Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu could be arrested or restricted by US authorities if he attends the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Ibrahim said the Nigerian Mission to the UN had received no communication from the US government indicating that Tinubu would face any such restriction. He based his position on Section 11 of the 1947 UN-US Headquarters Agreement, which he said provides for the unhindered transit of representatives of UN member states and their families to and from the UN headquarters district. The ambassador…
Author: National Update
By Abdulkarim Abdulmalik Sometimes, the most compelling and impactful sermon is not delivered from a pulpit; it arrives in the form of an airline ticket. The reported decision by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), under the leadership of Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, to donate $265,854 for the purchase of 500 one-way tickets to evacuate distressed Nigerians from South Africa has therefore done more than provide financial assistance. It has opened a larger conversation about what organised religion should mean in moments of national distress. The Federal Government has publicly welcomed the intervention, describing it as an expression of…
The Nigeria Democratic Congress has raised the alarm over the alleged obstruction of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during his visit to Yelwata, Benue State, on Tuesday. The party alleged that suspected thugs, some of whom it said were armed with dangerous weapons, blocked Obi’s convoy and prevented him from entering the community. The NDC also alleged that the group was led by an aide to the Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia. The allegation had not been independently verified as of the time of filing this report. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director,…
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, on Tuesday alleged that “hired thugs” blocked his convoy from reaching Yelwata, Benue State, where he had gone to visit victims of a deadly attack. Obi said he arrived in Benue at about 9am for what he described as a humanitarian visit to families affected by the killings. In a post on X, the former Anambra State governor alleged that the group stopped his convoy and chanted, “Peter Obi, go back.” Obi said the incident was distressing, insisting that his visit was not politically motivated. He said he had travelled to…
The Northern Senators Forum has expressed sadness over the death of former Katsina South Senator, Bello Mandiya, who died at the age of 62. Mandiya represented Katsina South Senatorial District in the Ninth National Assembly from 2019 to 2023. In a condolence statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the forum’s Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, the lawmakers described Mandiya’s death as a loss to his family, Katsina State and Nigeria. The forum said Mandiya was committed to public service and made contributions to the political development of Katsina State. Before his election to the Senate in 2019, Mandiya served…
The Association of Former Presidential Candidates of Nigeria (AFPCN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to review the removal of fuel subsidy, saying the policy has added pressure to the cost of living. The association made the demand on Tuesday at a press conference on the state of the nation in Abuja. It also questioned whether increased government revenue was translating into meaningful relief for Nigerians. AFPCN Chairman, Dr Onwubuya Abraham Breakforth, said government revenue should be used to address the economic pressures facing citizens. He urged the Federal Government to introduce measures to reduce the cost of food, transportation…
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has sought to turn the 2027 presidential election into a performance test for political parties, placing poverty, insecurity and Nigerians’ living conditions at the centre of its campaign agenda and unveiling a blueprint against which it says an SDP government should be judged. The party’s presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, presented the document, titled “Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity: Governance & Accelerated Development – Blueprint of a New Nigeria, 2027–2031,” on Tuesday at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. The blueprint sets out the party’s proposed priorities for 2027–2031, including security, economic opportunity, social welfare, infrastructure…
The Nigeria Democratic Congress has challenged those accusing the opposition party of selling political tickets and collecting illegal payments from aspirants to produce evidence. It warned that it may resort to legal action over what it described as false claims. The party, in a statement on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, described the allegations as “deliberate misinformation and propaganda” aimed at damaging its reputation ahead of the 2027 elections. The NDC said it was financing its operations through donations, levies and contributions from aspirants, members, stakeholders and well-wishers as it builds a nationwide political structure. It stressed…
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has inaugurated its presidential campaign headquarters in Abuja, marking the start of a transformative 2027 campaign led by the dynamic Seyi Makinde-Lawal Daura ticket. The event, held on Monday, was a rallying cry for a renewed Nigeria, with a focus on competence and national healing. Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, the APM National Chairman, heralded the occasion as a pivotal moment for the party, emphasizing its commitment to change direction for the nation. He articulated the strategic advantage of combining Makinde’s successful governance in Oyo State with Daura’s seasoned background in security, promising a robust approach to…
The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) is set for a major administrative shake-up as its board approved disciplinary sanctions against some officers and appointed six new senior management personnel. The decisions were taken at the 65th Regular Meeting of the Nigeria Customs Service Board, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele. The board approved the appointment of Constantine Dim as Deputy Comptroller-General and named five officers as Assistant Comptroller-Generals. The new ACGs are Pascal Chibuoke, Ethelbert Nnaji, Sani Yahaya, Franklin Onyeka and Chibuzor Eyakwaire. According to the NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, the appointments followed the…