Author: user user

FG arraigns fake agency DG Adeyemi in Court

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Thursday, arraigned the self-acclaimed Director-General of the ‘fake’ Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Matthew Adeniyi Adeyemi, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Adeyemi was arraigned before Justice Yusuf Halilu, sitting at Maitama, Abuja, on a 22-count charge bordering on forgery, false personation as a public servant, and obtaining over N27 billion to start the fake agency and N3.8 billion for personnel costs.

The prosecuting agency, ICPC, alleged in the charge that Adeyemi obtained the N30.8 billion from government coffers by forging a document addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

The prosecution alleged that, on March 8, 2024, in Abuja, the defendant forged a document, to

a letter Reference: SH/COS/209/A/3456 dated 8th March 8, 2024, purportedly signed/ issued by the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Right Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, appointing Adeyemi as the Director-General of the ‘fake’ PFIPC, with the intention of causing it to be believed as genuine and occupying government office facilities at the Federal Secretariat Complex Phase III.

ICPC claimed that the forged document was presented by the defendant as portraying himself as Director-General of the PIFPC in order to obtain government recognition and legitimacy for the purpose of carrying out his fraudulent activities.

Adeyemi was further alleged to have forged a document, captioned, ‘Re: Request for approval of self-accounting status’, addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation for the non-existent agency to operate within the government financial reporting structure.

He was also alleged to have forged documents to the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to get a domain name for the agency.

The prosecution accused Adeyemi of gifting N210,000 to Aminu Abdullahi, an Assistant Chief Technical Officer in the Office of the Secretary General of the Federation (OSFG), ‘to facilitate the allocation of office space,’ without official authorisation.

He was further alleged to have gifted the sum of N300,000 to an officer in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Ogaba Harry, to facilitate the release and handover of two official vehicles, a Prado Jeep and Land Cruiser Jeep, to him (Adeyemi).

ICPC also alleged that on July 29, 2025, the defendant collected he sum of N20 million from the Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, Oyekunle Gbenga, under the false pretence of a ‘project facilitation loan’, in respect of a purported contract valued at N2.8 billion awarded by the ‘fake’ agency for the procurement of furniture, electronics and refurbishment of his (Adeyemi’s) official residence.

According to ICPC, all the alleged offences were carried out between 2024 and 2026.

It added that the offences contravened Sections 364, 366, and 132 of the Penal Code Cap. 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990; Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act and Section 9(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 9(b) of the same Act.

Adeyemi, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him in the open court.

Following his not-guilty plea, the prosecuting counsel, Fatima Bardi, asked the court for a date for the commencement of trial to enable the prosecution to prove its case against the defendant.

Counsel for the defendant, Ibrahim Angulu SAN, on his part, applied orally to the court to grant the defendant bail, citing Adeyemi’s prolonged detention and health challenge.

According to him, Adeyemi had spent 155 days in detention and had obtained a health report from the police clinic, where he had been receiving treatment, to show his deteriorating health condition.

Justice Halilu, however, directed the defence counsel to file a written bail application.

He subsequently adjourned the case to November 9 for commencement of trial and possible hearing of the defendant’s bail application.

Court sacks Uzodimma as APC senatorial candidate

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the name of Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, as the Senatorial candidate for Imo West.

The court specifically asked the electoral umpire to replace Uzodinma as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the name of former governor Rochas Okorocha.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu gave the order after holding that Uzodimma did not win the May 18 primary election conducted by the APC and monitored by INEC.

Daily Trust reports that the INEC had slated Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives elections for January 16, 2027.

Delivering his judgment, the judge held that evidence presented before the court proved that Okorocha actually won the majority of the votes cast at the poll and should be published as the winner of the election.

Egwuatu subsequently ordered the APC to forward Okorocha’s name as candidate of the APC in the 2027 general elections for Imo West Senatorial election.

The court also restrained Uzodimma from parading himself as the APC senatorial candidate for the January 16, 2027 election, holding that he did not win the party’s May 18, 2026 primary.

The judge, while declaring that Okorocha emerged as the lawful winner of the primary, held that the nomination of Uzodimma breached Sections 29 and 32 of the Electoral Act and failed to comply with the APC’s guidelines for conducting primary elections.

