Monday’s heavy security presence across Abuja during a peaceful protest demanding the release of detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has drawn sharp condemnation from the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and other civil groups. Residents of the Federal Capital Territory woke up to what many described as a “security siege,” as soldiers, police patrol teams, and armored vehicles were stationed at major routes, preventing movement around key locations such as the Unity Fountain, Eagle Square, and the Central Business District. The tense atmosphere brought commercial and social activities to a halt. Banks and petrol stations closed operations,…
Author: National Update
The American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) has urged the Federal Government to demonstrate stronger commitment to democratic values by releasing Prince Emmanuel Kanu, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, and several others arrested during Monday’s peaceful protest in Abuja. The group, in a statement signed by its President, Dr. Sylvester Onyia, said the arrest of peaceful demonstrators seeking the release of detained IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu raises serious concerns about Nigeria’s respect for civil liberties and the rule of law. “What happened in Abuja was not just about protesters; it was about democracy on trial,” Onyia said. “No government should criminalize…
Federal Commissioner of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Hon. Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, has called for a more strategic and coordinated diplomatic response to allegations of genocide against Nigeria, warning that failure to address such narratives could harm the nation’s reputation and foreign relations. Speaking on TVC’s This Morning programme, Agbonayinma urged the Federal Government to take proactive steps to engage with members of the United States Congress and other global institutions where what he described as “one-sided and misleading” accounts of Nigeria’s internal security challenges are being promoted. “The Federal Government must not allow false narratives to define our image…
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has launched a major rural electrification drive aimed at transforming lives and boosting economic activities across 30 communities in the state. The governor on Monday flagged off the distribution and installation of 30 units of 500kVA transformers as part of the first phase of a statewide electrification project designed to strengthen power supply and drive grassroots development in all three senatorial districts. Speaking at the official flag-off ceremony held at the Government House in Lokoja, Governor Ododo described the project as a milestone in fulfilling his administration’s promise to “light up Kogi” and improve…
By Ehichioya Ezomon As the ground shifts from under the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – due to exodus of its governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) – we return to the issue of eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest in the 2027 General Election on the PDP ticket. This time, though, the focus is on President Bola Tinubu – for dabbling in Jonathan’s qualification saga despite recognising his “alienable right to contest for the presidency again” – and Dr Josef Onoh, an ardent supporter of the President and his former campaign spokesman in the…
What began as a peaceful protest quickly descended into chaos on Monday morning as security operatives fired shots and deployed tear gas to disperse demonstrators demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, one of the organizers of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, was seen running for his life alongside dozens of other participants. Video footage from the scene captures the panic as protesters scattered in every direction. The demonstrators had planned to march to Aso Rock Villa, but the Nigeria Police Force had earlier warned that no protests would…
Nigeria’s reform agenda received strong endorsement at the just-concluded 2025 World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings in Washington D.C., according to Honourable Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite. Leading a delegation alongside Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso, Dr. Uzoka-Anite highlighted Nigeria’s coordinated fiscal and monetary policy efforts, stressing that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms are yielding tangible results. “The message resonated across all forums: Nigeria is delivering macroeconomic stability, discipline, and inclusive growth,” she said. Over the course of the meetings, the delegation engaged with multilateral and bilateral partners, including the Islamic Development Bank, the World Bank’s Managing Director of…
Akwa Ibom’s political landscape has been roiled in recent days by swirling rumors and unverified claims targeting Senate President Godswill Akpabio, sparked by his relative by marriage, Mrs. Patience Ibanga Akpabio. The allegations, sensational and damaging, threatened to overshadow even the former governor’s critics. But on Friday, a respected voice rose above the noise. Chief Nse Ntuen, who has known Akpabio for over five decades, stepped forward with a firm defense. “Let me be clear: Godswill Akpabio is not a killer. These stories are malicious, baseless, and reek of personal bitterness,” Ntuen declared. A former chairman of Essien Udim Local…
At the just-concluded Ministerial–Legislative Retreat on Solid Minerals Development, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan issued a powerful caution that reverberated through the room: Nigeria must not allow its solid minerals sector to repeat the mistakes of the oil industry. The retreat, which brought together the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, alongside Senator Ekong Sampson, former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and other key policymakers, served as a rare platform for open dialogue between the executive and legislature on how to shape the nation’s next frontier of economic growth. For Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, the conversation went far…
By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse As part of activities marking the 2025 World Food Day, the Catalyzing Strengthened Policy for Healthy Diets and Resilience (CASCADE) project organized a vibrant food exhibition and cooking demonstration for women farmers in Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa State. This year’s celebration, held on October 16 under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” focused on promoting sustainable food systems and tackling hunger and malnutrition across communities. Speaking during the event, CASCADE’s Health and Nutrition Technical Officer, Gara Alheri, described World Food Day as a global reminder of the collective…