By David Torough, Abuja

Troops of the 65 Battalion of the Nigerian Army have intercepted a truck conveying a large consignment of illicit drugs along the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road in a successful intelligence-led operation.

According to a statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, the operation was carried out on 9 July 2026 following actionable intelligence from a credible source.

The troops intercepted the vehicle and arrested its driver without incident.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the illicit drugs were being transported to the Berger area of Lagos State.

However, the suspect was unable to provide satisfactory information regarding the ownership of the consignment or its intended recipient.

The Nigerian Army said the suspect and the recovered drugs were subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos State Command, for further investigation and prosecution. The handover was conducted by the Commanding Officer of the 65 Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel S. Adeojo.

Commending the troops for the successful operation, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Babalola, praised their vigilance, professionalism and operational effectiveness. He urged personnel to sustain the momentum of ongoing operations and intensify efforts to deny drug traffickers and other criminal elements freedom of action within the division’s area of responsibility.

The Army reiterated its commitment to supporting security agencies in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and other forms of criminality across the country.

By Stanley Nkwocha

In politics, the most powerful decisions are sometimes the ones that end speculation. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s @officialABAT decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election is one of such decisions.

It is a statement of trust, a signal of continuity, and a calculated move to keep the All Progressives Congress (@OfficialAPCNg) on familiar ground, as the party prepares for another national contest.

By retaining VP Shettima, President Tinubu has done more than fill a space on the ballot.

He has quelled a major source of needless political anxiety within the ruling party, shut down months of speculation over the Vice President’s place on the ticket, and reaffirmed the partnership that led the APC to victory in 2023.

As a political strategy, the president’s decision is also disarming because it denies the opposition the easy path of exploiting a supposed and self-hallucinated crack in the administration. For months, political commentators had speculated about whether the President would bow to ‘inferred’ pressure and alter the ticket. Some presented the issue as a test of religious sensitivity, while others framed it as a question of regional balancing. There are others who saw it as an opportunity to unsettle the APC base. With this landmark decision, President Tinubu has reminded the political class that he is not one to be easily stampeded by noise when he is satisfied with the value of a partner.

This is why VP Shettima’s retention should be understood beyond sentiment. It is the meeting point of loyalty, capacity, and capability. The President has chosen to continue with a deputy who has shown discipline in office, defended the administration’s reforms, chaired critical national economic conversations, engaged governors through the National Economic Council, and carried the Renewed Hope Agenda message into policy rooms, public fora and political spaces without creating confusion about where authority resides.

The choice of Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate in 2022 was never an accidental calculation. It was a deliberate political arrangement that joined President Tinubu’s Southern political structure with VP Shettima’s Northern reach, especially his influence in the North East and his wider acceptance within the North. It was also a choice rooted in the belief that Nigeria’s economic and security challenges required a running mate with administrative experience, political courage, intellectual depth, and the temperament to stand firm under pressure.

That decision came with controversy, and no honest account of the Tinubu-Shettima ticket can avoid that fact. The same-faith ticket unsettled many Nigerians, drew sharp reactions from religious and political groups, and tested the APC’s ability to defend its choice before a deeply sensitive electorate. Yet the campaign insisted that the ticket was built on competence, shared political values, progressive history, and the need for a team that could win power and govern with confidence. The 2023 election eventually showed that the calculation had serious electoral weight.

The comparison often made with the 1993 MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe ticket is useful, but it should not be stretched beyond its proper meaning. The point is not that history repeated itself. The Nigeria of 1993 can not be the Nigeria of 2027, and the political conditions are not identical. The real lesson is that Nigerian voters have, at important moments, looked beyond religious arithmetic when a ticket presents a compelling national coalition, a strong political machine, and a message that speaks to the anxieties of the moment.

President Tinubu appears to have drawn from that larger lesson. By retaining VP Shettima, he has chosen continuity over experimentation, tested partnership over a risky replacement, and political chemistry over cosmetic appeasement. A running mate is not useful simply because he balances a ticket on paper. He becomes truly valuable when he strengthens the candidate’s reach, reassures the party structure, helps defend the government’s record, and reduces the cost of political coordination.

This is where VP Shettima’s strongest value lies. He has shown that loyalty can be active without being loud and that deputy leadership can be visible without becoming disruptive. In leadership, trust grows when people repeatedly see steadiness under pressure, clarity of role, and consistency between words and conduct. VP Shettima has largely operated within that discipline. He has spoken forcefully for the administration but has never and will never attempt to build a rival centre of gravity around himself.