He consequently declared that it was unlawful and fraudulent for the party to have forwarded Uzodimma’s name to INEC as the winner of a primary election he did not win.

The judge held, ‘That the publication of Hope Uzodimma’s name by INEC as the winner of the primary election is wrongful and unlawful.’

He further ruled, ‘That the INEC publication of the name of Hope Uzodimma on August 1 as APC Senatorial candidate for Imo West is hereby set aside and in its place, INEC is ordered to restore the name of Rochas Okorocha.’

Justice Egwuatu also faulted INEC for accepting Uzodimma’s nomination despite what he described as overwhelming documentary evidence showing that the governor was not the lawful winner of the primary.

He declared, ‘Rochas Okorocha is the lawful winner and is entitled to have his name submitted to INEC.’

The judge held that INEC was bound by the report of its own officials, which, according to him, clearly established that Okorocha won the May 18 primary.

In reviewing the evidence presented before the court, Justice Egwuatu questioned the authenticity and consistency of documents submitted by the APC to justify Uzodimma’s nomination.

He said, ‘Majority of the documents tendered by APC to support the purported nomination of Uzodimma (3rd respondent) contradicts each other indicating that they were clearly fabricated for the unlawful purpose of nominating the 3rd respondent as candidate.

‘In view of the doubt cast on the authenticity of the documents, the court cannot ascribe probative value to the purported documents.’

The judge said documents signed, certified and released to Okorocha following a formal request showed that the former governor secured the majority of lawful votes cast in the primary across the 10 local government areas that make up the senatorial district.

He identified discrepancies in the accounts given by different APC officials regarding how the primary was conducted.

According to the judge, one document submitted by the party indicated that Option A4 was used for the exercise, while another document from a member of the party’s National Working Committee claimed that a consensus arrangement produced Uzodimma as the candidate.

Justice Egwuatu said another document from a different NWC member, however, claimed that a direct primary was conducted for the same election.

He described the conflicting accounts as significant, particularly because votes were reportedly allocated to the aspirants despite the claim that Uzodimma emerged through consensus.

The judge subsequently ordered the APC to forward Okorocha’s name to INEC and directed the commission to replace Uzodimma’s name with that of the former governor.

The dispute arose from conflicting claims over the outcome of the APC primary for the Imo West Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Okorocha challenged Uzodimma’s recognition as the party’s candidate, arguing that the outcome announced in favour of the incumbent governor did not reflect the result of the primary monitored by INEC.

Uzodimma was declared the winner of the primary and recognised by the INEC, which maintained that the official results showed that the governor polled 230,464 votes, while Okorocha received 1,098 votes.

However, a separate document subsequently circulated, purporting to show that Okorocha won the primary with 150,780 votes.

Okorocha filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, challenging the outcome of the primary and INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate.

The former governor asked the court to determine whether the commission was right to recognise Uzodimma as the winner, relying on the disputed primary results and other issues raised in his suit.

The suit also raised questions about Uzodimma’s eligibility to contest the 2027 senatorial election while serving as governor, with Okorocha asking the court to consider the relevant constitutional provisions.

Reps’ tuition waiver motion sparks row as Minority Leader kicks against procedural breach

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Fred Agbedi, during Thursday’s plenary faulted the legislative procedure adopted by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, following the decision to step down a motion seeking a one-year tuition fee waiver for students in federal tertiary institutions.

The development sparked a row on the floor of the House after Hon. Agbedi, citing Order 8, Rule 1, on the arrangement of business, accused the presiding officer of departing from the established rules of the legislature.

The Minority Leader expressed concern that the Deputy Speaker had called on the House Leader to address issues relating to the motion after it had already been stepped down, arguing that the matter was no longer properly before the House for debate.

He said: ‘We have passed personal explanation, we have passed orders of the day, and Mr. Speaker, you stepped down a motion that was brought by Honourable Satomi, and then, you called on the Leader of the House to intervene on a matter that is not within the order.’

