Former Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas of weakening the National Assembly’s independence and failing to adequately check President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Melaye warned that the alleged erosion of legislative oversight could undermine Nigeria’s democracy, arguing that presidential power becomes increasingly difficult to restrain when institutions created to provide checks and balances fail to act independently. He made the allegations at a press conference on Wednesday, October 14, in a presentation titled “The 10th Assembly: The Pathway to Tinubu’s ‘Lifetime Presidency’.” The former lawmaker cited the amendment of…
Author: National Update
The Senate on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to stop piling new road contracts on top of abandoned ones, warning that years of neglect and poor funding have left highways across the country in ruins. Lawmakers carved out exceptions only for essential new roads, such as those reconnecting communities cut off by floods or opening access to underserved areas. The ruling followed a motion by Senator Tony Nwoye on the collapsed Ogbaru-Ndoni-Rivers Federal Highway. The Senate urged the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), the South-East Development Commission or the Federal Ministry of Works to carry out emergency repairs on failed…
The Obidient Movement has raised concerns over FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s reported ambition to deliver the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections, warning that such political declarations must not undermine electoral credibility. The movement urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to strengthen safeguards against intimidation, manipulation and any attempt to compromise the electoral process. In a press statement dated October 14 and signed by its Director of Media and Communications, Onyeka Dike, the group accused Wike of making provocative declarations about his role in Tinubu’s re-election campaign. It…
Former Niger State Governor, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has formed a multi-party coalition to support Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s re-election bid in 2027, despite the PDP’s governorship candidate, Mamman Nami. The coalition, known as the Bago Actualization Group for New Niger, was inaugurated at Aliyu’s private residence in Abuja on Monday. The group aims to mobilise support for Bago, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, ahead of the 2027 governorship election. Aliyu said the coalition was open to members of all political parties, including the PDP, APC, African Democratic Congress (ADC) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). The initiative mirrors…
Nigeria’s rollout of a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection is facing supply and distribution challenges, with reported stockouts in four states raising concerns about access to the new intervention. The shortages have been reported in Benue, Kwara, Gombe and Cross River, even as health officials in Lagos have indicated that supplies remain available but uptake is relatively low. The contrasting experiences have renewed calls for improved supply planning, distribution and public awareness as Nigeria expands access to Lenacapavir, a long-acting drug that can help prevent HIV infection. Policy analyst Lemmy Ughegbe, in the latest edition of The Policy Room, said the…
Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has urged the public to exercise restraint in the controversy surrounding Anthony Kila’s academic credentials and professional reputation. Dalung warned that the intense public scrutiny could overshadow the human cost of the controversy, calling on Kila’s friends and associates to check on his well-being. In a statement titled “Anthony Kila: Let the Truth Come Out, But Please, Let Us Not Lose a Human Life,” the former minister said the allegations deserved investigation but cautioned against public humiliation. He stressed that his appeal was not intended to shield Kila from accountability or…
Shell has agreed to sell its entire interest in Shell Nigeria Gas Group to Nigerian energy company Vaaris Energy Limited, marking a shift in its domestic gas distribution business. The agreement will transfer Shell’s interest in the business to the local firm, subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions. Shell Nigeria Gas supplies natural gas to industrial and commercial customers across parts of the country. Speaking on the transaction, Shell’s Country Chair in Nigeria, Elohor Aiboni, said the business had served customers for more than 25 years. “We believe this agreement provides a much stronger platform for the business’ next…
Nigerians who survive suicide attempts could receive medical care instead of facing criminal prosecution under a bill that has passed second reading in the Senate. The proposed legislation seeks to replace punishment with treatment, counselling and support for survivors. Sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, the bill aims to reconcile existing criminal laws with the National Mental Health Act, which recognises mental health emergencies as requiring medical intervention. Leading the debate, Ekpenyong urged lawmakers to reconsider the state’s response to suicide attempts. “At the heart of this bill is a simple question. When a Nigerian survives a suicide attempt, should the…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has widened its political mobilisation network ahead of the 2027 presidential election, assigning campaign roles to Nyesom Wike, Ademola Adeleke and Chukwuma Soludo despite their different party affiliations. Under the revised presidential campaign council, Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, will coordinate the APC’s campaign in Rivers State and the FCT. Adeleke, the Osun State governor who won his re-election on the platform of the Accord Party, was named campaign coordinator for Osun. Soludo, who secured a second term in Anambra State under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), will coordinate the campaign…
The Kogi State High Court sitting in Okene has sentenced Abdulmutalib Abduljabar to death by hanging for the murder of his friend, Momohjimoh Abduljafar. The court delivered the judgment on Tuesday after concluding proceedings over the killing, which reportedly occurred on June 6, 2025, at GKAS Hotel in Okene. Abdulmutalib was accused of stabbing Abduljafar with a sharp object, leading to his death. Delivering the judgment, Justice A.S. Hussein held that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt. The judge consequently dismissed the defence’s arguments and sentenced the defendant to death by hanging. The…