Tube or sachet? This Pinoy toothpaste has a new, ‘sulit’ answer

When it comes to buying toothpaste, the choice can seem pretty simple: get the tube you’re used to, or go for the affordable sachet.

The tube is convenient and easy to use, while sachets have long been a go-to for shoppers who want to keep their grocery bill in check. But what if you could get the practicality of a tube without having to pay quite as much?

That’s the idea behind Hapee Sulit Sakto, an innovative toothpaste from proudly Filipino brand Hapee that comes in a resealable pouch and retails for P59.

At 150g, the toothpaste is designed to offer the amount and everyday usability of a tube-type product, but in a stand-up pouch with a cap-a format Hapee says is the first of its kind in the toothpaste category.

A little more sulit

For many Filipino shoppers, buying household essentials often comes down to one question: ‘Sulit ba?’

It’s not necessarily about choosing the cheapest option, but about getting enough for what you spend, especially when there are several people at home sharing the same household essentials.

This is also where the Filipino culture of tingi comes in: smaller sachets offer a lower cash-out, making everyday products easier to fit into a limited budget.

That’s where Hapee Sulit Sakto is trying to find its sweet spot. Instead of the usual single-use sachet, its pouch can be opened, squeezed and sealed again, making it practical for everyday use at home.

At the same time, its P59 price point is meant to make a larger-format toothpaste more accessible to budget-conscious shoppers.

In other words, it aims to bring together convenience and affordability-two things consumers usually have to weigh against each other. Or, in Hapee’s words: ‘Tube sa presyong sachet.’

Why a pouch?

Toothpaste packaging might not seem like something worth thinking about, but the format can make a difference in how a product fits into everyday routines.

A regular tube is straightforward: squeeze, brush, put it back. Sachets, meanwhile, can be more affordable upfront, but they aren’t always designed for repeated use. And when you buy them in bulk thinking you’re getting the better deal, they can also mean more loose sachets to deal with, and sometimes, a messier bathroom or counter.

The stand-up resealable pouch sits somewhere in between.

If you grew up bringing those little pouch-packed fruit juices in your school baon, the format might look familiar. It’s soft and flexible, but designed to stand upright, with a cap at the top that can be opened to dispense the toothpaste and closed again after use.

It can be kept in the bathroom, opened and closed as needed, and used by the whole household without the single-use nature of a sachet.

Something for every level of freshness

Hapee Sulit Sakto comes in five variants, depending on what kind of toothpaste you reach for: Explosive Menthol Red, Classic White, Fresh Green Outburst, Outrageous Blue Chill or Whitening Hot Menthol

At the end of the day, Hapee Sulit Sakto gives Filipino families the same quality toothpaste that Hapee is known for more value in a format that’s practical, convenient and easy on the budget. It’s the everyday toothpaste choice made a little more sulit.

Award-winning PH diving destinations take spotlight at Malaysia expo

The Philippines is home to some of the best dive spots in the world. Unfortunately, not many people know that. The more people know it, the better it is for our country’s tourism.

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines put together a Philippine dive delegation that would champion the cause, let people know about its enchanting dive spots and generate sales for the country’s dive sector.

TPB Philippines recently put this plan to action by joining the Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE), a three-day affair that took place at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The mission was a success, as the Philippine dive delegation led by TPB Philippines generated P113,273,411 in sales leads after showcasing the country’s award-winning dive destinations and offering special packages from discounted accommodation rates to guided liveaboard adventures.

The three-day expo gathered 10 Philippine dive outfits – Aldive Corporation, Buceo Anilao Beach and Dive Resort, Dauin Silver Reef Dive Resort, Garden of Eden Dive Resort, Kasai Village Dive Resort, Lalaguna Villas Luxury Dive Resort and Spa, Logon Fish Buddies Dive Center, M/Y Resolute (Liveaboards), Slam’s Garden Dive Resort – Ocean Passion, and Umali Dive Center Corporation.

