The Federal Government has approved the relocation of the operational headquarters of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) from Abuja to Kano State, in a strategic move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s response to desertification and accelerating environmental restoration across the North. The announcement was made by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, who said the decision aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises efficiency in service delivery and closer alignment of federal institutions with their operational environments. According to the minister, relocating the agency to Kano will significantly improve coordination, monitoring, and…
Author: National Update
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja As Artificial Intelligence continues to reshape economies, institutions and everyday life across the globe, a leading Nigerian scholar has sounded a note of caution, warning that technological advancement must never come at the expense of human dignity. A Professor of Ethics and Values, Nicholas Ojoajogwu Okpe, has called on governments, technology companies, scientists and policymakers to place the sanctity of the human person at the center of the rapidly expanding AI ecosystem. Speaking at the 20th Inaugural Lecture of Prince Abubakar Audu University, the cleric-scholar argued that humanity is approaching a defining moment where machines are…
As preparations intensify for the upcoming FIFA World Cup across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, football’s global governing body has unveiled a strict list of prohibited items that fans will not be allowed to bring into stadiums, warning that violations could lead to confiscation, removal, detention, or prosecution. FIFA officials said the updated security policy forms part of a unified safety framework designed to ensure secure and orderly matchday environments across all tournament venues. According to the guidelines, stadium security personnel will confiscate all prohibited items at entry points, while possession of certain restricted goods—particularly illegal substances and prohibited…
By Abdulkarim Abdulmalik In a country where insecurity continues to test the capacity of governments at all levels, there are valuable lessons to be learned from leaders who confronted criminality with courage, intelligence, and decisive action. One such example is the security strategy deployed by former Kogi State Governor, , whose administration earned widespread attention for its aggressive and proactive response to insecurity. At a time when kidnappers, armed robbers, and criminal gangs were spreading fear across many parts of Nigeria, Kogi State stood out as one of the states that adopted an unconventional but highly effective approach to combating…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has launched a blistering attack on the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) over reports that thousands of candidates sitting for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) were forced to write examination papers late into the night, describing the development as a grave violation of students’ rights and a dangerous failure of educational administration. The rights group warned that the recurring spectacle of candidates stranded in examination centres until 10 p.m. and beyond has become a national embarrassment and raises serious questions about the capacity of authorities to protect the…
***Says consultations—not imposition—produced candidates nationwide The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has mounted a robust defence of its recently concluded primaries, rejecting allegations of candidate imposition and electoral irregularities while insisting that its nomination process was driven by extensive consultations, grassroots participation and broad stakeholder consensus. In what appears to be a direct response to growing complaints from some aggrieved aspirants and party members, the NDC said attempts to discredit the outcome of its presidential, governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly primaries were either rooted in a misunderstanding of the party’s internal framework or deliberate efforts to undermine its rising political…
By Douglas Baye-Osagie Senator Adams Oshiomhole stirred the hornets’ nest this week on the floor of the Senate by reawakening his colleagues to the constitutional responsibilities of the Senate regarding oversight of all government ministries, departments and agencies as enshrined in the Constitution. The trigger was military spending and the fresh outrage over the kidnapping of children in Oyo State. Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution gives the National Assembly clear oversight powers, and defence spending is not exempt. Section 88 allows each House to, by resolution, direct investigations into any matter within its legislative competence and into the conduct of affairs of…
**”Warns Nigeria Is Edging Towards One-Party Dominance A fresh twist has emerged in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with respected cleric and national mobiliser, Prophet Isa El-Buba, publicly distancing himself from the political movement that backed Peter Obi in 2023 and declaring support for Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential hopeful, Prince Adewole Adebayo. The outspoken cleric, who serves as Convener of the Initiative for a Better and Brighter Nigeria, unveiled his new political direction during a gathering of SDP delegates, stakeholders and supporters in Bauchi State, where he painted Adebayo as a unifying national figure…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to confirm the nomination of Dr. Zainab Marwa as a member of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), representing the North-East geopolitical zone. The request was conveyed in a letter addressed to the upper chamber and read during Thursday’s plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. In the correspondence, President Tinubu stated that the nomination was made in accordance with Section 2 of the Niger Delta Development Commission Establishment Act, which empowers the President to appoint members to the commission’s governing board subject to Senate confirmation. The President…
The Executive Director of Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, Idris Miliki Abdul, has called for a new approach to tackling Nigeria’s growing security challenges, emphasizing that community resilience and grassroots intelligence gathering remain critical to addressing insecurity. Abdul made the call in Lokoja, Kogi State, while speaking on measures needed to address the country’s evolving security challenges. According to Abdul, the current security situation across the country is deeply concerning and requires innovative strategies beyond conventional methods. He stressed that communities must be actively engaged in supporting intelligence gathering efforts, noting that local residents are often the first…