Evening Recap: Tinubu declines meeting with S’African envoy, FG automates civil servants’ promotions, other top stories
In today’s evening’s trending stories, there are new developments at the National Assembly on the prohibition of preaching and hawking in commercial buses, where the Senate said that the ban is not a new policy, insisting that the restriction has been in place since 2007.
On the other hand, President Bola Tinubu declined to meet with South Africa’s special envoy, directing the delegation to the Minister of Foreign Affairs instead, and the Federal Government unveiled an automated system for civil servants’ postings and promotions as part of ongoing public service reforms.
In other stories, Professor Wole Alamu, the husband of an Oyo school principal who was abducted by terrorists, recounted how he blocked the kidnappers in an attempt to stop them from escaping with his wife.
Meanwhile, Sujimoto Group CEO, Sijibomi Ogundele, declared in a viral video that he would not hesitate to rebuild his life from scratch, saying he would start by washing 40 cars every day if he lost everything.
Below are the excerpts from the stories and links for full access to the major events shaping the country.
Tinubu declines meeting with S’African envoy, directs delegation to foreign affairs minister
President Bola Tinubu on Monday declined to receive a special delegation from South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, over the ongoing xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, directing the visiting team to instead meet with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
Multiple credible Presidencye that the delegation, led by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, had sought an audience with the President after arriving in Abuja on Friday
Instead, Tinubu instructed them to engage with Enikanolaiye, who was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in June 2026 after Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu was elevated to the substantive ministerial position following the exit of Yusuf Tuggar.
The development comes amid a diplomatic row between both countries over renewed xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, which forced the evacuation of nearly 600 Nigerians back home.
Preaching, hawking ban in commercial buses existed since 2007 – Senate
The Senate has clarified that the prohibition of preaching and hawking inside commercial vehicles is not a new provision introduced by the ongoing amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission Establishment Act, insisting that the offences have existed in Nigerian law since 2007.
The clarification followed widespread public criticism after PUNCH Online reported on July 17 that the Senate passed the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which proposes a N50,000 fine for anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs in the Office of the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate said the controversial provision had long been contained in the existing FRSC Act and National Road Traffic Regulations.
“The Senate has duly noticed public concerns on the purported proscription of preaching and hawking in a commercial vehicle under the ongoing amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, No. 22, 2007,” the statement read.
FG automates civil servants’ postings, promotions
The Federal Government has launched the Human ReSystem, introducing a fully digital platform that will automate staff postings, promotions, leave applications and other personnel processes across the Federal Civil Service
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, said the new platform marked a major milestone in the government’s drive to build a modern, efficient and technology-driven public service in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the official IPPIS Go-Live Ceremony in Abuja on Monday, Walson-Jack said the platform would replace manual human reire workforce lifecycle
She said, “We are not just unveiling a digital platform, but institutionalising a better way of managing our most important re
Why I blocked terrorists when my wife was abducted – Oyo principal’s husband
The husband of Rachael Alamu, the Oyo State school principal who recently regained her freedom after spending more than 50 days in captivity, has revealed that he eventually blocked the kidnappers’ phone numbers during negotiations because their repeated threats were taking a serious toll on his health.
Professor Wole Alamu made the disclosure while giving a testimony during a thanksgiving service following his wife’s release, recounting how constant communication with the abductors left him emotionally drained, physically destabilised and battling high blood pressure.
PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Mrs Alamu, the principal of Ahoro Esinle School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, was among pupils and teachers abducted by gunmen on May 15, 2026.
The victims spent more than 50 days in captivity before regaining their freedom after a rescue operation announced by the Federal Government.
VIDEO: If I lose everything, I’ll start by washing 40 cars everyday
The Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Group, Sijibomi Ogundele, has said he would begin by washing cars if he lost all his wealth and had to rebuild his life from scratch in Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview which started trending on Monday, Ogundele said he would first focus on raising enough money to meet his basic needs before gradually expanding into other businesses.
According to him, starting small and remaining diligent would enable him to build the capital required to establish a sustainable enterprise.
“If I had to start from zero, no matter where I am, but if I’m starting in Nigeria without anything, without connections, the first thing I’ll do is raise money because you have to eat before you survive,” he said.
Adekunle, a fellow of Data and Solutions Journalism, has over four years experience with competences in data journalism and investigations.
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