The 72-square meter Philippine pavilion, which was designed with colorful underwater images shot from the country’s renowned dive locations, had dive enthusiasts, mainly from Malaysia, coming in to visit and inquire about dive packages.

The Philippine dive delegation recorded strong interest in destinations, such as Palawan, Negros Oriental, Batangas, Cebu, and Mindoro. More than just weighing in on the diving options available in the packages, visitors also expressed enthusiasm for specialized experiences, including pelagic and wreck diving.

“MIDE provides an excellent opportunity for the Philippines to promote its world-class dive destinations to the Malaysian market and beyond,’ said TPB chief operating officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles.

She added: ‘This year, we came in not only showing the beauty of our underwater treasures but also strengthening our continued support for the Malaysian and Philippine dive stakeholders, as evidenced by the Longstanding Appreciation Award we received for our participation for the last 13 years. And with a strong contingent covering the various segments of the Philippine dive industry, we were able to achieve an impressive sales lead figure, solidifying the country’s position as a premier global diving destination.”

Despite the fact that MIDE is a consumer-based event, the TPB Philippines organized business-to-business (B2B) meetings through its Market Representative in Malaysia. A total of 142 meetings were scheduled, allowing Philippine dive stakeholders to establish stronger partnerships with Malaysian dive agents and further increase sales.

In addition to promoting key Philippine dive destinations, Philippine dive companies that represented the country at the expo highlighted improved accessibility through carriers including Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Malaysian-based airlines, such as AirAsia and Firefly, both of which operate direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Cebu, which is a key gateway to major dive sites.

TPB Philippines likewise organized marketing and promotional activities for the general public, including provision of free promotional items for answering market surveys and booking Philippine dive packages.

Rep. Teodoro: Strong anti-drug policy should go beyond enforcement

While he was responsible for defending the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) proposed budget for 2027, Marikina Rep. Marcelino Teodoro has admitted that the government needs to have a strong anti-drug policy that goes beyond mere enforcement.

In his sponsorship speech delivered on Wednesday, to defend DDB’s P526.5 million budget for 2027, Teodoro said that there has to be focus on prevention, treatment of drug dependents, rehabilitation, and eventual reintegration.

‘A serious anti-drug policy cannot end with enforcement. It must also ask what happens before addiction takes hold, what happens when a person needs treatment, and what happens after rehabilitation when that person tries to return to family and community,’ Teodoro, one of the vice chair of the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations, said.

‘Kung hindi natin alam kung nasaan ang problema, paano natin malalaman kung saan ilalagay ang pera? Kung hindi natin alam kung aling programa ang gumagana, baka taon-taon lang tayong gumagastos dahil nakasanayan na,’ he pointed out.

(If we do not know where the problem is, how will we be certain of where to place public funds? If we do not know what program of the government works, we might be spending aimlessly every year just because we have been accustomed to it.)

According to Teodoro, there is a need for data on which programs give the government a better chance of fighting illegal drug trade especially with the DDB budget going down by P71.6 million compared to the 2026 allocation, which was at P598.1 million.

‘That is why data matters. Research has value when it guides actual decisions to guide us for future allocation of resources. It should help identify where more treatment is needed. It should show where community-based programs should be expanded,’ he said.

‘It should guide where prevention should be strengthened. And it should help Congress and the Executive identify which interventions are producing the best results,’ he added.

Part of the data, the lawmaker noted, should show which programs and anti-drug efforts are most effective-measured by identifying which initiatives reach the intended targets, or families and communities struggling with drug dependence.

‘Doon dapat makita ang halaga ng pondo: umaabot ang serbisyo. Kung may nanay sa probinsiya na gustong ipagamot ang anak niya, dapat may malinaw siyang mapupuntahan. Kung natapos ang rehab, dapat may support sa pagbalik sa komunidad,’ Teodoro noted.

(That is where we will see the importance of funds: it is when service reaches the people. If there are mothers in the province who want their children to be treated, there has to be a clear system that points to where she should go. And once rehab ends, there should be support in reintegration to communities.)