As Chairman of the National Economic Council, the Vice President has had to sit at the junction where federal ambition meets state-level realities. The Council brings governors, key federal officials, and economic managers into one platform, and under VP Shettima’s chairmanship it has become an important channel for discussing economic stabilisation, food security, wage pressures, subnational coordination, palliative measures, nutrition, digital enterprise, infrastructure, and security-linked development. In a federation as complex as Nigeria, that role requires patience, negotiation, and the ability to keep different interests in the same room long enough for policy to move.

The early months of the administration tested that capacity. The removal of petrol subsidy created pressure across households, states, and markets, and NEC had to become one of the platforms through which mitigation measures were discussed and coordinated. The Council also became relevant in conversations around food distribution, agricultural support, state-level palliatives, transport relief, wage concerns, and the broader burden created by reforms that were necessary to prevent deeper economic collapse.

VP Shettima’s work at NEC has also touched areas that speak directly to the future of the Nigerian economy. The Council endorsed the rollout of the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises programme across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, a major intervention targeted at young people in technology and creative sectors. It has also taken up nutrition through the Nutrition 774 initiative, which is designed to push nutrition interventions across all local government areas, and it has engaged agriculture as a national security and development priority rather than a routine sectoral concern.

That is another reason his retention matters politically. A president entering a re-election cycle does not need a running mate who must first learn the language of the administration, rebuild trust with party actors, or negotiate his own place in the governing structure. President Tinubu already has in VP Shettima a deputy who understands the policy arguments, the political terrain, the administration’s vulnerabilities, and the emotional temperature of the electorate. That kind of familiarity can not be manufactured overnight.

For the APC, the decision also protects a strategic bridge to the North. VP Shettima brings to the ticket the profile of a former two-term governor of Borno State, a former senator, and a politician whose public identity was shaped by governance during one of the most difficult security periods in Nigeria’s recent history. His experience in Borno during the height of insurgency remains part of his political story because it built around him an image of resilience, crisis management, and familiarity with the security anxieties of the North East.

His retention also sends a message to party loyalists that President Tinubu rewards steadiness. Political parties are held together by more than manifestoes; they are held together by trust, predictability, and the belief that loyalty will not be discarded once power has been won. By standing again with VP Shettima, the President is telling APC stakeholders that the ticket that carried the party through the storm of 2023 will not be casually dismantled on the road to 2027.

This does not mean the APC can assume victory as a birthright. No serious party should make that mistake. The retention of Shettima gives the ruling party a stronger platform, but it does not remove the need to persuade voters with evidence of delivery. In the end, elections are not won by ticket composition alone; they are won when ticket composition, party structure, campaign discipline, government performance, and public mood move in the same direction. Luckily for President Tinubu, he has hit the bull’s eyes on these valuations.

To, therefore, posit that President Tinubu’s political advantage is clear is to state the obvious. President Tinubu has avoided the internal confusion that would have followed a replacement. He has kept faith with a deputy who has defended him in office. He has preserved a working relationship that has already been tested by controversy, economic pressure, and public scrutiny. He has also given the APC and the nation a clearer message heading into 2027: this is a ticket of continuity, experience, and unfinished work.

For VP Shettima, the task ahead is equally clear. Retention is not a ceremonial endorsement; it is a heavier burden of proof. He must continue to show that loyalty to the President must continue to translate into service to Nigerians, that political strategy can coexist with economic seriousness, and that the Renewed Hope agenda moves from policy defence to visible improvement in the lives of citizens. The stronger the administration’s delivery record becomes, the stronger the case for the ticket will be. Easily and with deepened understanding and decorum, the Vice President aptly and fortunately has this under grasp.

President Tinubu’s decision has, therefore, changed the conversation from speculation to strategy. The question is no longer whether VP Shettima will remain on the ticket. That question has been settled. The question now is how the Tinubu-Shettima partnership will convert continuity into confidence, confidence into mobilisation, and mobilisation into a renewed mandate.

In that sense, the Vice President’s retention is both a political shield and an electoral weapon. It shields the APC from internal distraction and gives the party a tested pair around which to organise its campaign. It also arms the ruling party with a message of stability.

President Tinubu has made his choice, and it is a choice rooted in trust. VP Shettima has kept his place, and it is a place earned by loyalty, capacity, and disciplined service. For the APC, that combination may well be its strongest card as the road to 2027 begins. Clearly, for President Tinubu, victory in 2027 looks a done deal!

