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NLC President Joe Ajaero Released After Hours in DSS Custody
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has confirmed the release of its President, Joe Ajaero, from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), after being detained for several hours.
According to Benson Upah, NLC’s head of information, Ajaero was freed late Monday night, as reported by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
Ajaero was taken into custody by DSS officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while preparing to board a flight to the United Kingdom for a Trade Union Congress event.
His detention sparked concern within the NLC, which issued an ultimatum to the federal government, demanding his release by midnight on Monday.
After several hours in detention, Ajaero was finally released at 11:10 p.m. that night.
The NLC had earlier threatened to take action if their president was not freed within the given timeframe.
The arrest came amid reports that the secret police also raided the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), raising concerns about the government’s stance on civil liberties and union rights.
Ajaero’s release has provided temporary relief, but the incident has heightened tensions between the labor movement and the government, as many continue to question the motives behind his detention.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to late Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, recalling his contributions to the creative industry and his impact on Nigeria’s cultural identity.
In his tribute, Tinubu described Jacobs as a giant of the Nigerian creative industry and said “He was a giant of the Nigerian creative industry. His passing is a great loss to Nigeria, the African film industry and the global community of lovers of the performing arts. His remarkable body of work will continue to speak to generations yet unborn.
“The nation recognises the enormous contributions of Nigeria’s creative practitioners to the country’s cultural identity, global image and economic development. Olu Jacobs played a big role in creating this identity.”
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.
Adeyanju also called for the removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, as well as the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products daily, from fake and substandard medicines to unsafe consumer goods, with reports of drugs being sold wholesale in the open under the hot sun. No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise.”
Adeyanju also called out NAFDAC over what he described as failures in regulating the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in the country.
It can be noted that various counterfeit products continue to circulate in Nigerian markets, while NAFDAC has also reported seizures and destruction of counterfeit, expired and substandard products.
Lagosians have lamented heavy traffic caused by ongoing construction work at Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Federal Government announced that repairs on the damaged expansion joints at Kara Bridge would begin on September 8, 2026. The project, initially scheduled to begin in August, was delayed to allow further traffic management planning due to concerns over its impact on motorists.
Since work began, traffic around the Kara area has become heavy, with Lagosians sharing updates on social media about spending two hours or more on the road.
Some commuters say the delays have made their 9-to-5 routines difficult, with several hours spent travelling to and from work.
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