Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerian editors to dig deep into the moral and systemic failures that have tarnished the country’s global image, challenging them to confront the hard truths behind why Nigeria is increasingly seen as “a disgraced nation.” Speaking at the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) Conference in Abuja on Thursday, themed “Reclaiming Our Nation’s Dignity: A Call to Conscience,” Obi described editors as the “custodians of national conscience.” He urged them to go beyond political rhetoric and expose the structural decay and value erosion that continue to fuel poverty, insecurity, and corruption. “If…
Author: National Update
The Nigerian Senate on Thursday took a major step toward overhauling the country’s military legal framework as it passed for second reading the Armed Forces (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 791) — a landmark legislation seeking to align the Armed Forces Act with democratic, constitutional, and operational realities. Sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua (Katsina Central), the bill proposes a comprehensive reform to bring Nigeria’s military governance in line with international standards, judicial accountability, and modern defence principles. Leading debate on the bill, Senator Yar’adua noted that the current Armed Forces Act, rooted in decrees of the 1960s and last…
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s silence over the recent confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer in Abuja, describing it as a “troubling endorsement of impunity and arrogance in public office.” Frank, in a statement on Thursday, said Wike’s public outburst against a uniformed officer during an enforcement operation was not just an act of poor judgment, but “a window into the culture of unrestrained power, arrogance, and disregard for accountability that defines the current administration.”…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja The Commander, 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Kasim Umar-Sidi, has reaffirmed the military’s commitment to sustaining its onslaught against bandits and criminal elements terrorising parts of Kogi State, to ensure lasting peace and security. Brig.-Gen. Umar-Sidi gave the assurance when members of the Executive Council of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kogi State Council, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Lokoja. “We will do our best to keep Kogi safe by ensuring that bandits terrorising the state are dealt with,” he said, urging Nigerians to…
***As Three Lawmakers Defect to APC By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja The Kogi State House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman of Ibaji Local Government Council, Hon. Emmanuel Onuche, over allegations of gross misconduct, pending the outcome of an investigation. The suspension was announced on Wednesday by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, during plenary. Yusuf said the decision was necessary to ensure a fair and unhindered investigation, noting that the chairman’s alleged actions had brought disrepute to the state government. The Speaker directed Onuche to hand over the affairs of the council to the Vice Chairman,…
The Federal Government has announced a bold 60% increase in the 2025 health budget—underscoring its commitment to building a healthier, more productive population and positioning human capital development at the centre of Nigeria’s economic renewal. Speaking at the 2025 Health Sector-Wide Joint Annual Review in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, said the renewed focus on health investment reflects President Bola Tinubu’s vision of inclusive growth anchored on people-centered development. Director of Information and Public communications, Mohammed Manga in a statement quoted Mr. Edun to have commended the Honourable Minister of…
Calls for strict enforcement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s #NigeriaFirst Policy has gained momentum as the Yoruba Council Worldwide (YCW) and the Nigeria Coalition Group (NCG) urged the President to take decisive steps to safeguard the Dangote Refinery against what they described as “a coordinated campaign of economic sabotage” by entrenched oil interests. The groups, which held a Grand National Solidarity Rally at the Lagos State House of Assembly complex, Alausa, Ikeja, said the ongoing face-off between Dangote Refinery and key oil unions — PENGASSAN, NUPENG, IPMAN, and DAPPMAN — represents a defining test of Tinubu’s resolve to prioritise local…
***Decries misplaced national priorities Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has decried the reported non-payment of allowances owed to members of the Super Eagles, calling it “a disgrace to the nation” and a stark reflection of misaligned national priorities. Speaking on his official social media handle, Obi expressed outrage that Nigeria continues to allocate funds for “needless lavish spending and political patronage,” yet fails to meet its obligations to athletes who consistently deliver pride on the global stage. “It is truly unfortunate that our Super Eagles, who tirelessly represent our nation, are still owed their allowances,” Obi said.…
***Moves aim to boost non-oil exports and modernize financial regulation The Nigerian Senate has endorsed a plan to increase the Nigerian Export-Import Bank’s (NEXIM) capital base from ₦50 billion to ₦1 trillion, while also backing reforms to modernize the country’s insurance regulatory framework. Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, announced the development during a public hearing at the National Assembly Complex on Wednesday. The session focused on the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 599) and the National Insurance Commission Act (Repeal) and Insurance Regulatory Commission Bill, 2025 (SB.…
Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has condemned the recent altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a Naval officer, calling it a stark reminder of Nigeria’s weakening institutional order and disregard for due process. Describing the confrontation as more than a personal clash, Obi said it “mirrors the alarming erosion of discipline and respect for the rule of law in public office.” He lamented that what should have been a routine civic encounter has escalated into a national embarrassment, reflecting the broader decay of governance norms. “What…