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Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has commissioned a fully furnished modern Tsangaya school in Suletankarkar town, headquarters of Suletankarkar Local Government Area.

Speaking at the event, Governor Namadi said his administration spent over N600 million on teaching and learning facilities to ensure a conducive environment for both teachers and students.

He announced plans to integrate Qur’anic studies through the modern Tsangaya school system into the state’s education curriculum, just like other conventional subjects.

‘The state government will include Qur’anic studies in the education curriculum like all modern education subjects. We will also make independent budgetary provisions for Quranic studies aimed at modernising the system, where students in such schools will be taught science, technology and vocational skills,’ he said.

The governor noted that the initiative aligns with his 12-point agenda to reform the traditional Almajiri system, eliminate street begging and curb rural-urban child migration, which he said negatively affects children’s upbringing.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the Tsangaya Education Board, Dr Abubakar Maje Hamisu, said the newly commissioned school consists of eight classrooms, hostels, skill acquisition centres, an ICT centre and other essential facilities.

He explained that the school operates as a boys’ boarding school and has enrolled 500 pioneer students drawn from existing Almajiri systems across the state.

Hamisu highlighted the state government’s investments in the Tsangaya system, including the supply of 50,000 school uniforms and footwear worth N271,979,000, 400 student beds at N54,395,000, 1,098 mattresses valued at N35,764,605, and 1,374 blankets, 1,277 mosquito nets, Mushaf copies, mats, Allo, Akhdariy and other learning materials totalling N79,150,000.

He added that furniture for seven Tsangaya schools was supplied at a cost of N40,320,000, while writing materials were procured for N12,350,850.

The Executive Secretary commended Governor Namadi for his commitment to revamping Qur’anic education and modernising the Tsangaya system across the state.

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, has flagged off the distribution and installation of 30 units of 500kVA transformers to improve electricity supply and enhance rural development in 30 communities across the three senatorial districts of the state.

Speaking at the official flag-off ceremony of phase one of the statewide rural electrification project at the Government House in Lokoja, Governor Ododo described the event as a major step forward in fulfilling his promise to light up communities and empower the people.

‘It is with great pride and a profound sense of duty that I flag off the first phase of the distribution and installation of 30 units of 500KVA transformer strategically distributed across the three senatorial districts of our beloved state,’ he said.

He explained that the initiative was a direct response to the needs and requests received from communities through the Ministry of Rural and Energy Development, adding that every request was treated with a sense of urgency in line with the mantra of his administration to prioritise the welfare of people, especially those at the grassroots.

Governor Ododo emphasised that the distribution of the 30 transformers under phase one of the project would be guided by fairness and balanced development across the three senatorial districts of the state.

‘In the spirit of fairness and equity, I have directed that these 30 transformers be distributed across the three senatorial districts. This ensures that the benefits of this crucial infrastructure project are felt simultaneously and equitably across our state,’ he said.

The Governor added that the installation of the transformers was not just about power supply, but about investing in commerce, education, healthcare and the overall quality of life for Kogi citizens.

‘Electricity is critical to our industrial drive and our determination to light up our rural areas to enhance livelihood and agriculture.

It is about lighting lives, powering education, driving industry, supporting healthcare and strengthening the security of our communities. This project speaks to the truth that every part of Kogi State matters,’ he added.

The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s determination to continue to implement projects that have a direct impact on the people, promising that subsequent phases of the rural electrification project would reach even more communities across the state.

He called on residents to protect the electrical equipment from vandalism and ensure its effective use for the benefit of all.

Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for Rural and Energy Development, Abdulmutalib Mohammed, said the distribution and installation of transformers is in line with the mandate of the ministry to enhance the quality of life in rural communities across the state.

He noted that the ministry was guided by rigorous technical assessment of the needs of every community that presented requests for replacement or installation of transformers, adding that more communities will be covered in the next phases of the project.

The Commissioner further noted that the initiative will improve daily lives and stimulate business activities in the communities.

He commended Governor Ododo for acceding to the needs of rural communities and people who have had to endure challenges of power supply shortages before now.

Governor Dauda Lawal has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity in Zamfara State, stressing that the effort requires a united and sustained approach from all stakeholders.

A statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said that Lawal spoke on Monday at the 18th Executive Council meeting held at the Government House in Gusau.

He noted that the session focused on critical issues affecting the state, including security, education, healthcare, and infrastructural development, among others.

‘I want to remind us of our shared responsibility in this administration to confront insecurity head-on.