Hon. Agbedi further argued that the proposed tuition fee waiver conflicted with the existing Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) legislation, which already provides a statutory framework for financing students’ tertiary education.

According to him, ‘You cannot bring a motion to amend the NELFUND law. It is not as to how many people have benefited or have not benefited. Because for you to say that the Federal Government should pay school fees for all Nigerians, when you have NELFUND, an Act of this House, that has already prescribed how it should be done, would be bringing a motion to amend a law that was passed and assented by Mr. President.’

Hon. Agbedi maintained that inviting the House Leader to speak on the matter after the motion had been withdrawn was inconsistent with parliamentary practice.

He said: ‘And so, for you to beckon like the leader of the House to discuss on this matter that was not before the House was an aberration. It has no place in our rulebook, Mr. Speaker.’

However, Hon. Kalu overruled the Minority Leader, declaring: ‘You are ruled out of order. You are ruled out of order.’

Earlier, when called upon to lead the debate on the motion, the sponsor, Hon. Ahmed Satomi, informed the House that he had consulted with the House Leader, who addressed several concerns raised in the proposal, prompting his decision to step it down.

Following the withdrawal, Hon. Kalu invited the Majority Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, to brief lawmakers on the milestones recorded by NELFUND since the commencement of its operations.

In his briefing, Hon. Ihonvbere disclosed that the fund had disbursed a total of N372.6 billion to students and tertiary institutions as of September 29, 2026.

He explained that N192.9 billion had been paid directly to tertiary institutions to cover tuition fees, while N79.7 billion had been disbursed directly to students as monthly upkeep allowances.

The Majority Leader further revealed that NELFUND had received more than 2.3 million applications, with 319 institutions covered under the scheme and approximately 1.659 million students benefiting from the programme nationwide.

He urged lawmakers to sensitise their constituents to the initiative and encourage eligible students to apply, stressing that the application process is conducted entirely online without the need for personal connections or visits to government offices.

According to the text of the motion listed on the Order Paper, Hon. Satomi had highlighted the economic difficulties confronting Nigerian households following the Federal Government’s economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and foreign exchange adjustments.

The lawmaker noted that escalating costs of food, transportation, accommodation, electricity, and other basic needs have compounded the financial strain on parents and guardians struggling to meet their children’s educational expenses.

He warned that students across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education face growing risks of dropping out, deferring their academic programmes, or suffering prolonged financial distress due to inability to pay tuition and other mandatory institutional charges.

He added that financial barriers to higher education could exacerbate youth unemployment, socioeconomic inequality, and broader social instability.

While describing education as an indispensable driver of national development, poverty alleviation, and social mobility, the motion had proposed a temporary, targeted, and adequately funded intervention to cushion students against economic headwinds.

It had specifically prayed the House to urge the Federal Government to introduce a one-year emergency tuition fee waiver for eligible students in federal tertiary institutions, while urging federal and state authorities to ensure that any relief scheme remains time-bound, periodically reviewed, and implemented without undermining the quality and sustainability of higher education.

World Maritime Day: NIWA reaffirms commitment to safer waterways

Acting Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Alhaji Yusuf Girei, has reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to translating maritime policies into practical results that ensure safer waterways, reliable infrastructure and sustainable economic growth.

Delivering his goodwill message on the occasion of the 2026 World Maritime Day celebration held recently, Girei congratulated stakeholders and commended their dedication to advancing Nigeria’s maritime sector.

This year’s celebration, themed: ‘From policy to practice: Powering excellence,’ was graced by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Fatima Sugra Mahmood; chairperson and keynote speaker, Mrs. Mfon Usoro; directors and heads of departments, CEOs of Parastatals under the ministry, members of the diplomatic corps, industry stakeholders and the media.

Girei noted: ‘This year’s theme reminds us that strong policies create value only when they are translated into meaningful action. In the maritime sector, that means safer waterways, reliable infrastructure, environmental stewardship and services that support trade and economic growth.’

He said NIWA remains committed to working with state governments, industry stakeholders, host communities and development partners to improve navigation, strengthen safety standards, modernise facilities and protect the waterways on which many livelihoods depend.

