society
National Sports Festival: Abiodun indicates Ogun readiness to host fiesta in 2024
National Sports Festival: Abiodun indicates Ogun’s readiness to host a fiesta in 2024
Sahara Weekly Reports That The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has indicated the readiness of the state to host the 22nd Edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) in 2024.
In a statement issued in Abeokuta on Saturday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, Gov. Abiodun gave this indication on Friday when he played host to the 22nd National Sports Festival Evaluation Committee, in his office.
Gov Abiodun expressed his conviction that no other state can defeat Ogun in its plans to host the festival after almost 16 years it hosted it.
Abiodun, while noting that Ogun is one of the most peaceful states in the country, urged the committee to make security, a peaceful atmosphere, and the well-being of the athletes the most crucial consideration above others.
“Our state is the Gateway State and I do not think that any other state can compete and defeat us in the bidding for this National Sports Festival.
“So, on behalf of my team, I want to assure you that we will be ready to host this Sports Festival. I want to thank the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare. And I have told him, we are hosting this festival, and we are ready for it.
“I think for a festival like this, one of your topmost considerations should be a venue where you can guarantee the safety of the athletes and also the visitors. I think that consideration ranks higher than any other consideration, it has to be number one and once you take that on your checklist, you can begin to look at other areas.
“I beat my chest and proudly say that Ogun State is one of the most peaceful states in the country, if not the most peaceful state in the country and I think that is a severe consideration and we will continue to do everything to sustain that role as one of the most peaceful states in the country,” he said.
The governor who added that his administration sees the development of the sports sector as very important as it helps to instill discipline, and leadership skills and also helps the youths to stay clear of social vices, said that hosting of the festival is fundamental to the social economic development of the state.
” We see the sports sector as a sector that we must promote because the sport itself instills discipline in our youths, if you are preparing for any sporting activity, you are required to be disciplined, you have to wake up at a certain time to train, you have to develop interpersonal skills, once you are subjected to those kinds of rigorous training exercises, you are less likely to engage in vices because you won’t have time,” he noted
Abiodun stated that if the state could host a business concern of $400m in the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone at a period when the Naira exchange rate to other foreign currencies is a bit epileptic, affirmed that the state is more than ready to host the festival.
” If we are ready for a business person at a time like this when there is a world recession, at a time when there are baseless speculations that we have security threats, at a time when our exchange rate of a Naira to other foreign currencies is a bit epileptic if an investor is coming to Ogun state and investing $400m in our state, then, it says a lot.
” If we have become an attractive destination for local and international investors because of the people-oriented programs that we have implemented, we must be more than ready to host the National Sports Festival, we must be more than ready,” Abiodun affirmed.
The State governor while assuring the committee that the state-owned international airport would have become operational before the commencement of the festival, also said that all observations made by the committee would be looked into.
” Let me assure you that whatever it is that you require, we have tourist sites, cultural heritage sites, by the grace of God, way before the National Sports Festival, our International Airport will be ready, so our athletes do not have to worry about flying to another state as they did in 2006 and driving to Ogun State. They can fly straight into Ogun State and within twenty-five minutes, they are at any of the venues driving on first-class five-star highways.
” Yes, you are here to inspect our sporting facilities, what I want to assure you of is that whatever observation that you find, whatever recommendation you make thereof, be doubly assured that we will take them on board and all those facilities will be ready and they will be best in class,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the 22nd National Sports Festival Evaluation Committee and also the Director of, the National Sports Festival/Para Sports Department, Ministry of Youths and Sports; Peter Nelson, commended the state government for showing interest to host the 22nd edition of the festival, opined that the state can surpass its record of being the only state to have hosted and made a huge profit if it gets the nod to host the event.
” I hope and pray that when we go for the inspection, the things that we see in sight will be impressed that I think we should be able to give Ogun State another chance to host as we did to Edo sometime ago and also Lagos.
“I am so sure that if they put things in place, there is no doubt in my mind that Ogun State should be able to repeat what they did in 2006 as the only state that ever hosted a sports festival and made a profit. This time around, I expect that it should be much better and I am expecting that the preparation should be much better than what we saw the last time,” he said.
Nelson while noting that if the state can get things right, it would win the bidding process, urged the state government to ensure that accommodations are not too far from the venues.
A former Commissioner for Youths Sport in the state, Bukola Olopade, expressed optimism that the state would win the bid to host the festival in 2024 and said he looked forward to a successful bidding process.
society
Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity
Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity
Adron Homes & Properties Limited has congratulated Muslim faithful on the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan, urging Nigerians to embrace the virtues of sacrifice, discipline, and compassion that define the season.
In a statement made available to journalists, the company described Ramadan as a period of deep reflection, spiritual renewal, and strengthened devotion to faith and humanity.
According to the management, the holy month represents values that align with the organisation’s commitment to integrity, resilience, and community development.
“Ramadan is a time that teaches patience, generosity, and selflessness. As our Muslim customers and partners begin the fast, we pray that their sacrifices are accepted and that the season brings peace, joy, and renewed hope to their homes and the nation at large,” the statement read.
The firm reaffirmed its dedication to providing affordable and accessible housing solutions to Nigerians, noting that building homes goes beyond structures to creating environments where families can thrive.