Nkwocha is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President) and wrote in from Abuja.

From Muhammad Muhammad Al-amin, Maiduguri

For months, the political atmosphere in Nigeria was filled with speculation over one of the most closely watched questions ahead of the 2027 presidential election: Would President Bola Ahmed Tinubu retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate?

The debate dominated newspaper headlines, television discussions and social media platforms, with political analysts offering different interpretations of what the President’s next move might be.

Within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), supporters and observers weighed various permutations, while opposition parties watched closely.

As the speculation gathered momentum, several influential northern politicians were repeatedly mentioned as possible replacements for Shettima. Among the names were the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa Rtd; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; former Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong; Ibrahim Masari; former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Former Kano State Governor and APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda; and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni.

The rumours were fuelled by arguments that the APC might reconsider its Muslim Muslim ticket to accommodate a northern Christian ahead of the 2027 election. Others believed the party might introduce a fresh political calculation aimed at strengthening its electoral chances.

Despite the widespread speculation, President Tinubu remained silent, allowing political commentators and party stakeholders to continue making assumptions about the future of the vice presidential slot.

The uncertainty, however, came to an end when the President officially retained Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election. The formal submission of the Tinubu Shettima ticket effectively ended months of rumours and confirmed that the President had chosen continuity over political experimentation.

The decision immediately generated reactions from across the country. Many APC leaders and supporters described it as a demonstration of confidence, loyalty and stability within the governing party.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, welcomed the decision, describing Shettima’s re-nomination as a reflection of the President’s trust in his deputy and appreciation of his contributions to the administration.

Similarly, political stakeholders from the North-East applauded the President’s decision, describing it as recognition of the region’s strategic role in national politics and governance.

Support also came from groups such as the Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairers and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), which endorsed the Tinubu Shettima ticket, arguing that continuity in leadership would provide stability as the administration continues to implement its economic and security policies.

Beyond political calculations, the President’s decision sends an important message about loyalty in leadership. Since assuming office in May 2023, Vice President Shettima has remained one of the administration’s most visible defenders, representing the President at numerous national and international engagements while supporting government policies.

Although public office is often characterised by shifting alliances and changing political interests, the decision to retain Shettima suggests that trust and consistency remain important considerations in high level political partnerships.

For many observers, the development also demonstrates that political rumours, regardless of how widespread they become, do not always determine the outcome of strategic decisions. Months of speculation, media projections and political lobbying eventually gave way to the President’s own judgement.

As the APC prepares for the 2027 election, attention is now expected to shift from debates over the vice-presidential ticket to the broader campaign on governance, economic reforms, security and the party’s bid for another four-year mandate.

The Tinubu-Shettima ticket now enters the next electoral cycle with renewed certainty. Whether that decision translates into electoral success will ultimately depend not on political speculation, but on the confidence Nigerians place in the administration’s performance.

In the end, President Tinubu’s decision has done more than settle an internal party debate. It has reaffirmed an existing political partnership, rewarded loyalty in the eyes of many supporters, and reshaped the conversation as Nigeria gradually moves toward the 2027 general election.

How Family Planning Can Save Nigeria’s Population Pressure

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

As Nigeria marks World Population Day on Saturday, health experts are warning that rapid population growth is putting unsustainable pressure on maternal healthcare delivery across the region.

This surging population growth is overwhelming public medical infrastructure, creating critical shortages of vital personnel and essential lifesaving supplies in many urban primary healthcare centers.

As a result, reproductive health services are becoming increasingly overstretched, forcing experts to call for immediate, strategic interventions to safeguard vulnerable mothers and newborns across the Southwest.

The experts emphasised that family planning was the most effective tool to save mothers’ lives, reduce teenage pregnancies, and ease hospital overcrowding.

With contraceptive prevalence at just 18 per cent and thousands of young women lacking access, they are urging governments to prioritise funding, youth-friendly services, and accurate sexuality education.

World Population Day is observed on July 11 annually, with the 2026 global theme as, “Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people for their futures”.

The Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) South -West Coordinator, Mrs Elizabeth Abimbola, said Nigeria’s rapidly growing population was putting additional pressure on health facilities, providers, and contraceptive supplies in the Southwest.

Abimbola noted that from PPFN’s experience, the growing demand was stretching outreach programmes and the availability of contraceptive commodities.

Citing data from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), Abimbola noted that 53.99 per cent of women surveyed (21,083 of 39,050) were aged 15 to 29 years.