‘We have made commendable strides in restoring relative peace across many parts of the state. The grip of banditry has been significantly weakened compared to previous years,’ he said.

He urged council members to remain proactive, maintain closer contact with their constituents and local government officials, and regularly submit status updates to the Commissioner for Security.

‘Let us also remember to pray for the souls of our fallen heroes,’ he added.

Governor Lawal further called for strengthened collaboration among council members, political appointees, and elected officials to ensure seamless governance and effective service delivery.

Former Kwara State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Mopelola Abdulmalik Bashir, has said that women in the state are intensifying efforts to secure all six Federal House of Representatives seats under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking with journalists on the progress made by women in politics and their plans for the next electoral cycle, Hon. Bashir said the goal is to build on the remarkable progress women have achieved under the administration of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq by moving from state-level representation to a significant presence at the federal legislature.

‘Kwara women are not resting on the progress already achieved. We are marching forward in 2027 to consolidate by lobbying for the six Federal House of Representatives seats at the National Assembly,’ she said.

Hon. Mopelola Abdulmalik Bashir also stated that the six-seat target at the Federal House of Representatives is in addition to efforts to increase women’s presence in the Kwara State House of Assembly from the current six to at least ten members in the 24-member House by 2027.

‘The record set by His Excellency, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, in 2019 with 50 per cent women in the cabinet, and that of 2023 with the highest number of women in the State Assembly, will be consolidated in 2027 with six women at the Federal House of Representatives,’ she added.

She expressed confidence that Kwara women possess the capacity, competence, and organisational strength to achieve the target, noting that they are mobilising, lobbying, and building alliances within the ruling party to make it a reality.

‘We believe women have all it takes, and we are doing all that is necessary to achieve this aim,’ she said.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has criticised one of Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers, Aloy Ejimakor, for participating in a protest organised by activist Omoyele Sowore in Abuja.

Onanuga, who made the statement on his X handle on Monday, expressed disappointment over Ejimakor’s involvement, describing the protest as ‘shambolic.’

He questioned the lawyer’s decision to join the demonstration despite the ongoing treason case involving Kanu.

‘I spotted Aloy Ejimakor, one of Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers, among the small group of protesters mobilised in Abuja by Omoyele Sowore. I wonder what Mr. Ejimakor was thinking when he decided to join this shambolic protest. As a lawyer, he should be aware of the principle of sub judice, particularly in relation to the ongoing treason case before the court.

‘The prosecution has concluded its case, and it is now incumbent upon Mr. Ejimakor and the other lawyers to mount a strong defence for Kanu. Rather than focusing on preparing a strong case, Mr. Ejimakor has resorted to extra-legal tactics, joining a career anarchist, to influence the process. Ejimakor’s action questions his adherence to professional ethics. Legal authorities should consider appropriate sanctions for the unethical conduct of the bearded lawyer.’

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has dismissed claims of an alleged ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria, describing them as false, misleading, and designed to tarnish the country’s global image.

Idris stated this on Monday at the national unveiling of the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) Abuja 2026, in Abuja, with the theme ‘Responsible Communication: The Voice of the World.’

While speaking further, Idris said the Tinubu administration views communication not merely as a government function but as a strategic tool for accountability, public confidence, and nation-building.

He said, ‘We must come to terms with existential reputational threats to our national brand,’ he warned.

‘For the umpteenth time, I am emphatic that there’s no iota of truth in the claim of a ‘Christian Genocide’ in Nigeria.’

‘This propaganda is externally woven by those who want to weaken our unity. We must use public relations, grounded in facts and truth, to reject these despicable single narratives.

Speaking on the need to protect Nigeria’s national reputation, Idris warned that such narratives pose serious ‘existential reputational threats’ to the country’s brand and unity.

‘We must come to terms with existential reputational threats to our national brand,’ the Minister cautioned. ‘For the umpteenth time, I am emphatic that there’s no iota of truth in the claim of a ‘Christian Genocide’ in Nigeria. This propaganda is externally woven by those who want to weaken our unity.’

He said the Federal Government remains committed to fostering religious harmony and national cohesion, adding that misinformation on sensitive issues such as religion could endanger peace and stability.

‘We must use public relations, grounded in facts and truth, to reject these despicable single narratives,’ Idris added.

Commending the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) for securing the hosting rights for WPRF Abuja 2026, Idris said the Forum would highlight Nigeria’s transformation through transparent governance communication.