During the discussions on the DDB’s budget, Teodoro also revealed that an executive order formalizing the anti-drug strategy of President Marcos’ administration will be issued later this year.

Teodoro said the Presidential Management Staff is reviewing the 2018 Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy (PADS), with an updated version expected by December.

‘We are waiting for the enhanced PADS based on the executive order because the times and issues are changing,’ he said.

Part of the strategy, Teodoro said, is broadening the anti-drug campaign to include ‘health, social and developmental’ services as part of efforts to implement a more holistic approach to curb drug abuse, he said

Marcos’ anti-drug campaign saw a shift from the hardline approach of his predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte, which focused on enforcement and anti-drug operations. While several Duterte allies have deemed the drug war to be a success, human rights advocates have criticized the past administration for its bloody campaign, with cases being filed against the former President.

Earlier, Duterte attended the proceedings at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in-person for the first time since he was arrested last March 11, 2025. The former president was arrested after local police assisted the International Criminal Police Organization in implementing the ICC arrest order, borne out of the crimes against humanity of mass murder charges filed against him.

Aquino urges creation of Filipino-made AI, warns of risks from foreign models

Sen. Bam Aquino on Wednesday urged the government to develop a Filipino-made artificial intelligence (AI) model, warning that continued reliance on foreign-made ones could influence Filipinos’ culture, language, and perspectives.

Aquino raised the concern during the Senate committee on finance’s budget hearing on the 2027 spending plan of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

He noted that Filipinos currently rely heavily on foreign-developed AI systems such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.

‘As you keep on using the AI, you’re training the AI, but the AI is also training you and a lot of the time, the output that it’s giving you is from the perspective of the creators of the AI,’ Aquino said.

‘So if we’re not careful, and our countrymen, our youth, are all using AI coming from other countries, eventually there will be a type of assimilation of culture, language, and mores, and norms,’ he added.

As an example, he said a Chinese AI would have differing views on the South China Sea, West Philippine Sea issue as compared to a Filipino-made one.

DOST Sec. Renato Solidum Jr. said the agency was already working on a locally-made large language model (LLM), with a program recently approved to cover not only major Philippine languages but also less widely spoken ones.

Dr. Franz De Leon of the Advanced Science and Technology Institute under the DOST also discussed ‘Itanong,’ an AI chatbot that can process queries in Filipino, English, and Taglish and operates in a private space.

Aquino also cited the potential use of the chatbot in government services, suggesting that the Filipino AI model could eventually be integrated into e-government platforms.

He said it may already help citizens understand government processes, permits, and other services.

Asked about DOST’s role in the master plan of AI development in the country, Solidum also explained that while the DOST takes the lead in the government’s broader national AI strategy through research, operations, and talent development, it also assigned different roles to other government agencies.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) handles the infrastructure and connectivity component, while the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) focuses on governance and policies on AI.

Moreover, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) will be involved in workforce development alongside the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education, Solidum added.

APM Terminals Apapa to strengthen exports with 24-hour operations

APM Terminals Apapa, Nigeria’s largest container terminal, is stepping up efforts to ease persistent bottlenecks in the country’s export logistics chain, targeting a significant increase in rail evacuation and introducing round-the-clock barge operations in Q4 2026.

The initiatives were announced during the third edition of the APM Terminals Apapa Exporters Forum, themed ‘Exports – Voice of Customers Forum’, which brought together exporters, shipping lines, logistics operators, regulators, industry stakeholders and academia to identify challenges across Nigeria’s export supply chain and develop practical solutions.

Speaking at the forum, Head of Commercial, APM Terminals Apapa, Kayode Olufemi-Daniel, said the terminal was taking a collaborative approach to improving export logistics by focusing on the root causes of delays and working with stakeholders on practical solutions.

APM Terminals is also expanding its barging capability through its dedicated Finger Jetty, which will commence 24-hour operations in Q4 2026. The facility will support both incoming and outgoing containers, allowing customers to move export cargo into the terminal, evacuate imports and bring in empty containers around the clock.

