2026 Customer Service Week: Works Ministry to Rewards Excellence Performance, Urges Staff to Prioritise Professionalism

The Federal Ministry of Works has called on its staff to prioritise professionalism, responsiveness, courtesy, and empathy in discharging their official duties, stressing that effective customer service is integral to quality service delivery.
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The Minister of Works, H.E. Sen. (Engr.) David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, represented by the *Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary (DOOPS), Mohammed Aminu Ahmed, FCNA,* made the call during a sensitisation session organised by the *Department of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement (RC&SI)* as part of activities marking the *2026 Customer Service Week.*

The event, which centred on the theme of *“Going the Extra Mile in Satisfying Customers,”* provided an opportunity for the Ministry to reflect on its service delivery and renew its commitment to meeting the expectations of its public, Nigerians and foreigners, alike.

The Minister, represented by the *DOOPS,* observed that delivering good road infrastructure without providing quality customer service would amount to incomplete service delivery. He, therefore, urged staff to serve members of the public with speed, courtesy, empathy and professionalism. According to him, *“Nigerians judge this administration not only by the roads we build, but also by how we serve them.”*

He explained that the *Ministerial Service Delivery Committee,* comprising representatives from various departments and stakeholders within the Ministry, serves as an important mechanism for strengthening service delivery and providing management with useful information on challenges affecting effective and timely service.

The Minister’s representative, however, expressed concern over the attitude of some staff towards work, particularly lateness, poor treatment of members of the public and lack of genuine commitment to official responsibilities.

He described such attitudes as unacceptable, stressing that the Federal Ministry of Works is a service-oriented organisation, whose performance contributes significantly to the public’s perception of the Federal Government.

He disclosed that the Minister had directed the Department of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement to intensify sensitisation across all cadres of staff to promote positive behavioural change and strengthen effective, efficient and timely service delivery.

Speaking earlier at the event, the *Director of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement, Sharifat Joke Raji,* welcomed directors, management representatives and staff to the sensitisation session. She noted that the *Customer Service Week* provides an opportunity for the Ministry to reflect on its service delivery practices and recommit itself to meeting the expectations of Nigerians, contractors and other stakeholders.

The Director stressed that *” going the extra mile for customers”* requires staff to be responsive, prompt, courteous, empathetic and professional in their dealings with members of the public. She emphasised that customer service should not be regarded as the sole responsibility of frontline officers, but as a collective responsibility of every member of staff. *“Service is not just the responsibility of the frontline officer; it is the responsibility of all of us. This Session is a reminder for us to always go the extra mile in satisfying our customers, while appreciating those who have been doing so and encouraging others to improve,”* the Director stressed.

In a *Goodwill Message,* the *Director of Human Resource Management (DHRM), Ahmad Muhammad Tukur,* further emphasised that Nigerians assess the Ministry not only by the quality of roads and infrastructure delivered, but also by the manner in which they are treated, when they interact with staff of the Ministry. He urged staff to demonstrate discipline and commitment to their responsibilities, particularly by observing official working hours and maintaining professional standards in their dealings with members of the public.

Works Ministry

The Director also raised concerns about lateness to work and some staff’s failure to observe official working hours, urging the Management and other senior officers to lead by example. He stressed the need for staff to make the necessary sacrifices in the interest of effective public service, despite prevailing economic challenges. He disclosed that staff who demonstrate exceptional commitment to service delivery would be recognised and rewarded, while those who fail to improve their attitude to work would face appropriate sanctions, in accordance with extant rules and regulations.

The Department of Reform, Coordination and Service Improvement was also directed to monitor service delivery at various service points across the Ministry and submit regular reports to management for appropriate action. It was further instructed to ensure strict adherence to official schedules and maintain effective monitoring of daily activities across offices.

The Ministry called on all staff to use the *Customer Service Week* as an opportunity to renew their commitment to their duties and ensure that members of the public and other stakeholders receive efficient, timely, courteous, and professional services. The event ended with a renewed commitment by the staff of the Federal Ministry of Works to strengthen its customer service culture, promote professionalism, and ensure continuous improvement in the quality of services provided to Nigerians and other stakeholders.

