President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Soji Adetayo, has praised the quality and intensity of matches already witnessed during the preliminary rounds of the 2026 WTT Contender Lagos.
Speaking ahead of the main draw, Adetayo revealed that the early rounds have already showcased the high level of competition expected throughout the tournament.
“The qualifiers have been very intense,” Adetayo said.
According to the federation president, the presence of several world-ranked players has elevated the standard of competition significantly.
“The level here is extremely high,” he implied.
Adetayo highlighted the participation of top-20, top-30, and top-100 players as a major reason fans should expect elite-level table tennis action in Lagos.
“The main draw will be even tougher and more exciting,” he noted.
The administrator also praised the entertainment value already witnessed during the qualifying matches.
“The games have been very entertaining for fans,” he added.
The WTT Contender Lagos continues attracting global attention as Nigeria strengthens its reputation as a growing destination for international table tennis events.
“Lagos is becoming a major table tennis hub in Africa,” many observers believe.
Fans are expected to witness even bigger clashes as the tournament progresses into the main stages.
“The atmosphere will only get better from here,” Adetayo stressed.
For the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, the message is clear.
The competition level is world-class.
The excitement is growing.
And Lagos is ready to host elite international table tennis.
Because major sporting events thrive when quality competition meets passionate fan support.
The Kaduna State Government has distributed campaign vehicles to the All Progressives Congress, APC, local government chairmen in the eight local government areas of Zone One as part of efforts to strengthen the party’s grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The vehicles were presented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sadiq Mamman Lagos, on behalf of the state government in his campaign office in Kaduna, where he said the initiative is aimed at improving the mobility of party officials and enhancing political engagement across communities, wards and polling units.
Speaking during the presentation, Mamman Lagos said the exercise was part of a wider programme to strengthen the party’s structures across the state, noting that similar distributions had already taken place in Zones Two and Three.
He charged the beneficiaries to utilise the vehicles effectively to mobilise support for the APC and its candidates, stressing the need for sustained engagement with voters ahead of the elections.
“We have done Zones Two and Three, and now we are doing Zone One. We are distributing these vehicles to you because we want you to deliver Zone One to us,” he said.
The commissioner, however, urged party members to conduct issue-based and peaceful campaigns, emphasising the importance of political awareness, voter education and public enlightenment.
He said the beneficiaries should use the vehicles to visit communities, explain the programmes and achievements of the APC-led governments and convince residents to support the party through constructive engagement.
“This is not just a campaign; it is a strategic one to be carried out through awareness and education. We want you to go around and sell our candidates, explain their programmes and tell people why they should vote for the APC,” he added.
Mamman Lagos urged the party faithful to highlight ongoing infrastructure and development projects by the federal and state governments, citing the Abuja expressway and the Mando-Birnin Gwari road as examples of projects demonstrating the administration’s commitment to development.
In his remarks, former Kaduna State Governor and APC senatorial candidate for Kaduna North, Dr Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, described the distribution as a welcome development that would strengthen the party’s grassroots structures.
Yero said political parties required adequate logistical support to enable their members to reach communities and canvass support for candidates during elections.
“Without the party, there is no way you can even contest. You cannot be a president or a governor or whatever. So the party needs to be looked into and taken care of by giving them vehicles so that they can go around and seek support for the party and all the candidates,” he said.
He urged party members to remain loyal to the party’s leadership and work collectively towards strengthening its structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
Also speaking, one of the beneficiaries, the party chairman of Lere local government Jonathan Shekarou, thanked Governor Uba Sani and the commissioner for the gesture, saying the vehicles would enhance the ability of party officials to reach communities and polling units.
Shekarou assured that the beneficiaries would use the vehicles to promote peaceful campaigns and communicate the party’s programmes to residents.
The distribution forms part of the APC’s broader efforts to consolidate its grassroots structures and intensify mobilisation across Kaduna State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured displaced residents of Plateau State that the Federal Government will rebuild communities affected by violence and facilitate their safe return home.
Tinubu gave the assurance on Saturday during the APC presidential campaign rally at Zaria Road Stadium in Jos, where he acknowledged the devastation caused by insecurity in parts of the state.
Recalling his previous visit to Plateau, the President said he was restricted to the airport and could not visit communities in the hinterland.
“The last time I visited Plateau State, I was limited to the airport. Forgive me if you didn’t see me in the hinterland, but I saw the devastation, got the report from the governor, and saw the horror on the faces of our people,” he said.
He added that the situation had since changed, assuring displaced persons that his administration would support the rebuilding of their communities and enable them to return.
“But since then, that has changed; we are forging ahead together. I assure those who are displaced that we will rebuild your communities and bring you back there,” Tinubu stated.
The President said his administration was committed to restoring peace in affected communities and ensuring residents could return to their homes without fear.
On security measures, Tinubu disclosed that 1,000 forest guards were undergoing training, while surveillance cameras were being procured to strengthen security operations.
His assurances come amid persistent security challenges and displacement in parts of Plateau State, where affected communities continue to face the challenge of rebuilding lives and restoring livelihoods.