By Tambaya Julius, Abuja

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi II, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s public commendation of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, as a clear indication of the confidence and trust reposed in the Customs chief by the Federal Government.

The revered monarch said Adeniyi’s performance at the helm of the Nigeria Customs Service, coupled with his contributions to community development, has brought pride to both the ancient Ife Kingdom and the Modakeke community.

Oba Ogunwusi made the remarks during an annual Eid-el-Kabir gathering hosted by the Comptroller-General at his residence in Modakeke.

The event drew an array of dignitaries, including traditional rulers, political leaders, senior Customs officers, community stakeholders, family members, friends, and associates.

Speaking at the gathering, the Ooni noted that President Tinubu’s public expression of satisfaction with Adeniyi’s performance was significant and underscored the Customs chief’s leadership qualities and achievements.

“We are very proud of him and the work he is doing. When Mr President publicly expressed satisfaction with his performance, it was not a casual statement. It reflects trust in his capacity and the results he is delivering.

What he is doing in the Customs Service and in the community shows that he is a unifier,” the monarch said.

Reaffirming the support of the Ife Kingdom for the Customs boss, Oba Ogunwusi added that Adeniyi’s ability to bring people together exemplifies true leadership.

“He brings people together, and that is what leadership is about. We will continue to stand by him and pray for him,” he stated.

In his remarks, Adeniyi expressed appreciation to the Ooni, community leaders, family members, friends, associates, and other well-wishers for their continued support and goodwill.

He described Eid-el-Kabir as a period that highlights the values of sacrifice, gratitude, obedience, and service to humanity, stressing that such occasions provide an opportunity to strengthen relationships and reflect on the collective responsibility of nation-building.

According to the Customs chief, the Nigeria Customs Service has continued to make notable strides in revenue generation, trade facilitation, anti-smuggling operations, technological innovation, and corporate social responsibility initiatives in line with the economic objectives of the Federal Government.

Adeniyi said the Service remains committed to supporting President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through reforms aimed at facilitating legitimate trade, enhancing national security, improving compliance, and creating opportunities for economic growth.

He further disclosed that the Service has expanded community-focused interventions across the country, including educational support programmes, healthcare initiatives, and other projects designed to improve the welfare of Nigerians.

The Comptroller-General assured stakeholders that the Service would continue to pursue reforms that strengthen its operations and deliver greater value to the nation while upholding professionalism, transparency, and excellence in service delivery.

He also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve the country and reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to supporting government policies aimed at driving economic prosperity and national development.

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are celebrating after five patients, who had Ebola and now recovered, were allowed to leave the hospital.

The current outbreak is suspected to have killed almost 250 people.

But those infected can get better and officials stress that people should seek medical help if they believe they have contracted the virus.

On Sunday, there was a ceremony for a group of four nurses who were discharged from a hospital in Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri, the epicentre of the outbreak.

“We were really demoralised because we knew that at some point… we were going to die. That was it… I’m telling you, if you have never been isolated, you will not know that it’s not easy,” Nurse Etienne Ezo told the Reuters news agency as he reflected on his experience.

The first survivor, a laboratory worker, to have recovered left hospital last week.

Health workers are on the frontline in the battle against the spread of the virus and are often the most at risk.

“This encouraging milestone bears witness to the effectiveness of field interventions: early detection, medical care, contact tracing and community engagement,” DR Congo’s Institute of Public Health wrote on social media.

Its director, Dr. Mwamba Kazadi, described the recoveries as a victory worth celebrating, adding that early detection and strong care make a difference.

Tedros has called on communities to work with medical staff after some residents attacked health centres over strict burial rules. The bodies of those suspected of having died of Ebola are not allowed to be handled by grieving relatives, regulations which clash with local traditions.

In a joint statement with the Congolese government on Sunday, he said local communities are “at the heart of the solution” and that “success” in their response depends on their trust and engagement.

“Persistent challenges include early detection and isolation of cases, contact tracing, safe and dignified burials, robust infection prevention and control in health facilities, and strong community awareness.