He stressed that excellence in the maritime sector is a shared responsibility that requires skilled professionals, effective regulation, investment in innovation and a culture that places safety and sustainability at the heart of operations.

‘By working together, we can build a maritime sector that is competitive, inclusive and prepared for the future,’ he added.

In a highlight of the celebration, the acting managing director joined in the award presentation for the Primary School Children’s Essay competition category, sponsored by NIWA. The first position went to Idris Jibril Oladimeji, of Holy Cross Primary School, Lagos, who won N200,000 cash and a laptop computer.

The second position went to Suleiman Aisha of St Paul’s Anglican School, Lagos Island, who received N150,000 and a laptop computer, while the third position went to Yahaya Aliyah of St. Mathias Girls Primary School, Lagos, who received N100,000 cash and a laptop computer.

Akpabio calls for stronger partnership between Nigeria Germany

The President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio has called for a stronger partnership between Nigeria and Germany.

Akpabio made the call in Abuja on Thursday while receiving a delegation from a Parliamentary Committee of Germany in his office.

The Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development of the German Bundestag (Parliament) was led by Professor Wolfgang Stefinger.

In his address titled ‘Let Friendship Become Factories’ Akpabio said Nigeria and Germany had spent more than six decades building friendship and mutual trust stressing that the challenge was to turn that friendship into factories that trust into investment and that cooperation into jobs.

He said that the visit affirmed a shared conviction that friendship between Nigeria and Germany should continue to deliver practical benefits to the people of both countries.

Akpabio said ‘Today our responsibility is to translate that foundation into greater opportunities stronger institutions and shared prosperity for our peoples.

‘As we meet and share experience let us have a stronger partnership in the areas of electricity that powers businesses the skills that secure our livelihoods and the jobs that sustain families.

‘As parliamentarians we have a special responsibility. The government negotiates partnerships; parliaments help give them continuity accountability and lasting value. Through legislation oversight and budgetary decisions we help turn commitments into results.’

The Senate President proposed a structured Nigeria-Germany Parliamentary Dialogue supported by committee exchanges and designated contacts to sustain engagement beyond this visit.

Akpabio remarked further that ‘our economic ambition is clear. We seek to expand production strengthen industry and create productive employment for our people.’

The Senate President said Nigeria welcomed greater German investment in manufacturing agro-processing pharmaceuticals technology and infrastructure and sought partnerships that build local capacity transfer technology and connect Nigerian enterprises to wider markets.

Akpabio said Nigeria sought not merely to trade more with Germany but to produce more with Germany.

To achieve this he said ‘we must address the obstacles that keep willing investors apart: costly financing export-credit premiums and avoidable regulatory barriers.

‘German small and medium-sized enterprises should find credible opportunities to invest alongside Nigerian businesses.

‘Energy is central to this ambition. No economy can industrialise at the mercy of unreliable electricity. Every factory needs power; every small business needs certainty.

‘We value the Presidential Power Initiative with Siemens and seek accelerated delivery of its objectives alongside investment in renewable energy natural gas and sustainable infrastructure.

‘For us improved electricity supply means more than additional capacity. It means longer productive hours lower business costs and greater confidence to invest.

‘Equally important is the potential of our young people. Germany’s experience in technical education apprenticeships and industry-linked training offers a valuable foundation for cooperation.

‘Let us connect Nigerian institutions with German technical colleges industries and employers particularly in engineering digital technology artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship.

‘The most enduring investment in our partnership will be the skills we place in the hands of the next generation. These opportunities require peace and security.

‘We appreciate Germany’s security cooperation and seek stronger collaboration in training intelligence surveillance counterterrorism border security and maritime protection with respect for human rights.

‘A secure Nigeria strengthens stability across West Africa and the Sahel protects commerce and advances our shared interests. Our development cooperation must also create sustainable enterprises productive jobs and measurable improvements in people’s lives.

‘On migration let us expand safe and lawful pathways support recognition of qualifications and combat trafficking while ensuring that returns and reintegration respect due process and human dignity. Our diaspora and our cultural ties remain valuable bridges between our peoples’ he said.

