership is about presence, not proximity, noting that such engagements boost morale and strengthen accountability across the ranks.
He underscored courage as a vital quality of command, citing his response to the 2023 Rukubi incident in Nasarawa State.
The CAS said he took responsibility and implemented reforms that birthed the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan, earning global commendation and contributing to the lifting of US arms sale restrictions.
Abubakar also charged the young officers to lead with conviction and integrity.
“The true leader plants a tree whose shade he may never sit under, but under which others will find rest,” he added.
The lecture ended with an interactive session that allowed open discussions on leadership, command philosophy, and professional growth
Nigerians are on edge as the Super Eagles head into their final group match on Tuesday, knowing that only a win — and a failure by South Africa to secure victory — will keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes alive. The tension is palpable across the country, with millions of fans anxiously counting down to what could be a defining night for Nigerian football.
After a campaign marked by missed chances, injuries, and inconsistent displays, the once-dominant Eagles now find themselves in a precarious position.
Despite the tournament’s expanded format offering Africa additional qualification slots, Nigeria’s path to North America hangs by the thinnest of threads.
Last Friday’s away victory and South Africa’s goalless draw against Zimbabwe has boosted their chances. Meanwhile, coach Eric Chelle and captain William Troost-Ekong have praised the Super Eagles’ resilience after a crucial 2-1 win over Lesotho in Polokwane, South Africa on Friday. The victory keeps Nigeria’s hope alive for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.
Chelle acknowledged the pressure on the team since March.
He said the win was vital and congratulated his players for their determination.
“We won the three points today. We are still alive. Journalists can now start doing their mathematics and permutations,” Chelle said.
He said the players have felt immense pressure during camps. In spite of missing chances in the first half, he was proud of their performance.
Chelle urged Nigerian fans to back the team in large numbers ahead of the final qualifier against Benin Republic in Uyo.
“This is the final round. The game starts the moment Benin steps on Nigerian soil. We need to do the job on the pitch,” he added.
“Lesotho played a great game. It wasn’t easy. We understand the frustration because they fought hard,” Ekong said.
He stressed the team’s winning mentality and readiness for the decisive match.
“We want to win convincingly in Uyo. This is the final moment, and we will work hard to get there,” he said.
Nigeria is third in Group C with 14 points. Benin Republic leads with 17 points, followed by South Africa with 15.
To qualify automatically, Nigeria must beat Benin Republic convincingly in Uyo on October 14, and hope that South Africa drops points against Rwanda in Durban.
A 2-0 win over Benin would lift Nigeria to 17 points, matching Benin but giving Nigeria the edge on goal difference.
If Nigeria wins 2-1, tiebreakers will decide the group winner.
The National Mathematical Centre (NMC), says it plans to collaborate with the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to strengthen teaching, learning, and research in Mathematical Sciences.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the Controller, Information and Public Relations, NMC, Mr Onyekachi Njoku.
Njoku quoted the Director/Chief Executive of the Centre, Prof. Promise Mebine, to have said this during a meeting of its Governing Council.
Mebine said the partnerships aimed at enhancing academic activities leading to the award of postgraduate degrees in various areas, including Mathematics, Mathematics Education, Theoretical Physics, Statistics, and Computer Science.
According to him, the collaboration with FUT Minna will enable the Centre to run Postgraduate Diploma, Masters, and Doctoral programmes in the Mathematical Sciences.
He added that the affiliation with NOUN would further establish the Centre as a Centre of Excellence in the Mathematical Sciences, with support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund).
He explained that these initiatives were part of ongoing efforts to prepare the Centre for conversion into a specialised National University of Mathematical Sciences (NUMS).
“The NOUN Centre of Excellence with TETFund will help address the critical shortage of high-level manpower in Mathematical Sciences across industries and academia,” Mebine said.
He further said that the Centre’s programmes would produce experts in both core and emerging fields such as Algebra, Number Theory, Algebraic Geometry, Theoretical Physics, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning.
