The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has issued a stark warning over Nigeria’s worsening security situation, declaring that escalating violence is no longer just a security challenge but a direct threat to national survival and economic collapse. Citing the latest Nigeria Violent Conflicts Database released by Nextier, HURIWA revealed that 842 Nigerians were killed, 279 abducted, and 156 violent attacks recorded in May 2026 alone. The figures represent a sharp surge in violence, including a 90.1 per cent rise in fatalities compared to the same period in 2025. The group described the statistics as evidence that the country…
Author: National Update
By Mati Ali The recent commentary authored by Mr. Lawan A. Kazaure on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial primary election in Jigawa State appears to be driven more by sentiment than substance, and more by conjecture than verifiable facts. While every stakeholder within a democratic institution possesses the inalienable right to express dissenting views and pursue legitimate avenues of redress, public discourse must remain anchored on objectivity, empirical evidence, and unwavering respect for democratic norms and constitutional procedures. At the core of Mr. Kazaure’s intervention lies an apparent reluctance to acknowledge a fundamental political reality: the delegates of the…
A fresh debate has emerged over Nigeria’s electricity sector financing model following allegations that successive government interventions running into trillions of naira may be addressing the same set of debts without clear evidence of final settlement. The controversy was reignited after media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, claimed on Trust TV that repeated funding announcements in the power sector raise serious questions about transparency, sequencing, and accountability. Shaibu said the discussion followed a post–Democracy Day interaction involving Atiku Abubakar, during which the former vice president reportedly questioned the substance of government claims around electricity sector reforms…
The Presidency has dismissed renewed calls for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign, following criticism from opposition figures who faulted his administration’s handling of the economy and security situation. Presidential aide, Dada Olusegun, said arguments linking Nigeria’s leadership structure to recent political developments in the United Kingdom were fundamentally misplaced, insisting that Nigeria operates a fixed-term presidential system that guarantees stability of tenure. The response comes after former presidential candidate Peter Obi urged Tinubu to step aside over worsening economic hardship and insecurity, drawing comparisons with the resignation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer amid political pressure in his country.…
Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has criticised the Federal Government’s designation of bandits as terrorists, warning that the move has complicated efforts to negotiate an end to violent conflicts in parts of northern Nigeria. Gumi argued that categorising bandit groups as terrorists has effectively closed the remaining channels of engagement and could drive the armed groups towards greater extremism. Speaking in a video that has since gone viral, the cleric maintained that some bandit factions had previously demonstrated a willingness to embrace dialogue and should not have been grouped with terrorist organisations. According to him, the government’s approach risks worsening an…
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider resigning from office, arguing that worsening economic hardship, insecurity and unmet campaign promises have eroded public confidence in his administration. Obi made the call on Monday while reacting to the planned resignation of the British Prime Minister, saying the development underscores the importance of political accountability and responsibility in democratic governance. In a statement titled “Owning Up to Leadership Failures and Political Responsibility,” Obi said leaders should be prepared to accept responsibility when they fail to deliver on the promises upon which they…
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the remand of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his application seeking a stay of execution of an earlier order revoking his bail. Trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, issued the remand order in a brief ruling after dismissing an application by Sowore requesting that the judge withdraw from the case over allegations of bias. The court subsequently fixed June 24 for the hearing of the defendant’s motion seeking a stay of the order revoking his bail and the…
Supporters of the Accord Party in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states have thrown their weight behind the presidential aspiration of Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, signalling what party stakeholders describe as a renewed drive to expand the party’s influence and consolidate its grassroots presence ahead of the 2027 general elections. The endorsement followed a series of consultations and meetings involving party leaders, members and supporters across the three North-West states, where participants pledged to intensify mobilisation efforts and strengthen the party’s structures at the ward and local government levels. In Jigawa State, supporters from the state’s 27 local government areas expressed confidence in…
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has challenged Nigerians to confront the country’s decline and take collective responsibility for rebuilding the nation, warning against handing over a troubled Nigeria to future generations. In a reflective Father’s Day message on Sunday, Obi painted a picture of a country that has drifted far from the unity, security and prosperity he experienced growing up, asking a pointed question: “Are we cursed, or are we the cause?” The former Anambra State governor said he belonged to a generation that witnessed a more cohesive Nigeria, where ethnic and religious differences rarely…
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has revealed how Governor Alex Otti convinced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve the development of a full international airport in Abia State instead of the airstrip initially planned by the Federal Government. According to Keyamo, the Federal Government had earmarked funds in the 2024 budget for the construction of a basic airstrip after Tinubu expressed surprise that Abia lacked any aviation landing facility. However, Otti reportedly sought a more ambitious project and approached the President with a proposal to transform the planned airstrip into a full-fledged international airport. The governor pledged…