‘The forthcoming World Public Relations Forum is an opportunity to present Nigeria as a model of transformation through communication,’ he said. ‘Under President Tinubu’s leadership, the world is seeing a Nigeria that is reforming, rebranding, and re-emerging-driven by innovation, private sector growth, and renewed international confidence.’

He urged communication practitioners, the media, and public officers to uphold truth and empathy in their engagements with citizens.

‘Let this unveiling be a call to conscience,’ he charged. ‘To practitioners: hold the line of truth. To the media: inform with integrity. To public officers: communicate with transparency. To citizens: speak with empathy.’

Idris assured that the Federal Government would continue to use communication as a force for national renewal, unity, and peace.

‘Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria is reshaping its global image,’ he said. ‘Let this Forum be remembered as the moment when Africa’s largest democracy led the world in defining what it means to communicate with conscience.’

Also speaking, Senator Osita Izunaso, representing the National Assembly, urged organizers to ensure synergy to showcase Nigeria positively before, during, and after the forum.

He also called on government agencies to refurbish federal secretariat buildings, especially around Eagle Square, where key events are scheduled, and asked security agencies at airports and other major entry points to maintain conduct that enhances Nigeria’s image.

Meanwhile, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to host the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) in Abuja, describing it as a landmark opportunity to position the nation at the centre of global communication and reputation management.

He also announced that preparations are now shifting to the global unveiling in Dubai. ‘Well, now that the National Unveiling has been done, and the Continental Unveiling was done on Friday, it’s now Global Unveiling. We are going to Dubai to unveil it internationally,’ he said.

He revealed that the Dubai event will be led by the President of the Global Alliance, Professor Justin Green, alongside members of the Global Alliance Board. ‘After that, we will go to Europe for the European unveiling in Berlin, then to Asia, and later to North and South America. In March 2026, we will be in Zambia for the Zambian unveiling, and then move to Kenya, and so on. We are serious about this,’ Neliaku added.

According to him, Nigeria’s hosting of the 2026 Forum will mark a defining moment for the country, both in global reputation and economic impact. ‘We want this to be the biggest, the brightest, and the boldest that has ever happened, because we understand the opportunity this presents Nigeria with – for us to be on the international communication map. It’s the first time it’s happening here, and we take it very seriously,’ he stated.

Dr. Neliaku noted that more than 10,000 participants from over 126 countries are expected to attend the Abuja Forum. ‘These are people who advise presidents, ministers, governors, and large corporations. The value they bring cannot be quantified. You have three key benefits – reputation value, professional value, and financial value. The reputation advantage alone is priceless,’ he explained.

He, however, appealed to the Federal Government and other stakeholders to give the event the needed support. ‘All we are praying is that the Nigerian government will take it seriously and do all that they need to do for this opportunity not to slip off our hands,’ he urged.

Clarifying the timing of the event, which coincides with Nigeria’s pre-election period, Dr. Neliaku stressed that the Forum’s focus is on responsible communication, not politics. ‘Global Alliance is not a Nigerian organisation; they have their dates. The last one was hosted in Bali in November. So, they are not coming here because of elections – they are coming to discuss responsible communication,’ he said.

‘As politicians go out to campaign, they must know that responsible communication is the voice of the world. They should speak responsibly, campaign responsibly, and act responsibly. Whatever they do, they must do it responsibly,’ he emphasized.

Dr. Neliaku said the NIPR and the Nigerian communication industry are proud of the recognition the country has earned through the Forum. ‘We feel good, not for any other thing, but because we are Nigerians and people see the value of this to our nation,’ he said.

He called on Nigerians to unite in support of the Forum. ‘I really expect everyone to come out and support this initiative for the best of Nigeria. Yes, we have our challenges, but I have travelled all over the world, and I can tell you that what we have here is good. Others know how to manage their own issues. Part of responsible communication is knowing how to manage our challenges in the interest of our nation,’ he said, adding that, ‘when anything goes down, after all, self and God, it is Nigeria.

The University of Ilorin has produced 316 First Class graduates out of a total of 11,886 graduates for the 2024/2025 academic session.

Speaking with journalists as part of activities lined up to mark the institution’s 40th convocation ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN), gave a breakdown of the graduating students as follows: 316 will graduate with First Class Honours, 4,120 with Second Class Upper Division, 5,939 with Second Class Lower Division, 1,078 with Third Class, and 11 with a Pass in the First Degree/Diploma category.