Mohammed A. Ahmed
Director, Information and Public Relations.
6 October, 2026.
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FOLEGAL: Foundation Sues TikTok Over Access Blackout in Kano, Kaduna, Two Other Northern States

The Foundation for Digital Justice and Sustainable Development has sued TikTok Inc. at the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged restrictions on access to the social media platform in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto states.
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The organisation, through its lead counsel, Festus Ogun of Festus Ogun Legal (FOLEGAL), filed the suit on October 5, 2026, under the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure (FREP) Rules, 2009.

The suit, marked FHC/AB/CS/2409/2026, is seeking declarations and orders directing TikTok to restore access to users in the affected states and stop what the organisation described as arbitrary restrictions.

The Foundation is alleging that the restrictions violate Nigerians’ constitutional rights to freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination.

In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, a legal officer with the organisation, Abidat Idowu, said TikTok users in the four states began experiencing difficulties accessing the platform around September 11.

She stated that by September 14, access to TikTok had become “completely restricted and inaccessible to millions of Nigerian Users in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto States.”

According to the affidavit, users on standard mobile data connections experienced frozen feeds while scrolling, videos that failed to load and repeated delays when attempting to upload content.

“These users cannot load videos, refresh their feeds and upload content on TikTok,” Idowu stated.

The Foundation alleged that the disruption had deprived affected users of access to information and prevented them from participating in online discourse

“Millions of Nigerian Users in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto States are left out of access to information, they cannot disseminate information, they cannot receive information and cannot express their opinions on the Respondent’s TikTok’s platform owing to the restriction and/or disruption,” the affidavit stated.

It also alleged that some affected users had been able to regain normal access through virtual private networks (VPNs),which can make an internet connection appear to originate from another location.

The organisation claimed that users in other parts of Nigeria continued to have unrestricted access to the platform.

“Disturbingly, except in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto States, users in all other parts of Nigeria continue to enjoy unrestricted and unfettered access and usage of Respondent’s TikTok App,” Idowu stated.

The Foundation further alleged that TikTok had not provided an explanation for the difference in access between users in the four states and those in other parts of the country.

“The Respondent has also not provided any explanation for the obvious exclusion, discrimination and restriction of access against all TikTok users in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto States,” the affidavit said.

The organisation is asking the court to determine whether the alleged restriction violates Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

It is also asking the court to determine whether the alleged differential treatment of users in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto violates Section 42 of the Constitution and Article 2 of the African Charter, which protect against discrimination.

The Foundation argued that TikTok had become important beyond entertainment, describing the platform as significant for communication, journalism, business, civic participation, and political and social discourse.

“The Respondent’s platform is very critical for communication, journalism, civic participation, business, political and social discourse in Nigeria and the restriction of millions of TikTok users in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto States has unduly excluded them,” it said.

TikTok

The organisation also argued that activities such as posting, viewing, liking, reposting and replying to content constituted forms of expression affected by the alleged restrictions.

The affidavit stated, “restricted accounts like those of millions of TikTok users in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto States are prevented from making post, viewing any post made on TikTok, replying to post, reposting or liking them.”

It added that “Replying, posting, reposting and liking are all ‘expressive conduct’ that the Respondent’s restriction inhibits.”

The Foundation further claimed that the alleged restrictions had effectively excluded residents of the four states from what it described as a public forum.

“By restricting millions of TikTok users in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto States, the Respondent has excluded citizens of Nigeria resident in the states from a public forum,” the affidavit stated.

Reliefs Sought

The organisation is seeking five principal orders from the Federal High Court.

It wants the court to declare the alleged restrictions “wrongful, unconstitutional, arbitrary” and a violation of the right to freedom of expression.

It is also asking the court to declare that restricting users in the four states while allowing users elsewhere in Nigeria to continue accessing TikTok amounts to a violation of the right to freedom from discrimination.

The Foundation is further seeking an order directing TikTok to immediately remove the alleged restrictions and a perpetual injunction restraining the company from imposing similar restrictions on users in the affected states or elsewhere in Nigeria without lawful justification.

It is also asking the court to order TikTok to publish a public apology in three newspapers with nationwide circulation within seven days of judgment for what it described as the violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights.

The Foundation said the action was necessary to protect digital rights and uphold the rule of law.