Akpabio suggested the visit should deliver five practical priorities: sustained parliamentary dialogue accelerated electricity and renewable-energy cooperation a skills and innovation partnership improved access to investment and development finance and designated parliamentary contacts to follow through on agreed actions.

37 years on: How NCC moved from Alaba raids to online disruption as the piracy fight goes digital

The Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) has evolved over the years in its fight against copyright infringement. For much of its 37 years the Commission fought pirates in physical confrontations chasing them through markets from Alaba in Lagos to Eweka in Onitsha and seizing cassettes DVDs CDs and pirated books. As technology advanced and pirates went digital the Commission evolved too.

The Copyright Act of 1988 created the Commission to protect creators and fight piracy. For decades that meant physical enforcement in Lagos Onitsha Kano and Aba and success was measured in trucks: trucks raiding Alaba Market and trucks seizing pirated VCDs.

Thirty-seven years later NCC Director-General Dr John Asein says the metric has changed.

‘We used to measure our success by how many times we visited Alaba’ he said. ‘Now we measure our success by how many people online complain that their business has been disrupted. Piracy that they were enjoying is now being made a thing of the past.’

That shift reflects an institution that has grown from a law-enforcement body into what it now calls ‘the engine room for Nigeria’s creative economy.’

From markets to the internet

Piracy moved online and so did the NCC.

‘The last few years have been remarkable’ Asein said. ‘We found that more pirates are now online. And we have found that we can disrupt many online activities. Some of them have even come to us to complain that it’s now costing them more to operate.’

The Commission points to two landmark cases. The first is NetNiger which after a three-year investigation led to a prosecution at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The second is MovieBox which was using a .ng domain.

‘We worked closely with NIRA and were able to bring down the .ng domain’ Asein explained. ‘MovieBox became an embarrassment to Nigeria. We’ve done so much now to disrupt the whole MovieBox operations.’

He added a caution: ‘I won’t say we are there yet. But once you get hold of technology and have the right support from the right owners you can match these illicit activities online.’

At a recent event in Lagos international rights owners commended Nigeria for its online enforcement. Asein credited the current administration saying that under the Renewed Hope Agenda rights holders are seeing renewed hope because their rights are better protected.

From stopping piracy to paying creators

By the 2010s Nigeria’s cultural exports had raised the stakes with Afrobeats on global charts and Nollywood on Netflix. The question was no longer only ‘How do we stop piracy?’ but also ‘How do creators get paid?’

Asein said the Commission responded by creating the e-Copyright portal strengthening its oversight of collective management organisations (CMOs) and expanding digital takedowns. The CMOs include the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) the Musical Society of Nigeria (MCSN) and the Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG).

The law that changed everything

Asein described the Copyright Act 2022 as ‘the most significant reform in the 37-year history of the Commission.’

‘It criminalises camcording recognises rights in digital transmissions and provides a safe harbour framework’ he said. ‘A songwriter can now clearly license her work for TikTok and if it’s used without permission there are real penalties.’

The biggest breakthrough he said came with money.

‘For the first time since the Copyright Act was passed in 1988 we were able to send ?1.2 billion to each of the three CMOs: music film and literary’ he said. ‘This administration deserves commendation for unlocking that. Authors are now benefiting not just from books sold but from inflows we unlocked.’

He said the Commission is pushing the CMOs to be ‘transparent accountable and ensure good governance so that royalties actually trickle down to the right owners.’

Since 2022 the NCC has rolled out new regulations and is training judges and Ministry of Justice legal advisers nationwide. Two to three more regulations are expected before the end of 2026.

Building for 2030 and beyond

At 37 Asein says the focus must be on mindset and money.

‘We are fighting a mindset. People think if it’s online it’s free. Our job is to show that free for the user often means broke for the creator.’

He said the Commission is building a national database of works and working with banks to accept copyright as collateral.

‘My vision is simple. I want a filmmaker in Jos or a musician in Port Harcourt to walk into a bank and say ‘Here is my IP. Finance my next project” he said.