The Vice-Chancellor also said that the convocation would feature the graduation of 175 individuals with MBBS degrees, 94 in Nursing, 40 in Optometry, 36 in Veterinary Medicine, and 64 in Physiotherapy. Additionally, 13 individuals will receive Diplomas.

Speaking on the ongoing crisis between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Egbewole called for continued dialogue among stakeholders to ensure smooth and quality educational development in the country.

The Vice-Chancellor, who attributed the current labour situation to a communication gap between ASUU and the Federal Government, added that measures were being put in place by concerned stakeholders to end the strike action.

Egbewole also said that he would not support any call for a second term for university vice-chancellors, adding that a five-year tenure is sufficient to make a desirable impact in any university system.

‘If you work hard, you won’t call for a second term because that one term could be quite exhausting. My wife and other members of my family can no longer wait for me to conclude my tenure,’ he said.

Speaking on the recent changes to the university’s transportation system and the attendant challenges faced by staff and students, the Vice-Chancellor explained that the institution was merely implementing its master plan.

‘Ultimately, if allowed to take its course, the challenges will be obliterated. The master plan of the university does not approve temporary measures that had become permanent before now. The measure is not to cause inconvenience to students or staff in any way but to ensure security, among other reasons,’ he said.

The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that the school benefited from an intervention fund of ?2.6 billion from TETFund in 2025 alone. He said the university had continued to enjoy uninterrupted financial and moral support from TETFund, NELFUND, and other academic partners over the last three years.

He noted that the fund covered 11 areas, including physical infrastructure and programme upgrades, academic staff training, ICT support, entrepreneurship, and career services, among others.

Egbewole further stated that the university also received ?300 million for zonal interventions to execute various projects.

‘Equally, a Special High Impact Project (SHIP) was granted to our university to upgrade facilities in the sum of ?4 billion at the College of Health Sciences, and another ?750 million for the construction of a hostel at the College,’ he said.

According to him, the university also benefited from NELFUND, saying: ‘I am happy to report that the University of Ilorin has secured ?1.6 billion for 12,983 students in the 2024/2025 academic session.

‘This loan was across all disciplines, including medical students. This laudable programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria has guaranteed that no student will drop out as a result of funding.’

A legal luminary and former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Wole Olanipekun has advised the National Assembly to stop further action on the amendment of the 1999 constitution and prepare the nation for a new acceptable constitution.

Olanipekun who traced the foundation of the 1999 and other constitutions in the country, noted that the country would find it difficult to achieve greatness and development unless there is a new generally acceptable document for the country.

To achieve this, he appealed to the federal lawmakers to suspend the ongoing process for amendment of the constitution and set the country for a transition after the 2027 general election, where they will be a referendum for a new document in 2031.

In making a strong case for the conduct of a national referendum, he described it as ‘a solemn act by which people collectively speak in unison to decide matters of grave national importance.’

He argued that sovereignty, as enshrined in Section 14(2)(a) of the existing1999 Constitution, resides in the people, who therefore have an inalienable right to determine how they wish to be governed.

Olanipekun made these known on Monday while delivering the convocation lecture for the 13th convocation ceremonies of the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), titled ‘ Nigeria – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Imperative of a Sober and Definitive Recalibration’

He said the current constitution had outlived its usefulness and legitimacy, describing it as a mere document that ‘tells lies against itself’ and has failed to represent the core ideals, diversity and aspirations of Nigeria’s federating units.

‘The National Assembly should, for the time being, stay action on the ongoing amendment or any further amendment to 1999 Constitution. This Constitution needs a new rebranding, a complete overhaul, a substitution altogether. It has to be a negotiated document that will pave the way for a new social order.

‘Needless restating the obvious that Nigeria, as day, needs to be rebranded, re-orientated, restructured, revamped renegotiated, reorganized, reawakened, re-eng bered, resuscitated and, by extension, recalibrated. One cannot make omelets without breaking eggs; one cannot play Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark and one cannot stage an orchestra without fixing the crescendo.

‘What is the relevance of the foregoing? Right from the get-go, particularly. since this present Constitution was said to be in the ‘bakery’ or ‘oven’ during the General Abdusalam Abubakar regime, I had joined the vanguard of those clamoring for a people’s constitution; a constitution peculiar to the antecedents and nuances of Nigeria; a constitution that will emerge through consensus or near consensus; a constitution that will be negotiated upon during cross-fertilization of ideas; a constitution of mutual understanding and collaboration; a constitution that will be subjected to a referendum, after which most Nigerians will be able to assert that this is our Constitution.