These areas, he said, were essential for generating impactful research outputs that would strengthen Nigeria’s technological and industrial advancement.
Mebine also called for the speedy amendment of the Act establishing the Centre to facilitate its conversion to the proposed National University of Mathematical Sciences.
He said doing so would position Nigeria as a regional hub for advanced mathematical education and innovation.
Across the world, collapsing bridges, sinking roads, failed dams and crumbling buildings tell a grim story of one that echoes the cry of a wounded planet of “Mother Earth”.
Thus, when “Mother Earth cries,” it symbolizes the weight of human ambition and negligence through reckless construction, deforestation, over excavation, or poor geotechnical design which translates to a distress on the environment.
Professor Akpila, delivering the lecture
However, the “cry” of Mother Earth which culminates in incidences of failure and ultimate collapse of engineering infrastructure oftentimes leading to loss of lives, resources, time, space, energy, and matter, can be avoided by consulting Geotechnical Engineering experts, who can moderate the silent cry of Mother Earth.
Professor Scott Bernard Akpila, a lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of the Rivers State University (RSU), made the observations and recommendations as he delivered the 120th Inaugural Lecture of the university on Wednesday October 8, 2025 at the Senate Building of the Institution.
Titled, “The Silent Cry of Mother Earth: A Wake Up Call To Geotechnical Engineering Practice In Infrastructure Development,” Professor Akpila who is a specialist in Geotechnical Engineering said government at all levels, should support in infrastructure development programmes in the country, to address issues rated to the silent cry of Mother Earth.
Describing Geotechnical Engineering as that branch of civil engineering that focuses on the engineering properties and behavior of soil, rock and underground water under force application and also on their influence during design, construction and operation in Engineering projects, Prof Akpila said that the level of stress transferred by either natural or man-made structures to Mother Earth is crucial to the stability and deformation of foundations on onshore and offshore environments.
Professor Akpila who is the Fourth to deliver an Inaugural Lecture from the Department of Civil Engineering of the University and the first in Geotechnical Engineering specialization, noted that it is the “sole responsibility of the Geotechnical Engineer, to knowledgeably ensure the overall stability of the soil foundation system”. This according to him, will help in “reducing incidences of failure and ultimate collapse of engineering infrastructure.”
Tracing the history of Geotechnical Engineering through the publication of the book “Erdbahmecanik” by Karl Terzaghi, a German in 1925, who is also credited as the founder of modern Geotechnical Engineering, Professor Akpila with lots of diagrams, illustrations and formulas illustrated the role of Geotechnical Engineers in providing the foundation safety link between the earth and built infrastructure.
The university Don postulated that for a harmonious human progress in infrastructural development, it is important that geotechnical integrity, soil preservation, and sustainable land use must go hand in hand, noting that ignoring such a harmony, is a call to disaster.
Professor Akpila who reeled out an impressive outlay of his contributions to knowledge and development of society urged government at all levels to support the inclusion of Geotechnical Engineers in infrastructure development programs, in the country.
He also advocated a University-Industry based collaboration for the provision of basic Geotechnical Engineering field and laboratory equipment in Civil Engineering Departments, to boost entrepreneurship potential of universities and knowledge visibility.
Furthermore, Professor Akpila called for the training and retraining of staff in laboratory operations and applications that reflect field behaviour of earth materials.
He also urged the university administration to invest adequately in Geotechnical Engineering training at postgraduate level by leveraging on what he termed, “our location, availability of expertise and manpower, against the absence of qualified Geotechnical Engineers to assume this challenging responsibility in many of Nigerian universities.”
Speaking at the end of the thought provoking Inaugural Lecture, the Vice Chancellor of the RSU, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi commended Prof Akpila for his well articulated lecture which he believed has added great knowledge to the world.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor(Academic), Prof Valentine Omubo-Pepple, the VC said Prof Akpila by his various contributions in learning and service to humanity has “justified why the university elevated him to the rank of a professor.”
