Minister of Works, David Umahi, has ordered the removal of illegal advertisements from the rehabilitated First Niger Bridge and their replacement with pictures of President Bola Tinubu, saying the display would recognise the President’s work on infrastructure.

Umahi gave the directive during an inspection of ongoing rehabilitation works on the bridge linking Anambra and Delta states.

He said the bridge was expected to reopen to motorists next week, subject to the completion of critical structural work.

“Once we are done with work on this bridge, I want all the illegal adverts on this bridge removed. Anyone who wants to advertise should apply to the Ministry of Works. For now, the bridge will be decorated with the pictures of President Tinubu,” Umahi said.

“The President has worked so hard and we need to reward his hard work by decorating this bridge with his pictures.”

Enugu|•L-R Prof Pat Utomi; Prof Chinyere Okunna and Eze Anaba President Nigerian Guild of Editors at the 22nd All Nigerian Editors Conference in Enugu. Photo. Nwankpa Chijioke

The 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) organized by the Nigerian Guild of Editors, opened today in Enugu.

The two-day conference, which is the flagship annual gathering of the Guild, is being held at The Dome, International Conference Centre, Opara Square Road, Enugu, beginning at 2p.m and continue on Friday, September 25.

In a statement by the President and General Secretary of the NGE, Eze Anaba and Onuoha Ukeh, respectively, the Guild said that Vice President Kashim Shettima would address editors and other participants at the event.

The conference has the theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” as well as the sub-theme, “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election.”

The Vice President is also expected to speak on other issues relating to democracy, elections, press freedom and national development.

The statement said Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, would also address the conference.

More than 500 editors from across the country, alongside government officials, academics, civil society representatives and other stakeholders, are expected to attend the conference, which will focus on critical national and global issues with significant social, economic and political implications.

The Guild said His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, would chair the conference, while former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, would deliver the keynote address.

An independent panel has begun its investigation today into the deaths of 37 people who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.

The Federal Government constituted the 10-member committee last week following the deaths, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026. The victims, described as suspected illegal miners, had been arrested during enforcement operations against artisanal mining activities in the state days earlier.

Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced the panel’s formation, stating it would examine the circumstances surrounding the arrests, detention and deaths. The committee, chaired by retired DSS Deputy Director-General Jonathan Kure, has been given two weeks to submit its report. It is also mandated to determine any negligence or misconduct, recommend accountability measures and propose steps to prevent a recurrence.

Twenty NSCDC officers, including the Niger State Commandant, have been suspended pending the outcome of the probe. Authorities have stressed that any attempt to interfere with the investigation or destroy evidence will be treated as a serious offence.

The incident has drawn widespread attention, with reports of overcrowding and poor ventilation in the detention facility cited among possible factors. Officials have confirmed that medical and forensic examinations are under way to establish the precise causes of death.