“The Government and WHO call on all communities to continue adopting protective behaviours, including regular hand hygiene, early care seeking in health facilities, and sharing accurate information.”

There are now more than 1,000 suspected Ebola cases in the DR Congo, and at least 246 deaths. Neighbouring Uganda has reported nine confirmed cases and one death.

But in some affected areas, there is a sense of normality. In Bunia, schools and markets are open as people continue to go about their daily activities.

The current outbreak – the 17th in DR Cngo’s history – is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which has no approved vaccines, though some are being worked on now.

While cases are concentrated in DR Congo’s Ituri, North and South Kivu provinces, and some in Uganda’s capital Kampala, people have also been tested outside of Africa.

Health officials in Brazil said on Saturday that they were investigating two suspected Ebola cases in São Paulo state.

Meanwhile, protests have erupted in the Kenyan town of Nanyuki over US plans to construct an Ebola quarantine facility for American citizens at an air base.

Residents marching through the streets say the facility may expose local people to infection and an outbreak of the virus. There have been no recorded cases of Ebola in the country.

By Laide Akinboade Abuja

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Monday took responsibility for the continued presence of cattle on major roads and streets across Abuja.

Wike stated this during his monthly media briefing in Abuja.

Wike expressed regret over the development and assured residents that the administration remains committed to addressing it.

According to Wike, “I apologise that up till now there are cows still roaming the streets of Abuja, I take responsibility”.

FCT Minister, noted that the infrastructural development in satellite towns and rural communities has significantly helped to reduce insecurity and improve access to farmlands across the territory.

He stressed that his administration deliberately shifted attention to neglected rural communities after extensive consultations with traditional rulers, youths, women and other stakeholders who identified poor road infrastructure as a major factor fueling insecurity.

According to him, communities complained that security agencies often found it difficult to pursue criminals because many rural roads were impassable.

“What we did was to go to the rural areas and interact with the stakeholders, the chiefs, the youths, the women and other leaders,” Wike said.

“What I found very interesting is that they know their terrain. They told us most of the roads were not passable at all and that even when attacks occurred, security operatives could not effectively respond because the roads were bad. So we took on the task and built the roads they themselves nominated.”

The minister said the intervention has yielded positive results, particularly in Kuje Area Council, where several road projects have been completed.

“Those roads have been built, and it really helps in terms of reducing insecurity and in terms of having access to their farmland,” he stated.

Wike stressed that unlike previous administrations that announced policies without implementation, the current FCT Administration was focused on delivering tangible results.

“Whatever policies we make, by the grace of God, we will implement them. That is how people are going to see the impact of governance, particularly in the rural areas,” he said.

The minister also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu would commission several major projects in satellite towns as part of activities marking the administration’s anniversary.

Among the projects are water schemes in Kuje, Orozo, Gwagwalada and Dobi, which he said would improve access to potable water in underserved communities.

“We can’t concentrate only on the city. We must also move to the satellite towns and provide them with critical infrastructure,” Wike said.

He revealed that the water projects were executed by CGC and are ready for commissioning, adding that two area councils have already benefited from the intervention between 2025 and 2026.

The minister further listed several road projects completed or nearing completion across the territory, including the A2-Pai road, the Bwari-Kubwa corridor, roads in Dei-Dei, and sections of the A3 highway.

According to him, the Bwari-Kubwa road will be completed this year, while work is progressing on the Abuja airport corridor and the Zuba-Airport link road aimed at reducing traffic congestion within the city centre.

Wike also announced plans to review the Abuja Master Plan, saying discussions with the original Japanese designers have been scheduled for July.

“The world has changed. The world is different. You have to conform with current realities,” he said, noting that the administration was committed to ensuring development aligns with modern urban planning needs.

The minister urged residents and the media to embrace constructive engagements with the government by drawing attention to areas requiring intervention rather than merely criticizing public policies.

“Government can’t do everything. If citizens call our attention to certain things and make useful suggestions, we can act on them. Constructive criticism is important,” he added.

Wike also disclosed that the FCT Administration is constructing additional hostel accommodation for students at the Nigerian Law School as part of efforts to improve educational infrastructure in the capital city.