Adron Homes further urged citizens to use the period to pray for national unity, economic stability, and sustainable growth.
It wished all Muslim faithful a spiritually fulfilling Ramadan.
Ramadan Mubarak.
society
Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com
“Fiscal Rigidity in a Time of Crisis: Lawmakers Say Fixed Budget Ceilings Are Crippling Nigeria’s Fight Against Insurgency, Banditry, and Organized Crime.”
Nigeria’s legislature has issued a stark warning: the envelope budgeting system; a fiscal model that caps spending for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) is inadequate to meet the country’s escalating security challenges. Lawmakers and budget analysts argue that rigid fiscal ceilings are undermining the nation’s ability to confront insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence, oil theft and maritime insecurity.
The warning emerged during the 2026 budget defence session for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) at the National Assembly in Abuja. Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC‑Kebbi North), chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, decried the envelope system, noting that security agencies “have been subject to the vagaries of the envelope system rather than to genuine needs and requirements.” The committee highlighted non-release or partial release of capital funds from previous budgets, which has hindered procurement, intelligence and operational capacity.
Nigeria faces a multi‑front security crisis: persistent insurgency in the North‑East, banditry and kidnappings across the North‑West and North‑Central, separatist tensions in the South‑East, and piracy affecting Niger Delta oil production. Despite declarations of a national security emergency by President Bola Tinubu, lawmakers point to a “disconnect” between rhetoric and the actual fiscal support for agencies tasked with enforcement.
Experts warn that security operations demand flexibility and rapid resource allocation. Dr. Amina Bello, a public finance specialist, said: “A static budget in a dynamic threat environment is like sending firefighters with water jugs to a forest fire. You need flexibility, not fixed ceilings, to adapt to unforeseen developments.”
The Permanent Secretary of Special Services at ONSA, Mohammed Sanusi, detailed operational consequences: irregular overhead releases, unfulfilled capital appropriations, and constrained foreign service funds. These fiscal constraints have weakened intelligence and covert units, hampering surveillance, cyber‑security, counter‑terrorism and intelligence sharing.
Delayed capital releases have stalled critical projects, including infrastructure upgrades and surveillance systems. Professor Kolawole Adeyemi, a governance expert, emphasized that “budgeting for security must allow for rapid reallocation in response to threats that move faster than political cycles. Envelope budgeting lacks this essential flexibility.”
While the National Assembly advocates fiscal discipline, lawmakers stress that security funding requires strategic responsiveness. Speaker Abbas Ibrahim underscored that security deserves “prominent and sustained attention” in the 2026 budget, balancing oversight with operational needs.
In response, the Senate committee plans to pursue reforms, including collaboration with the executive to restructure funding, explore supplementary budgets and ensure predictable and sufficient resources for security agencies. Experts warn that without reform, criminal networks will exploit these gaps, eroding public trust.
As one policy analyst summarized: “A nation declares a security emergency; but if its budget does not follow with real resources and oversight, the emergency remains rhetorical.” Nigeria’s debate over envelope budgeting is more than an accounting dispute; it is a contest over the nation’s security priorities and its commitment to safeguarding citizens.
society
Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday
Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday
Today, the world and the body of Christ rise in celebration of a rare vessel of honour, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba, fondly known as Eritosin, as she marks her birthday.
Born a special child with a divine mark of grace, Rev. Mother Eritosin’s journey in God’s vineyard spans several decades of steadfast service, spiritual depth, and undeniable impact. Those who know her closely describe her as a prophetess with a heart of gold — a woman whose calling is not worn as a title, but lived daily through compassion, discipline, humility, and unwavering faith.
From her early days in ministry, she has touched lives across communities, offering spiritual guidance, prophetic insight, and motherly counsel. Many testify that through her prayers and teachings, they encountered God in a deeply personal and transformative way. Near and far, her influence continues to echo — not only within church walls, but in homes, families, and destinies reshaped through her mentorship.
A mother in every sense of the word, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba embodies nurture and correction in equal measure. As a grandmother, she remains energetic in purpose — accommodating the wayward, embracing the rejected, and holding firmly to the belief that no soul is beyond redemption. Her life’s mission has remained consistent: to lead many to Christ and guide them into the light of a new beginning.
Deeply rooted within the C&S Unification, she stands tall as a spiritual pillar in the Cherubim and Seraphim Church globally. Her dedication to holiness, unity, and prophetic service has earned her widespread respect as a spiritual matriarch whose voice carries both authority and humility.
As she celebrates another year today, tributes continue to pour in from spiritual sons and daughters, church leaders, and admirers who see in her a living reflection of grace in action.
Prayer for Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin)
May the Almighty God, who called you from birth and anointed you for His service, continually strengthen you with divine health and renewed vigour.
May your oil never run dry, and may your prophetic mantle grow heavier with greater glory.
May the lives you have nurtured rise to call you blessed.
May your latter years be greater than the former, filled with peace, honour, and the visible rewards of your labour in God’s vineyard.
May heaven continually back your prayers, and may your light shine brighter across nations.
Happy Birthday to a true Mother in Israel — Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin).
More years.
More anointing.
More impact.
If you want this adapted for a newspaper page, church bulletin, Facebook post, or birthday flyer, just tell me the format and tone.
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