***Police confirm serial robbery operation in Ibado-Akpacha community. By Friday Idachaba Lokoja Gunmen suspected to be bandits have invaded Ibado-Akpacha community in Omala Local Government of Kogi state killing two inhabitants with the third victim escaping with bullet wounds. According to reliable source from the community, the attack was reportedly carried out between Tuesday night and early hours of Wednesday. The victims of the attack whose names could not be ascertained immediately were said to be local coal miners who relocated to the village two years ago to partake in coal mining activities in the community. The source added that…
Author: National Update
By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse A civic group under the aegis of the Hadejia/Auyo/Kafin-Hausa Coalition for Development (HAKCOD) has faulted the decision of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to initiate legal action against the leadership of the National Assembly, describing the move as “baseless and unfair.” HAKCOD, in a statement signed by its chairman, Comrade Abubakar Maje Ahmed, and made available to National Update in Dutse, expressed concern over what it called the “recurring misinterpretation” of comments attributed to Hon. Usman Kamfani Auyo, the lawmaker representing Hadejia/Auyo/Kafin-Hausa Federal Constituency. According to the group, the controversy traces back to August…
By Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko Hate him or like him, erstwhile Vice President of the United States of America Mr. Dick Cheney, was a man of global impacts. His sojourn on the planet earth is remarkable and eventful and not even mortality can perish the large volumes of milestones that he etched on the sands of time whilst he towered so tall as a political maverick in the World’s greatest democracy: USA. The Guardian of London saw him thus: “Dick Cheney, the divisive US vice-president under George W Bush who helped lead the country into a disastrous invasion of Iraq, died…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the Edo State Government, accusing it of gross negligence and failure to protect its citizens following the death of Emmanuel Alabi, a junior seminarian who reportedly died in kidnappers’ captivity months after his abduction. In a strongly worded statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration failed to deploy effective security mechanisms to rescue the victim or neutralize the kidnappers who have terrorized parts of the state with impunity. According to media reports, grief has engulfed Ivianokpodi community in Etsako East Local Government…
Kogi State is set for a major boost in grassroots healthcare delivery as Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo prepares to commission 80 newly revitalized Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state — the first phase of a sweeping modernization drive launched in April 2024. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Ismaila Isah, the governor will perform the flag-off ceremony on Friday at the Old Market PHC in Lokoja, signaling the beginning of a statewide exercise to transform rural health facilities into fully functional, patient-friendly centres equipped to meet the needs of local communities. Governor Ododo, who personally inspected…
By Umar Muhammed, Lafia In a decisive move to ease the perennial traffic gridlock along the Karu–Mararaba axis, the Nasarawa State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to completing two major flyovers and an underpass before the end of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s tenure in 2027. The state government recently secured Federal Government approval for the construction of the projects in Mararaba, Karu Local Government Area. Mr. Peter Ahemba, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, disclosed this at a bimonthly press briefing in Lafia, the state capital. Ahemba explained that the Sule administration had earmarked funds for the project…
By Abdelghaffar Amoka Abdelmalik I was about finishing my second term as the Director of Equipment Maintenance and Development Centre (EMDC), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and wanted to proceed on a sabbatical after the four-year administrative responsibility. I always find National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to be an interesting Agency and wish to spend some time at the Agency on reseach. I forwarded an application to be hired for a sabbatical appointment. I had thought that I would be assigned to Abuja when hired. Contrary to my expectation, when I recieved the appointment letter, I was posted…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written to the Senate seeking approval for the establishment of a ₦1.15 trillion domestic borrowing programme to close the funding gap in the 2025 national budget. In a letter read at Tuesday’s plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the President said the borrowing became necessary to address the ₦1.147 trillion unfunded deficit that arose from the increase in the budget size beyond approved revenue projections. Tinubu noted that the request was made in line with Section 44 (1–2) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, and forms part of the administration’s strategy to ensure fiscal stability and…
***Seeks swift rescue of Dr Mbanugo, urges stronger U.S. security ties. Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the abduction of Dr Tochukwu Mbanugo, a consultant neurosurgeon at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, describing the incident as a tragic reflection of Nigeria’s deepening insecurity. In a statement on his X-Handle titled “When Those Who Save Us Are Not Safe,” Obi said the kidnapping of Dr Mbanugo, shortly after he successfully performed a complex brain surgery, was both heartbreaking and symbolic of the growing threat faced by Nigeria’s most skilled professionals.…
***Alleges Akpabio Ordered Action, Describes Move as Political Harassment A fresh drama is unfolded around fiery Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, after she accused airport officials of seizing her international passport on the alleged orders of Senate President Godswill Akpabio. In a video that quickly went viral on Monday, the outspoken lawmaker narrated how her passport was withheld at an international airport — a situation she described as “a repeated act of political persecution.” “My passport has been withheld again,” she said, visibly shaken in the clip. “The last time, I was told it was on the instruction of the…