A major component of the terminal’s strategy is expanded use of rail. Key Client Manager, Adesoji Olaniyan, said APM Terminals Apapa has set a target of moving 60 percent of its export containers by rail.

He said the terminal currently operates rail evacuation arrangements through two locations, enabling customers to collect empty containers, stuff them and return laden export containers to the terminal by rail. Each location currently records about three weekly rail calls, depending on demand, while each train has a capacity of approximately 60 TEUs.

Olaniyan said based on the terminal’s internal assessment, rail remains the most cost-effective evacuation option.

Participants at the forum commended APM Terminals for providing a platform for stakeholders to openly discuss operational challenges and track progress on previous recommendations.

COSCO Shipping Lines Nigeria Customer Service Manager, Precious Idika, highlighted the effectiveness of the terminal’s Team View portal in simplifying processes for customers, while Lagos Business School faculty member Prof. Frank Ojadi, praised the forum as an important channel for sustained engagement.

Ojadi urged APM Terminals to extend the initiative beyond Lagos to major commercial and export-producing centres such as Kano and Port Harcourt.

Representatives of Maersk Line, British American Tobacco Nigeria, PIL Nigeria, Allround Cargo Company, Star Living Nigeria, and other stakeholders also acknowledged visible improvements in the terminal’s operations.

Dangote N2.15trn IPO: Banks mobilise digital platforms as investors flood offer

Leading Nigerian commercial banks have deployed extensive digital and physical channels to facilitate subscriptions to the N2.15 trillion Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals.

The offer, which opened on September 14 and closes on October 13, 2026, is priced at N525 per share, with a minimum subscription of 10 shares costing N5,250.

Zenith Bank, FirstBank and 18 other receiving banks are among the approved institutions providing customers with multiple channels to participate in the offer, including mobile banking applications, internet banking, USSD, websites and branches.

The deployment is expected to widen access to the landmark offer, particularly for retail investors who may prefer to subscribe without visiting a bank branch.

Zenith Bank, in a statement made available to investors, said customers could subscribe through its digital channels, including its mobile banking platform and other approved channels.

The bank also advised prospective investors to review the offer prospectus for information on eligibility, terms of the offer, allotment, the refinery’s financial performance and the risks associated with investing in the shares.

It noted that approved Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) charges for transfers through digital channels would apply to subscription payments made through Zenith Bank’s digital platforms.

Similarly, FirstBank has opened its FirstMobile and FirstOnline platforms to customers seeking to subscribe to the Dangote Refinery offer.

The bank’s offer information puts the price at N525 per share, with a minimum subscription of 10 shares, while the closing date is October 13, 2026.

The widespread deployment of digital channels means investors can participate through bank applications and internet banking platforms, alongside traditional branch-based subscriptions.

The development is also intensifying competition among receiving banks to provide convenient access to one of the country’s most closely watched equity offerings.

Beyond the banks, investors can access the offer through a wider network of approved channels, including fintech platforms and NGX Invest, giving the offer a broader distribution reach than conventional public offers.

The minimum entry point of N5,250 has also lowered the initial financial threshold for retail investors, potentially allowing a wider section of the investing public to participate.

The offer has generated significant interest among Nigerians, with market stakeholders describing it as an important test of the depth of the country’s retail investment culture and capital market infrastructure.

The Dangote Refinery IPO is seeking to raise about N2.15 trillion through the sale of 4.1 billion ordinary shares at N525 each.

The offer gives investors an opportunity to acquire an equity interest in the refinery, which has commenced commercial operations and has become a major player in Nigeria’s petroleum products supply chain.

For banks, the transaction also provides an opportunity to leverage their digital platforms to deepen retail participation in the capital market while increasing the use of mobile and electronic banking channels.

The scale of the transaction means the performance of the receiving platforms will be closely watched as investors submit subscriptions and make payments during the offer period.

Market observers have also pointed to the IPO’s potential to bring more Nigerians into the formal equities market, particularly investors who have historically preferred real estate, foreign currency and other assets to listed shares.

However, investors have been advised to study the offer prospectus and understand the risks before subscribing, as equity investments do not carry guaranteed returns.