He is optimistic about the next decade. ‘The world is moving into an AI-driven economy. I want to see Nigerians at the forefront. Nigerian music has now become a global brand. I say our Afrobeats is what reggae was in the 70s. By 2030 and beyond every person in this world will be looking for Afrobeats to sing.’

Honouring past leaders

The anniversary also gave the Asein-led administration an opportunity to honour past Directors-General and retired directors as part of efforts to strengthen the system. The Commission also announced that awards would be institutionalised in the names of past Directors-General.

‘It’s not about one person’ Asein said. ‘We are one family. Whether you are a present DG or retired you must believe you still have a stake. We should not treat ourselves as statistics. We are human beings.’

He concluded: ‘As we mark 37 years let it be clear. We didn’t just come to police creativity. We came to make sure creativity pays.’

Justice Ministry pledges support

The Commission’s parent ministry the Federal Ministry of Justice assured it of support at all times. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi who was represented by Mr Patrick Oyor Director of Legal Drafting in the ministry said the support was necessary for a flourishing creative and knowledge economy.

‘The Federal Ministry of Justice under whose supervision the Commission operates will continue to support efforts to strengthen copyright administration and enforcement and to promote an enabling legal and regulatory environment in which Nigeria’s creative and knowledge economy can flourish’ he said. ‘As the economic significance of creativity innovation and intellectual property continue to grow the work of the Commission will become even more important to our national development.’

He added: ‘As the Commission looks to the future it must continue to build on the foundations established by successive leaderships while responding effectively to a rapidly changing copyright environment. Digital technologies streaming platforms artificial intelligence and new models of creating distributing and exploiting creative works are creating both opportunities and challenges for copyright administration. These developments demand strong institutions forward-looking laws and policies effective enforcement innovative regulation and sustained engagement with creators investors and users of copyright works.

‘In meeting these challenges the experience and institutional wisdom of those who have served before remain valuable resources.’

He encouraged the Commission to maintain appropriate channels to continue drawing on the knowledge and experience of its former leaders and senior officers.

The minister said the ceremony was about gratitude and legacy. ‘It is about recognising those who served preserving institutional memory and reminding those still in service that their own contributions will in time become part of the history upon which future generations will build.’

He also stressed that public service is a fundamental service to the nation and that its true measure lies not merely in the number of years spent in office.

Stakeholders pledge support

Mr Tosin Akeredolu Acting Executive Director of REPRONIG pledged the society’s continued support for the legacies left by the honourees and expressed hope that they would remain available whenever their experience was needed.

The President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Dr Usman Akanbi pledged the association’s support for the NCC in protecting the copyright and intellectual property of Nigerian writers. He said the Commission had helped establish a coalition to better protect writers’ intellectual property. He congratulated those who had led the coalition and noted that the partnership between the Federal Government through the NCC and stakeholders had given writers greater priority in copyright protection.

The Deputy President of the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) Alhaji Isiaq Ajibola expressed excitement over the recognition of the former Directors-General and retired directors. He said copyright is not merely legal terminology to publishers but a fundamental basis of their work and the knowledge economy. He commended the NCC for its recent collaboration with the NPA particularly in tackling piracy and congratulated the honourees on their immense contributions to the Commission.

Marcos inaugurates NLEX link cutting travel time to 5 minutes

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday inaugurated a two-kilometer section of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) that will connect Mindanao Avenue in Valenzuela City to Quirino Highway in Quezon City, reducing travel time between the two points to just five minutes.

Called NLEX C5 Northlink Segment 8.2 Section 1A, Marcos said the segment will be toll-free until the end of 2026.

‘Siguro 40, 45 minutes ngayon [ang byahe], pero pagbukas nito, limang minuto na lang,’ Marcos said in a brief statement.

(Travel time is probably around 40 to 45 minutes now, but once this opens, it will only take five minutes.)

The President said the segment was not originally scheduled to open today but was fast-tracked to accommodate travelers during the Undas season.

‘Nandito rin yung istasyon ng subway, nakikita natin… well, hindi masyado makita, sa ilalim, tapos na yung pagbutas,’ he said, referring to the subway station being constructed beneath the expressway.

(The subway station is also here, as we can see… well, it is not very visible because the tunneling underneath has already been completed.)

