In the build up to the 2027 general elections,former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has formally defected to the African Democratic Congress.

Obi, who is also a former Governor of Anambra state, urged Nigerians and opposition forces to unite under a broad national coalition to “rescue Nigeria from poverty, disunity and democratic decline.”

Obi announced his defection at the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu on Wednesday, where he delivered a New Year address, accusing the current political leadership of state capture, economic mismanagement and systematic erosion of democratic values.

“This decision is guided solely by patriotism and national interest. I now respectfully call on my political associates, the Obidient Movement and opposition leaders across the country to join this broad national coalition under the African Democratic Congress. History will not forgive silence in moments of national peril,” he said.

Presenting his defection as part of a larger national mission, Obi said Nigeria had reached a critical turning point and could no longer afford politics of division.

“As the year 2025 ends today, we stand on the threshold of a new beginning. For Nigeria, moments of profound national challenge demand clarity of purpose and decisive action. That moment is now,” he said.

He described Nigeria as a nation in deep distress, citing widespread poverty, unemployment and insecurity, saying, “With over 130 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty and more than 80 million youths unemployed, our people are in persistent agony. This is not the destiny God bequeathed to over 220 million Nigerians.

“Nigeria is looted into poverty”

Obi rejected claims that Nigeria’s crisis was inevitable, arguing that leadership failure, not lack of resources, was responsible.

“As a nation, we are not poor; we are looted into poverty. Nigeria is not broken; Nigeria is severely betrayed. The average Nigerian is not lazy or incompetent, but the system is rigged to reward mediocrity and recycle failure,” he said

He accused the political elite of deliberately exploiting ethnic and religious divisions to remain in power.

By

Ayobami Adedeji UrbanLife 2025-12-31

 The management of Dangote Cement Plc (DCP) has expressed its irrevocable commitment to training and constant retraining of its truck drivers to promote operational efficiency and safe driving across Nigeria.

Speaking during its 2025 Annual Drivers' Retreat themed, Dangote Cement's Group Managing Director, Arvind Pathak emphasised that as a leading cement manufacturer with thousands of trucks in its fleet, safety on the road remains the company's core mandate. He said the essence of the yearly training is to remind the drivers of the core values of the brand and ensure that they are all committed to the Absolute Safer Road Policy of the Group.

The training exercise for the drivers in DCP Ibese Plant took place in Ilaro area of Ogun State, with over 900 drivers in attendance. Another extensive re-training exercise for more drivers has been scheduled to take place in Obajana, Kogi State next week.

The Dangote Cement boss reaffirmed the Company’s commitment to road safety, transparency, appropriate ethical conduct, and provision of detailed clarity on the comprehensive systems and procedures to mitigate against any incident along roads across the country.

Mr. Pathak said Dangote was a responsible organisation that consistently cooperates with the Nigeria Police and other relevant authorities in the investigation of reported incidents with support of all lawful processes, aimed at establishing the facts and routinely implement recommendations that strengthen public safety.

He explained that that every driver employed by Dangote Cement is required to undergo an extensive and rigorously structured recruitment process that includes Valid Driver's license class G, background verification of both the driver and their guarantors, comprehensive medical evaluation, including vision screening (eye test), blood pressure checks, body mass index (BMI), random blood sugar (RBS) test as well as drug and alcohol testing.

“Other recruitment screening covers usage within a three-month detection window, ensuring identifying any history of substance use before employment, completion of a two-week intensive training programme, which consists of twelve safety modules, practical driving assessments, and written examinations”, the Cement GMD stated.

According to him, “In the past two months alone, over 2,000 prospective drivers have successfully completed this process. Only those who meet all required standards were engaged and certified to operate any Dangote Group vehicles. Our commitment to safety extends beyond recruitment. All drivers undergo mandatory pre-trip medical assessments, conducted by licensed nurses and doctors.

“These include regular checks on blood pressure, vision, and overall fitness, ensuring drivers are physically and mentally fit to operate safely. To enforce compliance with our zero-tolerance policy on substance use, random drug tests are conducted routinely across our operations.”

Mr. Pathak stated that Dangote Cement would continue to collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other regulatory agencies to ensure that all training, compliance, and operational processes are not only standardised but also continuously improved, adding that these authorities are also actively involved in monitoring and evaluation of their safety practices.

