****Party Denies Phantom NWC Appointments, Blames Political Rivals for Disinformation In what party insiders describe as a “coordinated attempt to destabilize the Social Democratic Party (SDP),” the party leadership has firmly denied reports of new appointments to its National Working Committee (NWC), asserting that the claims are false and politically motivated. The party’s Deputy National Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Biu, in a strongly worded statement on Monday, dismissed the reports as an orchestrated distraction designed to spark confusion within party ranks as Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections. The reports had claimed that Senator Ugochukwu Uba, Dr. Sadiq Umar…
Author: National Update
By Ismaila Isah In a bold move to bridge gaps in Kogi State’s road infrastructure and position it as a model of sustainable development, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has embarked on an ambitious strategy of leveraging multilateral partnerships to revitalize rural access, enhance connectivity, reverse environmental degradation and boost agricultural productivity anchored on local content. While the state government is currently working on over 400 kilometers of township roads including roads in Omala, Idah, Bassa in Kogi East, Mopamuro, Egbe, Ijumu in Kogi West and in Okene, Okehi and Adavi in Kogi Central, there are currently over 200 kilometres of…
***South Sudan also as it Joins Industry with Ambitious Greenbelt Initiative In a major boost for Africa’s cocoa sector, COFAAA has hailed Ghana’s new Cocoa Board Committee and South Sudan’s large-scale cocoa project as key breakthroughs. Ghana’s 11-member Cocoa Board Committee, led by the finance minister under President Mahama, is tasked with reviving the nation’s cocoa output, which makes up 20–25% of global supply. COFAAA described the move as a “strategic intervention” to address deep-rooted challenges plaguing the industry—including disease outbreaks, illegal mining, and climate change—and called for inclusive reforms that put farmers at the heart of policy design. “Ghana’s…
Support has continued to grow for the proposed early voting bill championed by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, as key stakeholders in Nigeria’s electoral process describe the initiative as a major step toward inclusive and credible elections. Brigadier General O.O. Nafiu, Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), hailed the bill as a long-overdue reform, stating that over 50% of election ad-hoc staff are corps members who are currently deprived of the right to vote due to their national assignments. “We are fully in support of this bill. It addresses the unfairness experienced by corps members who contribute to…
A fatal accident involving a trailer and a sachet water delivery vehicle occurred Monday on Karu Bridge along the Nyanya-Mararaba expressway in Abuja, with many feared dead. The crash came just 24 hours after another deadly accident at the same location involving seven vehicles. Although emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, the exact number of casualties remains unknown. The incident caused massive traffic gridlock on the busy route. Authorities are being urged to take immediate steps to prevent further tragedies.
***CJN Demands Integrity from New Judges The Nigerian judiciary came under intense scrutiny Monday as former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai accused judges and lawyers of perpetuating corruption and undermining public trust in the justice system. Delivering a searing keynote address at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Bwari Branch Law Week in Abuja, el-Rufai said Nigeria’s courts have become tools in the hands of the powerful, often serving vested interests rather than the rule of law. “Our judiciary—once seen as the last hope of the common man—is now increasingly viewed with suspicion,” he declared. “From delayed rulings to the…
A deepening scandal has rocked the Labour Party (LP), following Nigeria’s Attorney General recommendation for the prosecution of former LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, over alleged criminal conspiracy, forgery, and perjury—charges that, if pursued, could have far-reaching consequences for internal democracy in Nigerian politics. Hon. Afam Ogene, leader of the LP caucus in the House of Representatives indicated that the new revelations have not only vindicated his long-standing criticism of Abure’s leadership but exposed a wider pattern of manipulation and institutional rot within the party’s ranks. “This is not just about one individual,” Ogene said. “It’s about the soul of…
Fresh from attending a solemn Vatican ceremony of the inauguration of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has returned—not with fanfare, but with a quiet challenge to Nigerian leaders: let purpose, not politics, guide our steps. While dignitaries and officials gathered under the majestic dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, Obi kept his focus on what he described as the true essence of such moments—reflection, moral clarity, and the courage to act in service of humanity. Posting on his official X handle, Obi made it clear that the event should not…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja DR Kennedy Obohwemu, a renowned UK-based Nigerian researcher and mental health advocate has achieved a significant breakthrough in global mental health research with a fresh perspective on understanding emotional resilience and self-comforting behaviours. Obohwemu, a lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, GBS Partnership, Birmingham, UK, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Lokoja He said his recent discovery is contained in his latest publication on Self-Comforting Attitude Theory (SCAT) and the corresponding Self-Comforting Attitude Scale (SCAS). The outcome of his research on: ’’Theory and Psychometric Development of a Survey to Measure attitudes Towards Self-Comforting Behaviours: The Self-Comforting…
As the world marks World Family Doctors Day 2025, Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has issued a powerful call for urgent investments in Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, describing family doctors as “unsung heroes” on the frontlines of national resilience. Speaking at an event hosted by the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (FCT/Keffi chapter) in Abuja, Mahmoud warned that Nigeria cannot meet its health goals without robust, accessible care at the community level. Special Adviser on Media to the Minister, Austine Elemue in a statement on Monday quoted her to have said, “Family doctors are the…