“This lawsuit is imperative for the enforcement of fundamental rights to freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination and preservation of the rule of law,” the affidavit stated.

It added, “Unless the reliefs sought herein are granted by this Honourable Court, the Respondent will continue to violate the fundamental rights of millions of TikTok users in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto States, with reckless abandon.”

The suit lists TikTok Inc., of 5800 Bristol Parkway, Suite 100, Culver City, California, United States, as the respondent.

The matter was filed before the Federal High Court in the Abuja Judicial Division.
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Ondo Governor Aiyedatiwa Directs Agencies To Support NAF Plane Crash Response, Orders Site Cordoned Off

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has directed state emergency and security agencies to provide full logistical and human support for ongoing operations following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
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The aircraft, an ATR-42 with tail number NGR 931, crashed in a swampy area opposite the Naval Base in Igbokoda on Monday, October 5, 2026.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, on Tuesday, Governor Aiyedatiwa said he received news of the crash with deep sadness and expressed condolences to the Nigerian Air Force and families of those on board.

According to the governor, preliminary information from the Nigerian Air Force indicated that the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it crashed.

Aiyedatiwa said he had been in contact with the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force, the Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, Maurice Oripelaye, and security agencies deployed to the area.

He subsequently directed the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Ministry of Health and relevant security agencies to mobilise immediately and support the Nigerian Air Force and other emergency response agencies involved in the operations at the crash site.

“To aid ongoing efforts, Governor Aiyedatiwa has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Ministry of Health, and relevant security agencies to immediately mobilize and offer full logistical and human support to the Nigerian Air Force and other emergency response agencies in the search and rescue operations currently ongoing at the crash site,” the statement said.

The governor also directed authorities to cordon off and secure the area to ensure that rescue operations could proceed without hindrance.

He urged residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities to remain calm, cooperate with emergency responders and refrain from spreading unverified information.

“On behalf of te Government and good people of Ondo State, Governor Aiyedatiwa expresses his heartfelt sympathy to the Chief of Air Staff, the entire Nigerian Air Force family, and the families of all personnel and passengers on board the ill-fated aircraft. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time,” the statement said.

The governor said the state government would continue to monitor the situation and provide updates based on information released by the Nigerian Air Force.

“We pray for the safety of our gallant officers and for the success of the rescue efforts,” he said.

NAF Releases Names Of 25 Victims

The development followed the Nigerian Air Force’s release of the names of 25 people who died in the crash.

The NAF said the aircraft had five crew members and 20 passengers on board when it crashed while travelling from Benin to Lagos.

The five crew members identified were Squadron Leader MI Aburime, Flight Captain; Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje, Co-pilot; Flight Lieutenant IS Bako, Co-pilot; Warrant Officer Abubakar A, Aircraft Technician; and Corporal Uguru HC, Aircraft Technician.

The 20 passengers were Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus; Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye; Flying Officer IM Adeshina; Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F; Master Warrant Officer Matini BA; Warrant Officer Nuhu FS; Flight Sergeant James RB; Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI; Sergeant Ani AE; Sergeant Izibenikien SI; Sergeant Alafuka C; Sergeant Mbadugha AN; Lance Corporal Ugwuba FC; Lance Corporal Eledan GE; Mrs Ezeh Nneka; Godstmine Tarabina; Joy Micheal; Sunday Micheal; Ukeme David; and Gideon Omotola.

The NAF said search-and-rescue procedures were activated immediately after the accident and carried out in coordination with relevant authorities.

However, it said no survivor had been found.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, expressed condolences to the victims’ families, loved ones and colleagues, describing the crash as a painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the country.

Aiyedatiwa

He also assured the bereaved families of the full support of the Service.

Aneke ordered a comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash and establish the factors that may have contributed to the accident.

The NAF urged members of the public to rely on verified information and avoid speculation or the circulation of unconfirmed reports.

The Service also appealed to the public to respect the privacy and dignity of the victims’ families.

Meanwhile, the NAF announced that a condolence register had been opened at its headquarters in Abuja for government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, security chiefs and other well-wishers wishing to pay their respects.

The Air Force said it would continue to provide verified updates as the investigation progresses.
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