Iran’s top security chief vowed in Lebanon on Wednesday that his government would continue to provide support, after the Lebanese government ordered the army to devise a plan to disarm Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Ali Larijani’s trip to Lebanon comes after Iran expressed opposition to a government plan to disarm Hezbollah, which, before a war with Israel last year, was believed to be better armed than the Lebanese military.

“If… the Lebanese people are suffering, we in Iran will also feel this pain and we will stand by the dear people of Lebanon in all circumstances,” Larijani, the head of the National Security Council, told reporters after landing in Beirut.

Dozens of Hezbollah supporters gathered along the airport road to welcome Larijani. He briefly stepped out of his car to greet them as they chanted slogans of support.

In Lebanon, Larijani is scheduled to meet with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who is close to Hezbollah.

Iran has suffered a series of blows in its long-running rivalry with Israel, including during 12 days of open war between the two countries in June.

Hezbollah’s grip on power has slipped since a war with Israel ended in a November 2024 ceasefire, and the new Lebanese government, backed by the United States, has moved to restrain it further.

Hezbollah is part of Iran’s so-called “axis of resistance” — a network of armed groups in the region, including Hamas in Gaza and Yemen’s Huthi rebels, united in their opposition to Israel.

The ouster in December of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, which long served as a conduit for weapons deliveries between Iran and Hezbollah, cut off the supply route to Lebanon.

Iran has declared its firm opposition to the Lebanese government’s bid to disarm Hezbollah, while the movement itself has slammed the decision as a “grave sin”.

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The Chairman of Abeokuta North Local Government, Lanre Oyegbola-Sodipo and his counterpart from the Abeokuta South Local Government, Afeez Balogun, have both declared plans to register not fewer than 8000 commercial motorcyclists operating in the two council areas for the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme.

Oyegbola-Sodipo disclosed this on Tuesday at a joint press briefing with the Abeokuta South LG Chairman held at the press centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council secretariat, Abeokuta

The LG boss explained that the initiative is in line with the commitment of Gov Dapo Abiodun to ensure that the people at the grassroots, especially the poorest of the poor in the informal sector of the economy, have unfettered access to qualitative healthcare services.

The council chairman disclosed that people who subscribe to this health care insurance scheme will get treatment for ailments ranging from Malaria, Typhoid, diabetes, and hypertension to even basic surgeries like hernia, appendicitis, among others.

He said that though other artisans and traders in the informal sector would also be captured for the exercise but the two local governments which fall within the Abeokuta metropolis are targeting the commercial motorcycle operators, given the risk they are exposed to daily, which could sometimes lead to accidents.

Oyegbola-Sodipo explained that “The Federal Road Safety Corps said that 45% of the accidents in the state are motorcycle-related, and when this happens, more often than not, the riders and the passengers are left on their own. Some may not have what it takes to get the required medical treatment.

“But with this health insurance scheme, the riders and the passengers are covered. They can easily get treated because the motorcycle riders have subscribed to the scheme.

“Each subscriber to this scheme will pay N300 daily for six days every week. The beauty of this is that even without being involved in any accident, you can always go to the nearest health facilities around you to access medical care if you have Malaria, Typhoid, Hypertension and even basic surgeries like hernia and appendicitis.”

He explained that, Contrary to misinformation making the rounds, this scheme does not, in any way, affect the daily ticketing system operated by the recognised Okada riders’ unions — ROMO, ACOMORAN, and AMORAN.

Oyegbola-Sodipo also said that participation in this insurance scheme is strictly voluntary, while no rider is under any obligation to subscribe, and no penalties exist for those who choose not to participate.

He noted that key stakeholders within the unions have also been fully carried along since November last year, while several meetings and engagements were held to explain the purpose, benefits, and operational details of the insurance scheme, ensuring full transparency and stakeholder buy-in before implementation.

Oyegbola-Sodipo also said that the exercise, which kicked off last week Thursday at the Abeokuta North Local Government, had already captured 900 motorcycle riders and that the plan is to bring on board about 8000 okada riders working in the two local governments.

Also speaking at the briefing, the Chairman of Abeokuta South, Afeez Balogun, said that 2000 elderly people have been registered for this health insurance scheme in both local governments, and they have continued to enjoy free health care services and which they have always appreciated.

He disclosed that his local government will also be starting the onboarding of the commercial motorcycle riders into the health insurance scheme on Wednesday.

Balogun said that the essence of this health insurance scheme is to provide a safety net for the people and ensure that their well-being does not suffer unnecessarily due to a lack of funds.

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Political party leaders in Kano State have signed a peace accord as part of measures to ensure peaceful and violence-free conduct during the upcoming by-election scheduled for Saturday, 16th August 2025.

According to a statement on Tuesday by the Public Relations Officer of Kano State Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna, the peace accord was signed during a stakeholders meeting held at the Command headquarters, Bompai on Tuesday.

“In preparation for the upcoming re-run election for Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency and Bye-election for Bagwai/Shanono State Constituency, scheduled to take place on Saturday, the 16th of August 2025, the Kano State Police Command convened a stakeholders meeting with the candidates and leaders of various political parties,  today, 12th August 2025.

“The meeting, which was held at the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Bompai Police Headquarters, Kano, was aimed at fostering peace, security, and adherence to electoral laws, both before and during the elections.

“During the meeting, a Peace Accord was signed by all parties in attendance, committing to a peaceful and violence-free conduct throughout the electoral process,” Haruna said.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, charged the stakeholders to adhere strictly to the terms of the peace accord and to carry out their campaigns and electoral activities within the ambit of the law, warning that any act of lawlessness or breach of peace would be met with swift and decisive action.

The commissioner assured the public of adequate security deployment during the elections to ensure a safe and secure environment for voters and political parties to participate actively in the process.

He urged all stakeholders to cooperate with security agencies to achieve a peaceful and successful election, adding that the command remains committed to maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety and security of lives and properties in the state.

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