‘I must not be mistaken to be suggesting that every Nigerian must participate in the making of the Constitution, but any Nigerian who wants to must be able to do so , either through his elected representative or by airing his views,’ he said.

The former president of the Body of Benchers, added that the country’s foundational challenges stem from a faulty constitutional structure that concentrates power at the centre, emasculates the states, and perpetuates inequality in all its entirety.

Olanipekun recalled that since the 1999 Constitution was midwifed under the General Abdulsalami Abubakar military and became operational, he had been part of the vanguard advocating for a people-oriented constitution that would emerge from public participation, and referendum.

He revealed that as far back as 2002, during his tenure as the NBA President, he had openly engaged former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the inadequacies of the 1999 Constitution, describing it as far removed from realities of Nigeria’s plural society.

Olanipekun recommended a transitional phase between now and 2031, to allow Nigeria to gather, review, and harmonize previous constitutional efforts including the reports of the various conferences, and committees on restructuring ahead of the drafting of a new consensual document.

He said, ‘During the transitional period, elections will still hold and the winners will serve their terms, but with the understanding that come May 29, 2031, Nigeria will operate under a new Constitution, a new structure, and a fresh dawn.’

The former NBA President drew parallels with international examples from the Italian referendum of 1946 that ended monarchy, to Britain’s 2016 Brexit and Equatorial Guinea’s 2025 Constitutional Referendum, which recorded over 90 percent voter approval.

According to him, referendums are not alien to Nigeria’s political evolution, recalling the 1961 plebiscite that allowed Southern Cameroons to choose between Nigeria and Cameroon, and the 1963 referendum that led to the creation of the Mid-Western Region.

‘What then is the way out? Some within this audience might have been stunned by my earlier suggestion for a transitional period between now and May 29, 2031; a suggestion or recommendation that is not only made in good faith but out of the realities of the conundrum we have found ourselves.

‘It is now time for the federating units to take charge of the reconfiguration, redefinition, repair, restructuring, remodeling and reengineering of Nigeria for stability in all forms, including but not limited to security, constitutional architecture, form or type of government (whether presidential or parliamentary), etc. It is the Referendum, rather than the National Assembly that will decide whether or not, Nigeria

needs a National Assembly, and if yes, whether full or part-time membership; their tenure, remunerations, et al.

‘In other words, this National Assembly cannot act as that Referendum since one cannot be a judge in his own cause. It is the federating units that will make arrangements for the Referendum being suggested; how it will hold, through which means it will hold, what will be the parameters or undertakings, etc,’ the legal icon said.

On the growing wave of defections into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the country, Olanipekun identified the lack of clear cut ideologies among the political parties, adding, ‘ If this is the position, it might be very difficult or not so easy for people from one party to migrate to the other so often with remarkable ease as we witness nowadays.’

He urged the opposition political gladiators to emulate the steadfastness and commitment of President Bola Tinubu when he was the face of the opposition since 1999 till 2015, despite the intimidation and harassment by the then PDP ruling party.

‘Had President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whether as Governor Tinubu or thereafter as ‘Citizen Tinubu’ succumbed to the harassment and intimidation of the then PDP ruling party, Nigeria would have become a one-party state as far back as 2023 or immediately thereafter. Even when he was arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on some criminal charges, he did not blink or panic, rather, he instructed his Legal Team, led by my humble self to apply for service of the Charge on his behalf, before he was formally served, since the news had already filtered to the press and public.

‘Until he was discharged and acquitted, he was physically present at all the proceedings of the Tribunal. Tinubu not only withstood and survived the PDP Tsunami, he also encouraged opposition figures to come together, ultimately birthing the APC in 2013.

‘May we not readily forget that the great Abraham Lincoln contested the US Presidency seven times before he finally succeeded and became one of the greatest global statesmen. All through, he did not defect from his

political party,’ he said.

On security, the legal icon who reiterated the urgent need for state and community policing, criticized the over-centralized system that leaves governors as ‘chief security officers’ without real control over police operations in their states.

Referencing the United States, Germany, Canada, and Switzerland, the elder statesman argued that decentralized policing aligns with federal principles as well as enhances the responsiveness to local security challenges.

‘The idea of police is basically local or communal and cannot be central or regimented from outside the immediate community as such. The point being made is that, it is equally the inalienable right of every community to have its own rural or community police.

