Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, has strongly condemned the killing of Nigerian soldiers in the latest attack by armed bandits in Kwanan Duse and Gulbin Boka communities of Mariga Local Government Area. In a statement personally signed and released on Wednesday in Minna, Sarkindaji described the attack as “barbaric, wicked, and inhuman,” noting that the soldiers had long provided security for the local government and its farming communities. “This is a catastrophe not only for the military but also for the people of my constituency and the entire state,” he said. “My entire…
Author: National Update
The High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced Oluwatimileyin Ajayi to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of Salome Adaidu, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Justice Simon Aboki, who delivered the judgment, found Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide under Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, which mandates the death penalty for such offences. The tragic incident occurred during Adaidu’s service year in Nasarawa State, where she was posted as part of the mandatory NYSC programme. According to court proceedings, Ajayi brutally murdered and dismembered her, a crime that shocked the community…
By Ibrahim Dan-Gaskiya Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people, either directly or through elected representatives. Key characteristics include free and fair elections, protection of individual rights and freedoms, rule of law, and accountability of government to citizens. Democracy promotes values such as equality, justice, transparency, and representation, allowing citizens to participate in decision-making processes and hold leaders accountable. Nigeria’s democratic journey since 1999 has seen significant milestones and challenges. The country’s economy has grown, though still with a room for improvements as being anchored by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the governors. Nigeria’s…
The Honourable Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, CON, mni, today declared open the 2025 edition of the Defence Training Conference with a clarion call for a modern, mission-focused, and technologically empowered Nigerian Armed Forces. Addressing military leaders, policymakers, defence experts, and global partners at the Armed Forces Officers’ Mess, Asokoro, Abuja, the Minister underscored the urgent need for a strategic shift in military training to meet the complex, fast-evolving nature of Nigeria’s security threats. “We are no longer fighting yesterday’s wars. The threats before us are asymmetric, borderless, and technology-driven. Our training must reflect this new reality,” the Minister…
**Edo Senator’s Switch Bolsters APC’s South-South Ambitions On Wednesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio led an enthusiastic welcome for the Edo South Senator, declaring before a packed chamber, “Distinguished Senator Neda Imasuen, you shall no longer Labour in vain.” It was more than just a pun — it was a sharp political signal aimed squarely at the cracking foundation of the LP. Senator Imasuen’s defection from the Labour Party to the APC has signaled a deeper political shift in the volatile South-South region. Imasuen’s defection letter, read during plenary, cited the LP’s protracted leadership crisis and his constituents’ desire for “national…
By Muhammed Danjuma Ogwu, Lafia Lafia was buzzing with excitement on Wednesday as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu landed at the Usman Dan Fodio Airport for a major visit to Nasarawa State—drawing a crowd of governors, top political figures, and party faithful. Touching down at exactly 1:58 p.m., President Tinubu’s arrival marked the climax of a day packed with anticipation and heavy traffic of political dignitaries flying into the state ahead of him. Before his arrival, six APC governors had already touched down in Lafia on separate flights. On ground to welcome the President were Governors AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, Babagana…
By Muhammed Danjuma Ogwu, Lafia President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reassured Nigerians of his administration’s commitment to resolving the economic challenges currently confronting the nation, urging citizens not to lose hope in his Renewed Hope Agenda. Speaking during a town hall meeting with key All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders and traditional rulers in Nasarawa State on Wednesday, the President dismissed opposition figures plotting against his 2027 re-election bid as “political Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).” “Nigerians are going through economic hardship, but from this moment on, you will have no regrets. Our Renewed Hope Agenda is on course,” Tinubu declared at…
***Warn of Backlash Amid Emergency Rule Tensions In a fiery session that exposed deepening fault lines in Nigeria’s democracy, the Senate on Wednesday confirmed Dr. Michael Ekpali Odeh, a Cross River State indigene, as Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC)—a decision that drew fierce opposition and set off alarm bells over federal overreach in a state already under emergency rule. What should have been a routine confirmation quickly unraveled into a dramatic political confrontation, as senators clashed over legality, morality, and the soul of federalism. “Are there no qualified people left in Rivers State?” thundered Senator Abdul…
***Insists, Tinubu is his political father, he owes him loyalty Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, has announced the rollout of zonal public hearings on the constitutional amendment process, urging Nigerians to focus on reforming the nation — not jockeying for power ahead of 2027. The hearings, scheduled for July 4th and 5th, 2025, will take place across all six geopolitical zones, giving Nigerians the opportunity to participate in reshaping the nation’s governing framework. “We are opening the door for every Nigerian to contribute. This is democracy in motion — not behind closed doors,” Barau said. “Constitutional reform must reflect…
Lawmakers Alarmed by 300% Cost Surge, Illegal 7% Revenue Cut, Project Rollovers The Senate has fired a major warning shot at the Nigerian Customs Service, approving its proposed ₦1.13 trillion budget for 2025 — but not without a storm of criticism over ballooning expenditures, illegal revenue practices, and repeated abuse of capital project rollovers. Lawmakers, in a heated session Tuesday, said the Customs’ 300% surge in spending — particularly in personnel and overhead — was not only unjustified but a red flag of deeper fiscal indiscipline. “You can’t triple your budget when your past performance is abysmal,” said Senator Solomon…