He appealed to everyone to carefully note the contributions and suggestions proffered by Prof Akpila to ensure that Mother Earth is saved from crying and humans protected from disasters.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Benin Branch, Mr Idemudia Osifo, has urged the Edo State judiciary to continue to uphold the principles of justice, fairness, and judicial independence.
The NBA also urged the judiciary to invest in ICT infrastructure to enhance justice delivery, reduce delays, and increase transparency
Osifo made the call on Friday during a special court session held in Benin to mark the opening of the 2025/2026 Legal Year.
He lamented the prolonged duration of many court cases, which continued to erode public confidence in the system, and stressed the urgent need to improve the working conditions of judicial officers and support staff.
“The safety of judicial officers, lawyers, litigants, and witnesses must be ensured.” He said.
Osifo praised the judiciary for its industry, resilience, and steadfastness under the leadership of the chief judge but also highlighted several persistent challenges.
He noted that many courts in Edo State still operated in dilapidated conditions and lacked modern facilities needed for effective justice delivery.
The NBA pledged its commitment to promoting access to justice and defending the sanctity of the legal profession.
As the new legal year begins, the association urged the judiciary to uphold the noble ideals of justice, fairness, and independence.
Earlier, the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, had called on all court users to collaborate with the state judiciary in its fight against corruption.
He commended the Bail Is Free Campaign Organisation for its continued support of the judiciary’s efforts to rid the system of corruption.
The opening ceremony provided an opportunity for the judiciary to reflect on the achievements of the past legal year and to outline goals for the year ahead.
According to the Chief Judge, key focus areas in the previous year included capacity building, administration of criminal justice, and staff welfare.
As the new legal year begins, Okungbowa emphasised the judiciary’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and transparency in the discharge of its duties.
In recognition of exemplary service, ten members of the state judiciary received the Chief Judge’s Award for being outstanding ambassadors of the institution.
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, says that stakeholders’ engagement is fundamental to the development of the Niger Delta region.
Ogbuku stated this in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Rivers State Public Relations Week in Port Harcourt.
Ogbuku, who was represented by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Seledi Thompson-Wakama, highlighted the importance of reputation management and the critical role NIPR plays in maintaining a positive national image.
He emphasised the importance of stakeholder collaboration to ensure projects meet people’s needs and that government initiatives succeed, highlighting this approach as a key component of the Federal Government’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”.
According to Ogbuku, the theme of the NIPR Week, “Refocusing Stakeholder Engagement And Public Trust In A Challenging Economy,” aligns with the Commission’s goal of building public trust through transparent and collaborative engagement.
Ogbuku stated: “We realise that it is crucial to build trust with all partners to get their buy-in and win their confidence. In this respect, we have established processes to ensure that a new institutional culture, anchored in sound ethics and good corporate governance, is in place. “We are working with KPMG, a reputable global business consultancy, which has reviewed our processes to strengthen our corporate governance system. We now have a robust Corporate Governance structure that fosters accountability and transparency, backed by a clear and measurable set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track progress toward goals.”
The NDDC boss noted that the emphasis on collaboration was in line with the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which prioritizes carrying stakeholders along in the development process.
He remarked: “Through engagement, the NDDC aims to foster partnerships to leverage collective strengths, overcome challenges, and avoid working at cross-purposes.”
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter, Nigerian Institute Of Public Relations (NIPR), Rev. Francis Asuk, said that strategic communication was central to peacebuilding and governance.
He declared: “The time has come for our leaders, both in government and the private sector, to engage professional public relations practitioners in managing and communicating through sensitive issues. The expertise of PR professionals in stakeholder mapping, perception management, conflict resolution, and narrative framing can make a crucial difference in restoring confidence, bridging divides, and shaping a more stable and progressive Rivers State.”
He regretted that public trust is eroding across Nigeria and indeed the world. He stated: “Economic challenges, misinformation, and institutional fatigue have tested the resilience of governments, businesses, and communities alike. In such a time, the role of the public relations professional becomes indispensable to rebuild confidence, restore truth, and facilitate transparent engagement that drives collective progress.”