He maintained that Dangote Cement remains fully committed to strengthening driver onboarding and training, enforcing strict safety and behavioural standards, applying punitive measures to curb errant driving, collaborating with government agencies, regulators, and communities to improve road safety, ensuring transparency, accountability, and compassion in everything they do.

Also addressing the assembled drivers, the Group Chief, Health Safety Social and Environment Officer & Sustainability function, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Dr. James Adenuga stressed the importance of safety protocols and noted that the process was not just to train the drivers on the consequences but to continuously remind them of essentials of safety guides.

Adenuga further stated that the regular training was to educate them in the language they understand and teach them how the training matters to them. He gave insights on the measures put in place to ensure the right individuals are recruited as drivers, saying some of the qualifications for recruiting the drivers included minimum of secondary school certificate, ability to speak English language with writing and reading skills, free of substance abuse, 2-5 years driving experience, possession of  Class-G  drivers' license, guarantors and rigorous training among other measures.

"We also partner Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to train and prepare them for professional driving so as to equip and give them the basics and fundamentals to prevent them for reckless driving. We equally have a process to give recognition and award to those that profess conduct and good behaved drivers among their peers," he added.

Taking the drivers through some requirements for safe driving, a Road Safety Expert, Mr. Oje Ebhota explained that the choice of the topic for his paper centred on safety driving habits for accident-free journeys.

Mr. Ebhota listed acts such as aggressiveness, impatient driving, use of phone while driving, taking alcoholic drink and disobedience to traffic signs, as negatives against the tenet of safe driving.

He advised the assembled drivers to be conscious of dangerous overtaking and to drive within the driving limit of 60km per hour so that they do not veer off the road and cause accidents that could affect negatively other road users.

According to him, “let me tell you all, drivers are the ambassadors of Dangote Group. Aside being ambassadors, you are also stakeholders that should be careful and consider other road users as important while on the road.”

By

Ayobami Adedeji UrbanLife 2025-08-23

Every year on August 19, the world pauses to recognise the extraordinary courage and compassion of people who dedicate themselves to humanitarian service. World Humanitarian Day is more than a symbolic moment on the calendar, it is a global reminder that the strength of our societies is measured not by wealth or technology alone, but by how we care for the most vulnerable among us. For Access Holdings, this truth sits at the core of our purpose. We believe that the role of a modern business is not limited to delivering value to shareholders; it extends to uplifting the communities in which we operate, protecting the environment, and enabling opportunities for people to thrive.
Humanitarian work is often associated with emergency response, rushing aid to victims of natural disasters, conflicts, or health crises. While this is essential, the deeper
meaning of humanitarianism also lies in the steady, ongoing actions that improve lives and build resilience.
At Access Holdings, our Corporate Social Investment (CSI) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) agenda are designed with this long-term vision in mind. We see
humanitarian impact not as a once-a-year campaign, but as a commitment embedded in our operating DNA. One of the ways this is brought to life is through our mandatory employee volunteer programme. Every single Access Holdings employee, regardless of role or seniority, is required to contribute their time and skills to community development initiatives in locations where we have a presence. This policy ensures that humanitarian service is a lived experience for our people and not a corporate talking point.
Our volunteerism framework covers a wide range of initiatives:
 Education: Mentorship and skills training for young people to help close the
opportunity gap.
 Healthcare: Supporting clinics, health drives, and awareness campaigns to
improve community well-being.
 Economic Empowerment: Providing tools, training, and access to finance for
small businesses and entrepreneurs.
 Environmental Restoration: Tree-planting, clean-up drives, and sustainable
farming programmes to preserve natural resources.

These actions reflect our belief that corporate success must translate into community progress. They also reinforce the principle that economic development is incomplete if it leaves people behind. True humanitarian action is about more than responding to need; it is about building systems and relationships that enable communities to withstand challenges and recover stronger. Access Holdings actively collaborates with NGOs, local governments, and
community leaders to ensure our interventions are relevant, sustainable, and scalable. Whether it is rehabilitating a school after a flood, providing livelihood opportunities to
displaced families, or delivering health education in rural areas, we focus on creating impact that lasts beyond the moment.As we mark World Humanitarian Day, we call on individuals, businesses, and policymakers to embrace the spirit of service. Humanitarian action is not the responsibility of aid agencies alone; it is a collective duty. At Access Holdings, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that humanity sits at the heart of everything we do. Because for us, humanitarian service is not an initiative, a campaign, or a seasonal event, it is our way of doing business, every single day.

By

Ayobami Adedeji UrbanLife 2025-08-22