The Senate has mounted a robust defence of the controversial State Police Bill, insisting that the proposed constitutional amendment is a response to Nigeria’s worsening security crisis and not a product of partisan calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, in a statement issued on Sunday, said the legislation was born out of extensive national consultations and overwhelming public demand for a more effective security architecture capable of addressing threats at the grassroots level. Describing the initiative as “a child of necessity” rather than political expediency, Bamidele argued that the creation of state police has become…
Author: National Update
By John Akubo, Abuja Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has raised the alarm over what he described as a coordinated plot involving the Presidency, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and elements within the judiciary to prevent the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, from participating in the 2027 general election. Frank, in a statement issued on Monday, warned that any attempt to exclude the ADC from the ballot would constitute a direct attack on Nigeria’s democratic process and could trigger widespread political instability. The former APC…
By John Akubo, Abuja The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed concern over the suspension of Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), warning that the decision could undermine one of the most fundamental principles of Nigeria’s legal system—the presumption of innocence. The rights advocacy group said the suspension of the senior lawyer before the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings against him raises important questions about due process, fairness and adherence to the principles of natural justice that underpin Nigeria’s constitutional democracy. In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its National Coordinator,…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for the immediate removal of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Service Chiefs and heads of intelligence agencies following the reported abduction of students during a National Examinations Council (NECO) examination at Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. The group said the latest attack, which reportedly left a teacher dead, another injured and several students abducted, demonstrated the failure of the country’s security architecture despite repeated government assurances that insurgents had been substantially degraded. In a statement issued on Monday by its National Coordinator,…
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of frustrating its participation in the 2027 electoral process by allegedly withholding access credentials required for the nomination of its candidates. The allegation comes as the opposition party battles to preserve its legal status following a recent Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja that set aside an earlier order directing INEC to register the party. NDC officials claim that before the court ruling, the party had taken steps to upload details of candidates who emerged from its internal nomination process but was unable to complete the exercise…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja A road accident involving members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Kogi State has reignited concerns over the welfare and safety of journalists, with the union calling for a comprehensive insurance scheme to protect media practitioners exposed to occupational hazards. The Kogi State Council of the NUJ said the crash, which occurred along the Obajana Road on Saturday while journalists were returning from an official assignment, highlighted the vulnerability of media professionals who routinely travel long distances and operate under risky conditions in pursuit of news. In a statement signed…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja The Vice President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone D (North Central), Alhaji Adeiza Momohjimoh, has expressed gratitude to God for sparing the lives of members of the Correspondents’ Chapel involved in a road accident in Kogi State. In a message issued on Sunday, Momohjimoh described the survival of all the journalists as a remarkable act of divine mercy, noting that the accident could easily have resulted in fatalities. The zonal NUJ leader said although the union was deeply saddened by the incident, members remained thankful that no life was lost despite the severity…
By Our Correspondent The Executive Director of the Initiative for Youth Awareness on Migration, Immigration, Development and Reintegration (IYAMIDR Nigeria), Solomon Okoduwa, has called on First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to champion policies that create sustainable economic opportunities for young Nigerians rather than promoting what he described as “survival strategies.” In an open letter addressed to the First Lady on Sunday, Okoduwa expressed concern over recent comments encouraging self-reliance through small-scale ventures such as akara production, arguing that while such businesses have sustained many families, they should not be presented as the pinnacle of economic aspiration for Nigeria’s youth. The youth…
Subject: “When Did Akara Become a National Economic Plan? A Nation Asking for Opportunity Should Not Be Offered Survival as a Dream.” By Solomon Okoduwa Executive Director, Initiative For Youth Awareness on Migration, Immigration, Development and Reintegration [IYAMIDR Nigeria] Benin City, Edo State | Sunday June 28, 2026 Your Excellency, Mama Nigeria, I write to you today as a son of this land, as a stakeholder in her future, and as someone who meets hundreds of Nigerian youth every month who are tired of being told to “manage.” I read your recent remarks with a heavy heart. I do not…
By Umar Egbunu Muhammed, Lafia The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has rewarded outstanding winners of the 2026 COAS Literary Competition with cash prizes, underscoring the Nigerian Army’s commitment to promoting reading culture, intellectual development and patriotism among young Nigerians. The awards were presented during a ceremony at the Nigerian Army’s 4 Special Forces Command in Doma, Nasarawa State, as part of activities marking the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration scheduled for July 6. Represented by the Commander of the 4 Special Forces Command, Major General Hilary Nzan Awolo, the COAS said the literary competition was…