The prospectus and other relevant information on the offer are available through the designated Dangote Refinery IPO channels.

The transaction is expected to further test the capacity of Nigeria’s banks, fintechs, brokerage firms and capital-market infrastructure to process large-scale retail participation in a single equity offering.

Festivities in Ilorin as AbdulRazaq receives Sardauna title

Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, erupted in celebration yesterday as the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, turbaned Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate.

The historic event attracted high-profile dignitaries from across the globe.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who served as the special guest of honour, used the visit to inaugurate key projects in the state capital.

Upon his arrival at 1:05 p.m., the Vice President was received by AbdulRazaq alongside the governors of Imo, Kaduna, Kebbi, Ogun, and Gombe states; the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and the Minister of State for Industry.

Ivory Coast Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné was represented.

Also joining the delegation at the Emir’s Palace were the governors of Ekiti and Plateau states; former Niger State Governor, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello; Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu; and Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji.

Other notable dignitaries included the deputy governors of Oyo, Jigawa, Sokoto, Borno, Zamfara, Anambra, Ondo, Kano, Nasarawa, and Katsina states, as well as the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye.

Traditional chiefs and the Council of Ulamas were also present.

Before heading to the palace, Shettima inaugurated the newly built Kwara State Garment Factory and the multi-storey Revenue House along Ahmadu Bello Way, GRA, praising the latter as ‘one of the most beautiful edifices I have ever seen.’

The palace was breaming with dignitaries. Traditional title holders took turns to pay homage before the emir who acknowledge with relish. Some of them shook hands with him.

Many political leaders and important sons of Kwara State were also invited to pay homage.

The celebrator, AbdulRazaq, was kept inside the oldest mosque built within the palace by the first emir of Ilorin.

He remained inside the mosque for spiritual rebirth ahead of the trubaning.

Pleasantries ended with the arrival of the Vice President Shettima.

Governor AbdulRazq was then led out of the mosque and was turbaned.

Also in attendance were the First Lady of Kwara State, Amb. Olufolake AbdulRazaq; Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi; Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Salihu-Danladi; Mutawalli of Ilorin and elder brother to the governor, Dr. Alimi AbdulRazaq; along with visiting First Ladies and senior state officials.

Shettima seeks reconciliation

Shettima urged aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains in Kwara State to sheathe their swords and embrace reconciliation.

He said the settlement of post-primary disagreements is critical to the party’s preparations for next year’s general election.

Shettima appealed to the political gladiators to play politics without bitterness, noting that they would spend more of their lives outside public office than in it.

Shettima’s call for a truce followed the crisis arising from the outcome of the Kwara APC primaries, which led to a split within the state chapter. Some governorship and National Assembly aspirants, under the aegis of the G-15, protested the outcome, while a few defected from the party.

Urging the political class to learn how to settle partisan feuds, Shettima said: ‘Those in public office should resolve to serve with conscience, humility, and the fear of God, and also muster the courage to forgive one another for posterity’s sake.’

He added: ‘As public office holders, we spend more of our lives outside public office than we do inside it. Let us embrace each other; let us have the courage to serve with humility.

‘We are in power not because of our pedigree, intellect, ability, or physical build, but by destiny. What brings us together supersedes what separates us.

‘I call on all of us to unite in this political season and play politics without bitterness. The truth that sets us free is also the truth that people don’t want to hear,’ he said.

Noting that power is transient and that Allah gives it to whomever He wishes, the Vice President recalled that out of the 19 northern governors, only six, including AbdulRazaq, supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambition in 2023.

Shettima said the rumour being peddled at the time was ‘Baba (Buhari) Ba yan sunshi’ (meaning ‘Baba doesn’t want him (Tinubu) as president’).

He noted that despite the odds, President Tinubu crossed the hurdles and became president without hurting anyone.

Urging Kwara APC leaders to emulate the President, he advised them to exhibit similar courage.

Shettima said the investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development by AbdulRazaq reflected the importance of building projects capable of serving generations beyond the tenure of an administration.

