Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency and immediate past Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor, Dr. Rafiu Ajakaye,
has assured the people of his constituency of quality representation if elected in the 2027 election.

Ajakaye spoke during a separate follow up thank you visit to members of the APC in Offa and Oyun local government areas of the State.

The former governor’s spokesman, said he was in the two local government areas to express appreciation to them for conceding the Reps ticket to Ifelodun local government since 1999 when the local government area last produced a representative.

He was accompanied on the visit by the Chairman of the Ifelodun local government area, Hadji Femi Yusuf, and other party faithful from the local government area.

Addressing the party supporters, Ajakaye pledged that he would provide quality representation that would have positive impacts on the lives of his constituents .

“I am irrevocably committed to represent my constituecy well if elected , I will be your good Ambassador, I won’t look dawn on party members, I will not be ungrateful to you.

“I want you to support All APC candidates in the 2027 general elections from the president dawn to the state”, he said.

Chairman of the Ifelodun local government area, Hadji Femi Yusuf, on his part, assured the people that Ajakaye would offer a quality representation if elected.

“Ajakaye was not born with a Siliver spoon and therefore would have the interest of the masses at heart “, he added.

An APC chieftain in Offa, Dr Hassan Oyeleke, as well as the Chairman of the Oyun local government area, Alhaji Suleiman Olatunji, assured the people that the reps candidate, Dr. Rafiu Ajakaye, is an “honourable person who will not disappoint the people if given their mandates”.

Also speaking in Oyun, Deputy Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly and a candidate for Oke- Ogun constituency in the State House of Assembly, Honourable Ojo Olayiwola and Chairman of the Oyun local government area, Honourable Kamal Akanbi, described the candidate “as a honest and a straight forward person who will deliver”.

The people of the two local government areas resolved that they would deliver their votes for the candidate and all the APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.

Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued Mrs Adonkie, wife of retired Brig.-Gen. Basil Adonkie, following a coordinated operation against her abductors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mrs Adonkie was reportedly kidnapped from her residence at about 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2026, prompting an immediate joint search-and-rescue operation by troops from the Army Headquarters Garrison (AHQ GAR) and other Army formations.

Military sources told Zagazola Makama that the troops mobilised rapidly and pursued the kidnappers along three fronts in an effort to prevent the abductors from escaping with the victim.

Troops of AHQ GAR advanced through the ACO Estate-Goza Community axis, where they made contact with the kidnappers.

During the operation, the troops successfully rescued Mrs Adonkie around Angwan-Sabo Village, while another group of troops continued the pursuit of the fleeing kidnappers along the ACO Estate-Angwan Sayawa axis.

The operation continued into the early hours of Sept. 2, as a second group comprising troops of 176 Guards Battalion and 197 Special Forces Battalion was deployed to block and intercept the fleeing members of the kidnap syndicate.

At about 11:09 a.m. on Sept. 2, the troops made contact with the fleeing suspects along Gaube Village in Kuje Area Council.

The troops successfully intercepted and arrested two suspected kidnappers during the encounter.

They also recovered one AK-47 rifle and one AK-47 magazine loaded with 19 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

The rescued victim was subsequently reunited with her family after the operation.

The two arrested suspects are currently in Army custody for profiling and further exploitation, with security personnel expected to use information obtained from them to track other members of the kidnap syndicate still at large.

The Army has also intensified operations in the affected areas to apprehend other suspected members of the criminal group and prevent further kidnapping activities.

The operation demonstrates the importance of rapid mobilisation, coordinated pursuit and intelligence-led action in responding to kidnapping incidents within the FCT.

The military said troops’ morale and fighting efficiency remained satisfactory as operations continue to apprehend the remaining suspects and strengthen security in the area.

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State Government has conducted the bid opening exercise for the procurement of infrastructure works for the Agricultural Transformation Centres (ATCs) under the Kwara State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project.

The proposed ATCs, to be located in Olodan, Ifelodun LGA; Afon, Asa LGA; Gidan Magajiya, Baruten LGA; and Kinikini, Kaiama LGA, are designed to serve as aggregation and raw-material supply centres for the Agro-Industrial Hub (AIH) to be established in Malete, Moro LGA.

The infrastructure procurement is structured into two packages, with each package comprising three lots covering the four designated ATC locations across the state.

Speaking during the bid opening exercise, the State Project Coordinator, Engr. Dr. Busari Toyin Isiaka, described the exercise as an important requirement of the procurement process aimed at promoting transparency, fairness and accountability.

He emphasised that the procurement activities of the Kwara SAPZ Project are being conducted in strict compliance with the procurement framework and guidelines of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the SAPZ Programme.

Engr. Dr. Busari also commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his administration’s commitment to transparency, due process and accountability in public procurement.

According to him, the Kwara SAPZ Project would continue to adhere strictly to the applicable IsDB procurement guidelines and the standards of credibility and transparency upheld by the Kwara State Government.

The State Project Coordinator further commended the bidders and other participants for their orderly conduct during the exercise and assured them that the subsequent evaluation process would be handled professionally and fairly, in accordance with the prescribed procurement procedures.

“The bid opening process reinforces transparency and provides a sound foundation for a fair and competitive evaluation. It gives bidders confidence that the process is being conducted openly and that every responsive bid will be given due consideration in accordance with the applicable guidelines.

“Kwara SAPZ is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency, fairness and credibility throughout the procurement process. This commitment is equally supported by the Kwara State Government.

“Ultimately, our objective is to ensure effective delivery of the Agricultural Transformation Centres because they are critical components of the SAPZ Project and are expected to contribute significantly to agricultural productivity, value-chain development, job creation and the economic transformation of our communities.

“We appreciate the interest of all the bidders and commend their orderly and professional conduct during the exercise,” he said.

Also speaking, the Technical Assistant on Procurement to the National Programme Coordinator, Mr. Anthony Onyekweli, commended the bidders and other participants for their patience and participation, noting that the level of attendance demonstrated the importance attached to the procurement exercise.

He explained that the bid opening represents an initial stage of the procurement process and would be followed by a detailed evaluation of the bids in accordance with the applicable procedures.

He added that the relevant stages and documentation arising from the procurement process would be submitted to the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for the necessary review and clearance in line with the Bank’s procurement requirements.

Commenting on the exercise, the Procurement Officer of Agro-Precise Ltd, Abase Zecharian, described the bid opening process as transparent, orderly and hitch-free. He commended the Kwara State Government and the Kwara SAPZ Project team for ensuring a credible exercise.

Other participants at the bid opening included the Consultancy Team Lead of Bentley Adams Nigeria Limited, Engr. Dr. Adekunle Olaoye; members of the Evaluation Team; and the Programme Manager, Centre for Community Development and Poverty Eradication (CCEPE), Engr. Tajudeen Yusuf, among other stakeholders.

The development marks another important step towards the establishment of the Agricultural Transformation Centres, which will serve as strategic linkages between farmers and producers across the participating communities and the proposed Agro-Industrial Hub in Malete.