***New borrowing request targets 2026 budget deficit, replaces earlier proposal, says Akpabio President Bola Tinubu has approached the National Assembly for approval to raise $7.7 billion (₦10.79 trillion) in external loans to finance projects captured in the 2026 Appropriation Act, replacing an earlier borrowing proposal of more than $20 billion. The revised request, which signals a significant reduction in the proposed external borrowing, was contained in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Wednesday. Akpabio disclosed that the latest communication effectively supersedes the earlier request, describing it as more explicit in outlining the government’s borrowing plans.…
Author: National Update
By Muhammad Garba In Islam, Umrah, commonly known as the Lesser Hajj, occupies an important place as an act of worship and spiritual devotion. Although it is not compulsory in the same way as Hajj, it is a highly rewarding pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time of the year. It offers believers an opportunity to renew their faith, seek forgiveness, express gratitude to Almighty Allah and pray for divine guidance and blessings. The journey to Makkah is, therefore, more than a physical undertaking. It is an opportunity for spiritual reflection, humility and submission to the will of Almighty…
***Says Tambuwal remains a politician of ideology, character, principle The North-West Zonal Organising Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Hon. Aliyu M. Tukur Gantsa, says top politicians in the region have given up their political independence to President Bola Tinubu. He accused them of doing so for personal survival and selfish interests. Gantsa said the North-West has lost its political voice and bargaining power. He a many influential politicians now care more about getting favours from the Federal Government than defending their people. He spoke to journalists in Sokoto ahead of the ADC presidential campaign flag-off for the 2027…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged the National Assembly to fast-track amendments to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, demanding stronger funding guarantees and operational autonomy for the agency. The group said it was contradictory for Nigeria to celebrate the NDLEA’s international achievements while delaying legislation needed to sustain its performance. HURIWA particularly commended the agency’s Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), and its workforce for transforming Nigeria’s drug control operations. It said the agency’s presentation at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly had earned Nigeria positive international recognition. According…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has demanded the immediate suspension of toll collection at four points on the Keffi–Akwanga–Lafia–Makurdi highway, warning that motorists could pay as much as N4,000 for a return journey while rising transport costs continue to squeeze household incomes. The rights group said the multiple toll charges could further increase the cost of moving food and essential goods along one of North-Central Nigeria’s strategic agricultural corridors, with the burden ultimately falling on passengers, traders and consumers. In a statement dated November 3, 2026, HURIWA National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, urged President Bola Ahmed…
The establishment of state police in Nigeria has crossed a major constitutional hurdle, with 28 State Houses of Assembly approving the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution, clearing the way for its transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent. The development means the bill has secured more than the two-thirds approval required from the 36 state legislatures, raising hopes for a major overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture. The Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly confirmed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, saying the 28 approvals had been received and verified. The statement, signed…
**Seeks Ban on Illegal Mining The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has warned that Niger State could face another security crisis over the activities of illegal miners, despite the recent incident that claimed the lives of 34 miners. The newly posted NSCDC Commandant in Niger State, Abdulhamid Salisu Kabara, raised the alarm on Tuesday, saying illegal miners had regrouped and were operating in large numbers, threatening residents and forcing some to abandon their homes. Kabara spoke during a familiarisation visit to the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, at his office. He said the…
Months after a court threw out the APC’s disputed senatorial primary in Zamfara North, Yahaya Tijjani Kaura has won the party’s ticket in a rerun, polling 16,758 votes in Gusau on Monday, more than ten times the 1,465 scored by his closest rival. The rerun followed a Court of Appeal ruling in Sokoto that upheld the nullification of the earlier primary, with judges questioning how a district with 26,000 registered party members could produce 70,000 votes for one aspirant. The victory puts him on the party’s ticket for the National Assembly election, which is scheduled to hold alongside the presidential…
LAnambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, is facing a wave of criticism following his decision to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, with angry reactions to his announcement exposing the political risks of his alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Soludo had announced the inauguration of an Anambra State structure to coordinate support for Tinubu’s second-term bid, describing the move as a strategic decision to secure the South-East’s political relevance and attract federal infrastructure projects. But the governor’s attempt to sell the alliance has met stiff resistance from many commenters on his social media page, who questioned…
The leadership crisis at the Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST) has taken a fresh turn, with Plateau State APC elders asking the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, to respect and implement President Bola Tinubu’s reappointment of Hon. Amos Isaac Azi as chairman of the tribunal. The elders warned that the unresolved dispute could trigger avoidable litigation and expose the Federal Government to public embarrassment, urging the SGF to intervene before the matter escalates. The Plateau APC Elders Advisory Council made the appeal in separate letters to Akume and the National Chairman of the APC,…