He noted that: ‘These are chapters in the story of a state as its people encounter it: the lesson a child can attend, the treatment a household can seek, and the market a farmer can reach.’

Shettima spoke about his personal friendship and working relationship with the governor, saying both regularly engaged on matters of governance beyond ceremonial occasions.

He said their responsibilities frequently converged at the National Economic Council (NEC), where the Federal Government and states deliberate on economic proposals, implementation, financing, and the circumstances confronting communities across the country.

He said: ‘At the National Economic Council, our responsibilities meet in discussions concerning the federation and its states. We consider how economic proposals connect with implementation, financing, and the circumstances of communities.

‘That work requires listening across different experiences and respecting the obligations each government carries.

‘A federation is sustained through the patient conversation between those who share responsibility for its people.

‘No boundary on an administrative map can divide the dignity Nigerians are entitled to expect.’

Shettima noted that AbdulRazaq, as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, also participates in engagements with the Federal Government and development partners, adding that such institutional responsibilities ultimately centre on meeting the needs of farmers, households, and businesses.

The Vice President identified renewed classrooms, expanded medical coverage, and roads connecting communities among the areas in which the Kwara administration has invested, stressing the need to preserve and build on such interventions across the country.

Tinubu hails new Sardauna

President Tinubu commended the Emir for bestowing the prestigious title on AbdulRazaq, who is also the President of the Forum of Regions of Africa.

He described the honour as a fitting recognition of the governor’s leadership, public service, and contributions to the development of Kwara State, particularly his efforts in promoting inclusive growth, social cohesion, and the well-being of the people.

The President also applauded the Emir for preserving the important role of traditional institutions in fostering harmony, supporting democratic governance, and promoting sustainable development.

State Assemblies receive State Police Bill for concurrence

A major step in the move to establish state police was taken yesterday with the National Assembly transmitting the Constitution Alteration Bill to state Houses of Assembly for concurrence.

The Constitution requires the concurrence of two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly to alter any provision after passage by the National Assembly.

Not less than 24 states are required for the concurrence.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed the executive bill seeking to alter the Constitution to allow for state police before embarking on their vacation.

Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Kamoru Ogunlana, said in a statement that although there is no fixed constitutional period for the state Assemblies to conclude work on the document sent to them, the leadership of the National Assembly has advised that they conclude work on the document within 30 days.

Although the statement titled ‘National Assembly Transmits Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2027 to State Houses of Assembly for Consideration’ did not specifically mention the state police bill, The Nation reports that the lawmakers have only passed the state police bill, while the remaining constitutional alteration bills are pending final consideration.

The statement reads: ‘The National Assembly has commenced the next stage of the constitutional alteration process with the transmission of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 States of the Federation for their consideration and approval.

‘The Clerk to the National Assembly has, pursuant to the directive of the leadership of the National Assembly, transmitted the Bill to the respective State Houses of Assembly in accordance with Section 9 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) today, 16th September, 2026.

‘Section 9 of the Constitution provides, among other requirements, that a Bill for the purpose of altering the provisions of the Constitution shall not be passed by either House of the National Assembly unless it is approved by resolution of not less than two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 States of the Federation.

‘The Clerk to the National Assembly has requested the State Houses of Assembly to give the Bill the requisite consideration in accordance with their respective legislative procedures and to communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly upon conclusion of their consideration.

‘It is noted that the Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which the State Houses of Assembly are required to communicate their resolutions on a constitutional alteration Bill.

‘Nevertheless, in the interest of an orderly, coordinated and timely conclusion of the constitutional alteration process, the State Houses of Assembly are expected to consider the Bill and communicate their respective resolutions to the National Assembly within 30 days of receipt.

‘For clarity, the 30-day period is an expected administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline.

‘The National Assembly recognises the constitutional responsibility vested in the State Houses of Assembly and respects their independence in the consideration of the Bill.

‘The transmission is intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of their constitutional role in the process.

