After a decade-long academic journey and months of uncertainty, 128 medical graduates of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, will finally be inducted into the medical profession on February 13, 2025—thanks to the swift intervention of Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo. The graduates, who completed their studies in August 2024, had faced an indefinite delay in their induction due to institutional challenges. Their frustration boiled over in January 2025, leading to a massive protest that shut down the Benin-Auchi Highway. Governor Okpebholo, demonstrating decisive leadership, immediately stepped in, engaging the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to resolve the…
Author: National Update
The recent announcement extending the tenure of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun until October 31, 2027, has sparked mixed reactions across political, legal, and security circles. While the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), insists the move aligns with the amended Police Act, critics question whether it is purely a legal adjustment or a strategic political maneuver. Fagbemi clarified in a statement that the amendment to the Police Act in 2024 ensures that an IGP serves a full four-year term from the date of appointment, regardless of age. This means…
In a bid to bolster its fight against climate change, a high-powered delegation of Liberian parliamentarians and environmentalists has sought strategic collaboration with Nigeria, recognizing the country’s climate policies as a model for Africa. Led by Hon. Ernest Manseah Snr, the Liberian team engaged with Nigeria’s Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Ecology and Climate Change at the National Assembly in Abuja on Thursday. Their discussions centered on Nigeria’s climate governance framework, particularly its pioneering Climate Change Act, and how Liberia can adapt similar measures to tackle environmental challenges. Speaking at the Senate session chaired by Senator Seriake Dickson…
The Obidient Movement has strongly denied allegations made by former Osun State Governor, Bisi Akande, that it orchestrated the EndSARS protests to prevent Bola Ahmed Tinubu from becoming President. In a statement signed by Dr. Tanko Yunusa, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, the group described Akande’s remarks as false, revisionist, and an insult to the memory of Nigerians who lost their lives during the protests. The movement emphasized that EndSARS was a nationwide, youth-led protest against police brutality and extrajudicial killings, not a politically motivated agenda. “EndSARS was not about any individual’s presidential ambition but a call for justice,…
In a bid to reinforce security collaborations and enhance grassroots policing, the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, has reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with the traditional institution in the fight against crime. During a courtesy visit to the President-General of the Akwa Ibom Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, His Eminence, Oku Ibom Ibibio, Ntenyin Dr. Solomon Etuk, CP Azare emphasized the strategic role of traditional rulers in intelligence gathering, community policing, and conflict resolution. Police Public Relations Officer Akwa Ibom State Police Command, DSP Timfon John, in a statement issued on Thursday quoted…
The federal government has taken a major step toward transforming Nigeria’s trade sector with the launch of the National Single Window (NSW), a digital platform designed to streamline import, export, and transit processes. At the NSW Industry and Stakeholder Forum in Lagos, the Honourable Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite declared the initiative a “game-changer,” promising reduced costs, faster transactions, and enhanced transparency in trade. “This platform will position Nigeria as a beacon of trade efficiency, unlocking economic opportunities and boosting our global competitiveness,” she stated. The Director of Information and Public Relations in the Ministry Muhammed Manga…
***As new provost of COE Ankpa visits The Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman, has called on the National Examinations Council (NECO) to develop a standardized template to prevent students from registering with abbreviated names, which often leads to complications in official records. Prof. Usman made the appeal on Thursday when he received Kogi State NECO Coordinator, Mr. Thaddeus Ajabu, who was on a courtesy visit as part of a sensitization campaign against name abbreviations in examination registrations. The Rector emphasized that Kogi Polytechnic already enforces a strict no-abbreviation policy, except in cases where an affidavit…
A renowned scholar, Professor Emmanuel Onoja, has called for China’s strict anti-corruption measures, including capital punishment, to be adopted in Nigeria as a deterrent against corruption. Delivering the 23rd Inaugural Lecture at Federal University Lokoja (FUL) on Wednesday, Prof. Onoja, a Professor of Accounting and Taxation, lamented that corruption has crippled Nigeria’s progress by undermining accountability, sustainability, and social justice. In his lecture, titled “Accountability, Sustainability, and Social Justice: Key Catalysts for Nation-Building,” Prof. Onoja argued that corruption persists because punishments for offenders are too lenient. “If Nigeria is serious about eradicating corruption, it must adopt stricter punitive measures like…
In a decisive move to curb illegal revenue collection, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has banned the unlawful daily tolls imposed by transport unions across Kogi State’s 21 Local Government Areas. The governor issued the directive on Wednesday in Lokoja during a strategic meeting with transport union officials, security agencies, and the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS). Represented by Commissioner of Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, Governor Ododo made it clear that his administration will not tolerate personal or group interests that undermine public welfare. At the heart of the meeting was the 2017 Kogi State Revenue Harmonization Law, which…
At the Nigeria Climate Change Forum (NCCF) 2025 held on January 29, Honorable Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, took center stage, delivering a powerful call for a gender-responsive approach to climate action. The event, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, gathered top government officials, climate experts, and private sector leaders, all committed to advancing Nigeria’s sustainability goals under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). In her opening speech, Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized the crucial role of women in climate resilience, highlighting that women make up 70% of smallholder farmers in Nigeria and are pivotal to sectors such as agriculture, water…