According to her, the above data shows that more than half of women are within the reproductive age group.

However, she added that 18,246 women aged 15 to 29 years were not using any contraceptive method.

This, she said, indicated a significant unmet need among young people.

The PPFN South-West coordinator observed that the majority of PPFN’s family planning clients were adults aged 30 years and above.

She added that fear of judgment by providers or community members, spousal approval, misinformation, and myths about side effects also discourage uptake.

Abimbola further referenced the 2024 NDHS, which shows that 18,246 women aged 15 to 29 years are not using any contraceptive method.

This, she said, indicated a substantial unmet need for information and services among younger women.

To address this, she remarked PPFN implemented the Comprehensive Life Skills Health Education curriculum in 45 secondary schools in Oyo.

Abimbola said PPFN had introduced an e-Health application for confidential telemedicine, counselling, and referrals.

She explained that digital innovation improves access, protects clients’ privacy, and helps reach more young people.

She added that PPFN also upgraded facilities and diversified method mix through one-stop-shop centres to ensure nationwide access to SRH services.

She warned that unmet need led to unintended pregnancies, closely spaced births, and pregnancy-related complications.

On government support, Abimbola acknowledged progress in collaboration with partners and integration of Family Planning (FP) into primary healthcare.

She advised the government to prioritise investments in Family Planning, youth-friendly services, and sexuality education with increased domestic funding.

Dr Olufemi Aworinde, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, said Nigeria’s population growth was outpacing health infrastructure and worsening maternal health outcomes.

Aworinde noted that the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), projected Nigeria’s population at 237.5 million in 2025 with a fertility rate of 4.5.

He, however, emphasised that infrastructure and personnel were not growing at the same rate, leading to burnout and poor quality of care.

Aworinde said teenage pregnancies were producing the deadliest complications in Oyo, including death, anemia, obstructed labor and unsafe abortions.

He added that stigma forced many teenagers out of school and out of antenatal care, so they presented late with anemia, malaria and small-for-gestational-age babies.

The consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist described family planning as one of the most important tools for reducing maternal mortality.

Aworinde, however, listed availability, affordability, acceptability, policy failure and health worker shortage as the biggest gaps.

He also debunked myths around contraception.

He urged policymakers to treat population growth as a development crisis, not just a health issue.

He cited projections that Lagos alone could reach 80 million people in under 30 years with 60 to 70 per cent being young people.

He, therefore, urged the government to invest in infrastructure, water, food and jobs.

The consultant reiterated that most maternal deaths could be preventable and Nigerians must understand the role of planning.

Also, a Senior Registrar at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Dr Olufiade Oyerogba warned that Nigeria’s rapid population growth was stretching maternal and reproductive health services.

Oyerogba, of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UCH, said Nigeria’s rapid population growth continued to place enormous pressure on the healthcare system, especially maternal and reproductive health services.

She said hospitals were seeing increasing numbers of pregnant women in antenatal clinics, labour wards, and emergency units.

Citing WHO estimates, she said Nigeria contributed a significant proportion of global maternal deaths.

The gynaecologist remarked that teenage pregnancies are commonly linked with serious complications.

According to her, teenage pregnancies are associated with anaemia, hypertensive disorders, obstructed labour, preterm birth, and low birth weight babies.

She added that many teenagers present late for antenatal care, emphasising that it increases the risk of poor maternal and neonatal outcomes.

On closely-spaced births, she said pregnancies within 24 months of a previous birth carried high risks.

While she said she does not have verified institutional figures, she noted these complications are regularly encountered.

The doctor described family planning as one of the most effective public health interventions, saying it enables women and couples to plan the timing and spacing of pregnancies.

According to Oyerogba also, women who space pregnancies by at least two years experience better recovery.

Oyerogba said many patients still believed myths about contraception.

She advised patients to seek counselling from trained healthcare providers, while cautioning people to avoid relying on myths or information from unverified sources.

She urged the government to match population growth with investments, strengthen primary healthcare and ensure consistent availability of family planning commodities.

To families, she urged open communication and support for girls’ education.

“The public should embrace healthy birth spacing and attend regular antenatal care.

“A healthy population is not simply about numbers. It is about ensuring every pregnancy is planned and every childbirth is safe.

“On the 2026 theme, reproductive choices are fundamental human rights, investing in women’s health and family planning is one of the smartest investments any nation can make.

“When women are healthy and empowered, families prosper, communities become stronger and national development accelerates,” Oyerogba stressed. (NAN)