‘The National Assembly remains committed to ensuring that the constitutional alteration process is conducted in strict compliance with the Constitution and in accordance with the principles of due process, institutional cooperation and respect for the legislative responsibilities of all tiers of the legislature.

‘Upon receipt of the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly, the National Assembly will proceed with the necessary steps in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.’

Curfew in Taraba community as security operative, others killed

Many people, including a security operative, have been killed in the Mambilla Plateau of Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The killings, blamed on an ethnic militia in the Mbamnga area, reportedly started on Tuesday and continued into Wednesday, spreading to several areas, particularly pastoralist settlements.

Several cows were killed while many houses were reportedly burnt by the suspected armed militia.

Daily Trust gathered that many residents, including women and children, were displaced, with some fleeing to neighbouring Cameroon for safety.

The Chairman of Sardauna Local Government Council, Mohammed Umar, declared a 24-hour curfew across Mbamnga, Mbara and Geroji following the escalation of the violence.

Umar, while announcing the curfew on Wednesday, assured residents that the situation was under control, adding that security operatives had been deployed to the affected communities to maintain law and order and protect lives and property.

He directed security agencies to enforce the curfew strictly and arrest anyone found violating it.

However, reports from the area indicated that attacks were still ongoing in some pastoralist settlements despite the curfew.

Umar Saidu, a pastoralist in one of the affected settlements, said the militia attacked their community and killed three people.

He said many cows were killed and houses burnt by the attackers.

‘We don’t know where our children and women are because when the attackers came, everyone started running for his life,’ Saidu said.

Another pastoralist, Alhaji Aminu Bello, said the recurrence of violence on the plateau was a source of concern as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.

‘We don’t know what will happen from now to election time because the violence may likely be sponsored by some politicians as they did in the past and nothing happened to them,’ Bello said.

He blamed the failure to arrest and prosecute alleged sponsors of violence for the recurring crises and killings in the area.

The Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Victor Mshelizah, did not respond to calls or a text message sent by our reporter.

The Stakeholders Forum in Sardauna Local Government Area has expressed concern over the unrest in Mbara village, Mbamnga District.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the forum’s chairman, Timothy Kataps, said the stakeholders received the report of the unrest with deep concern.

Kataps, who is also the Secretary to the Taraba State Government, appealed to residents, regardless of tribe or faith, to remain calm and avoid actions or statements capable of escalating the tension.

The forum also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents and youth leaders to rein in their wards and embrace dialogue.

NLC Demands Palliatives For Nigerians As Petrol Price Rises

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday asked the federal government to urgently approve emergency palliatives and wage awards to workers nationwide.

The Congress called on the government to introduce measures to cushion the impact of the rising price of petrol and ensure immediate sale of crude oil to local refineries in naira.

Daily Trust reports that commuters have started trekking long distances following the sudden increase in price of fuel in order to cut the cost of transportation.

Checks showed that petrol now sells for about N1,430 per litre in major cities, with prices reportedly higher in less accessible locations.

President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, in a statement on Wednesday, warned that the rising cost of petrol would further worsen the economic hardship facing Nigerians.

The labour leader noted that increases in transportation costs typically trigger higher prices of food, rent, school fees and other essential goods and services across the country.

Ajaero maintained that the latest increase came at a time when government pressure on oil marketers to reduce pump prices in response to lower international crude prices was beginning to produce results.

‘As a nation, and as a people endowed with enormous fossil resources, we are deserving of a certain level of protection or buffer against the gales from the Gulf, and indeed, other gales,’ he said.

Ajaero argued that Nigeria’s status as an oil-producing country means it should be able to provide some protection against international oil market shocks regarding the latest surge that has been linked to the resurgence of conflict in the Gulf.

The NLC President urged the federal government to immediately introduce measures to shield households and businesses from the impact of the higher fuel prices.

‘There is nothing wrong with the government subsidising the needs of citizens, especially in emergencies like this,’ Ajaero argued.

He added that oil-producing countries were introducing different forms of intervention or palliatives to protect their citizens from the effects of the current global energy crisis.