‘Without prejudice to the earlier submission that the National Assembly should stay action on the amendment of the Constitution, state, community, provincial and zonal police formations should be established now, without further ado,’ Olanipekun said.

He further advocated a reconfiguration of Nigeria’s federal structure through the geopolitical zones, which he said should be empowered to drive the country’s renaissance and recalibration.

Olanipekun noted that the six-zone arrangement, introduced under General Sani Abacha, has now gained practical expression under President Tinubu through creation of regional development commissions.

He maintained that it is the federating units, not the Federal Government, that should determine the structure and governance framework of the nation.

‘It is the states that give birth to the centre, not the other way round,’ he declared. Nigeria needs healing, reconciliation, and rebirth and it is through the engagement of the zones that this renaissance can begin,’ he added.

Speaking, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN saluted the dexterity of the convocation lecturer for his well researched lecture he presented, adding that it has been his consistent advocacy for the country to have a new constitution which would set the stage for overall development and growth.

He lamented that the current situation of the country is troubling with the socio-economic challenges mitigating against its progress, suggesting that urgent steps must be taken for the nation to stand and compete favourably with countries of the world.

Babalola promised to send a copy of the lecture and accompanying letter to President Bola Tinubu and the two chambers of the National Assembly, ‘ for an urgent action because Nigeria is in crisis at the moment.’

On his part, a former Minister of Education and Pro-Chancellor of ABUAD, Professor Tunde Adeniran while lauding the depth of Olanipekun’s lecture on the way forward for the nation, called for a change of mindset by the citizens for a potential new constitution to achieve its desired results.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered assets valued at over ?500 billion within the two years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, according to Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Shettima made the revelation on Monday while declaring open the 7th edition of a three-day capacity-building workshop for judges and justices, jointly organised by the EFCC and the National Judicial Institute in Abuja, according to Channels TV.

He said the government’s policy of non-interference in the operations of anti-graft agencies has strengthened the fight against corruption and improved institutional accountability.

‘As an administration, we have prioritised public accountability by strengthening the anti-corruption agencies and giving them the needed independence to execute their statutory mandates.

‘This enabling environment is evident in the impact that has been made in the last two years. The EFCC, for example, has recorded over 7,000 convictions and recovered assets in excess of ?500 billion,’ Shettima, who represented President Tinubu at the event, said.

The Vice President stated that proceeds from recovered assets are being channelled into key developmental initiatives such as the students’ loan and consumer credit schemes.

‘Recovered proceeds of crime by the agency (EFCC) are being brought back into the economy to fund critical social investment programs, including the students’ loan and consumer credit schemes.

‘We are equally working within the boundaries of separation of powers to support the judiciary in improving the working conditions of judicial officers.

‘The remuneration of judges has improved, and we are committed to further enhancement of their welfare and facilities,’ he said.

Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to the rule of law, Shettima maintained that President Tinubu does not shield political allies from investigation or prosecution.

‘There is no person or group who can accuse this administration of protecting political actors. We have allowed both the judiciary and the anti-corruption agencies to exercise their powers to restore sanity,’ he added.

The Vice President urged judicial officers to uphold integrity and patriotism in their duties, stressing that corruption affects all segments of society.

‘Corruption is no respecter of persons. Judges are not insulated from its consequences. There are no special roads, hospitals, or communities for judges-we all face the same risks from the effects of corruption.’

He called for collaboration among all arms of government to strengthen the anti-corruption campaign.

‘A Nigeria free of corruption is possible if we all commit to doing what is right and ensuring that those who deviate from the norm are held accountable,’ Shettima added.

Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has declared that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has suffered a major setback following Monday’s protest demanding the release of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Sowore made the remark in a Facebook post after security operatives dispersed protesters who had gathered in parts of Abuja for the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration.

He wrote, ‘We have inflicted a crushing defeat on the regime, they attacked and brutalized our people but our determination only intensified from Maiatama to Utako to Apo. #FreeNnamdiKanuNow!’

The protest, which was scheduled to take off from the Transcorp Hilton area, was met with heavy security presence as early as 7 a.m.

Armed police and military officers reportedly took over major locations including Maitama, Utako, and Apo, firing multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse demonstrators and passers-by.

In a viral video, Sowore and several protesters were seen fleeing as officers launched tear gas canisters at them.

The protesters had planned to march to the Presidential Villa to press for Kanu’s release, but the security operatives cordoned off the area and disrupted the rally before it gathered momentum.

Sowore, however, maintained that the resistance against the government’s actions had strengthened the movement’s resolve.