Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has described the recent building collapses in Anambra and Ogun states as more than isolated accidents, warning that the recurring disasters reflect systemic failures in Nigeria’s building regulatory regime. Reacting to the tragedies on Tuesday, Obi said the loss of lives in both states should compel governments at all levels to move beyond expressions of sympathy and embrace stricter enforcement of building standards to prevent future catastrophes. His intervention followed the collapse of a building at Amaokpala in Anambra State, reportedly occupied by tenants, including some students of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko. Although…
Author: National Update
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress(NDC), Peter Obi has unexpectedly shifted public attention from politics to personal character after extending warm birthday wishes to Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, despite the governor’s failure to publicly acknowledge Obi’s own birthday just days earlier. What ordinarily would have passed as a routine goodwill message quickly evolved into a wider conversation about political maturity, forgiveness and the place of civility in an increasingly polarised political environment. In his message, Obi wished Soludo good health, wisdom and divine guidance, praying that the governor’s new year would bring peace, fulfilment and abundant…
The lawmakers, however, cautioned that the success of the expansion would depend on sustained investment in modern equipment, logistics, intelligence assets and the welfare of military personnel. They also urged residents to work closely with security agencies by providing credible and timely intelligence capable of preventing attacks before they occur, insisting that community partnership remains a critical component of national security. The Forum further called on the Federal Government to ensure that those responsible for the killings are swiftly apprehended and prosecuted, while victims and displaced families receive adequate humanitarian assistance. Reaffirming its commitment to a peaceful and secure Nigeria,…
The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has officially confirmed the killing of one of its most senior intelligence officers, Col. Abdulsalam Ude, who was fatally shot during an attack by unidentified gunmen at his residence in Abuja. The killing has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s security community, with the Agency describing the incident as a painful national loss and vowing that those responsible would be tracked down and prosecuted. In a statement issued by its Acting Assistant Director of Protocol, Capt. J.E. Oti, the DIA disclosed that the attack occurred at the officer’s residence in Phase 5, Army Housing Estate, Kurudu, Abuja.…
Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the reported assault on a campaigner for President Bola Tinubu in Delta State, describing the incident as a dangerous affront to democratic values and political tolerance. The victim, Mr. Tempo Mudi, said to be a Protocol Officer to the Governor of Delta State, was reportedly attacked by some youths while campaigning for President Tinubu’s re-election at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Centre in Effurun, Warri. Reacting in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku…
The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has criticised the judgment of the National Industrial Court dismissing the suit filed by whistleblower Yisa Usman against the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), warning that the ruling raises far-reaching concerns about whistleblower protection, due process, disability rights and accountability in Nigeria’s public service. In a statement signed by its Programme Manager, Godwin Onyeacholem, AFRICMIL said its concerns extended beyond the employment dispute, describing the case as one with significant implications for labour justice, public administration and anti-corruption efforts. Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae of the National Industrial Court had, on July…
By Tunde Olusunle You catch a glimpse of a golden mace hoisted high in the distant sky to the right, on the expansive _Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Way_, as you drive past the “City Gate” in Abuja toward the airport. It reminds you of a larger, more dominant version that sits regally at the central approach to the nation’s parliament, in the “Three Arms Zone” at the heart of the nation’s power nexus. You are never quite sure if the insignia you fleetingly see en route to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, is an annex of the National Assembly Complex.…
With barely weeks to the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, have raised fresh concerns over escalating political tension, warning that violence, misinformation and electoral malpractice must not be allowed to undermine the democratic process. The caution came on Tuesday as INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, flagged off a five-day operational assessment of the election with a courtesy visit to the Ooni’s palace in Ile-Ife. The election will involve 2,339,233 registered voters across 3,763 polling units, 332 registration areas and the state’s 30 local…
A potentially significant realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections may be taking shape, as four of Nigeria’s influential regional organisations have opened consultations aimed at forging a common position on the country’s political future. Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the Middle Belt Forum and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) converged in Abuja, where they reviewed the state of the nation and demanded a new direction in governance amid worsening insecurity, economic hardship and growing political tension. The meeting, held at the Abuja liaison office of PANDEF, brought together representatives of the South-West, South-East, Middle Belt and South-South in what…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has suspended seven lecturers over alleged sexual harassment and the unauthorised sale of handouts and textbooks, as fresh allegations of cult activities and “sex-for-marks” practices trigger anxiety among students. The institution’s Public Relations Officer, John Amos Onimisi, confirmed the suspensions while responding to allegations of misconduct and other disciplinary breaches within the Polytechnic. Onimisi said six lecturers were suspended on July 22, while another lecturer was suspended separately over allegations of sexual harassment. He explained that the Polytechnic’s disciplinary committee was investigating the allegations and would take appropriate action where culpability was…