Meanwhile, Marcos announced that the MVP Group and the San Miguel Corp. Group had committed a P120 billion in investments for the construction of an elevated road connecting Balintawak to Bocaue, Bulacan.

A large volume of travelers is expected ahead of the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day over the weekend.

Data released by the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange showed that 745,769 passengers had passed through the terminal from Sunday, Oct. 25, to Wednesday, Oct. 28, as of 8 a.m. Thursday.

Also, nearly 300,000 passengers had passed through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport since Tuesday.

State Police now a reality not rhetoric says Bamidele

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the establishment of state police is becoming a reality after at least 30 State Houses of Assembly approve the proposed constitutional amendment.

He said the National Assembly would complete the remaining legislative steps and transmit the Constitution Alteration Bill to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent on or before December 2026.

Bamidele spoke on Thursday while delivering a lecture titled ‘Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Governance through Proactive Lawmaking’ to participants in Senior Executive Course 48 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru Plateau State.

The Senate Leader who is also Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution described the development as a significant milestone in efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture.

‘We are pleased to inform our constituents across the federation that state police have moved from rhetoric to reality. We have already received formal reports from the state Houses of Assembly and as of today no fewer than 30 states have approved the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill 2026’ he said.

According to Bamidele the approvals have satisfied the constitutional requirement under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended that at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly support a constitutional alteration.

He explained that the National Assembly would collate the reports from the state legislatures and pass a resolution by a simple majority in both chambers before transmitting the bill to the President for assent.

‘We have set a clear timeline for ourselves. We intend to conclude all these legislative stages – consideration of reports passage of resolution and transmission for presidential assent – on or before December 2026’ he said.

Bamidele described the proposed reform as a major step towards developing a policing system that responds more effectively to local security challenges.

‘What this means is that state police is no longer a campaign promise or a subject of endless debate. It is now a constitutional reality’ he said.

He stressed that the reform was not intended to weaken the Federal Government but to strengthen the federation through community-based policing supported by constitutional safeguards operational standards oversight mechanisms and human rights protections.

‘It is not about creating state armies but about creating state-led community-anchored policing within clear constitutional safeguards’ he said.

The Senate Leader added that the National Assembly under Senate President Godswill Akpabio remained committed to completing the process.

‘We will not falter until every Nigerian whether in Kuru Iyin-Ekiti Gusau or Yenagoa can sleep with both eyes closed’ he said.

Bamidele also urged Nigerians to assess the National Assembly by the impact of its legislation on citizens rather than the number of bills passed.

He said proactive lawmaking required legislators to anticipate emerging challenges address institutional weaknesses and create legal frameworks that support economic development and effective governance.

‘The 10th National Assembly has passed strategic legislation that will positively impact the lives of Nigerians’ he said.

He cited the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act 2024; the Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024; the four Tax Reform Acts of 2025; and the National Social Investment Programme Act as measures pursued by the current legislature.

Others he said included the Electoral Act 2026; the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act; the Investments and Securities Act 2025; the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act 2024; and legislation establishing regional development commissions.

According to him these measures demonstrate the role of proactive legislation in addressing national security economic transformation education healthcare electoral credibility and public financial management.

He however cautioned that passing laws was only one part of the governance process stressing the need for effective implementation monitoring and periodic review.

‘Good governance requires good laws. But good laws alone do not guarantee good governance’ he said.

‘We require laws that are relevant evidence-based implementable adequately funded properly administered effectively monitored periodically reviewed and ultimately measured by their impact on citizens.’

The Senate Leader called for stronger institutional collaboration between the National Assembly and NIPSS to improve legislative foresight policy development and governance.

He commended the institute for bringing together professionals from the public sector the military the private sector academia and other strategic institutions to examine national policy challenges.

Bamidele said the multidisciplinary nature of NIPSS’s Senior Executive Course positioned the institute to contribute meaningfully to legislative research strategic planning and evidence-based policymaking.

He urged both institutions to deepen their partnership to ensure that legislation addresses emerging challenges and delivers measurable improvements in Nigerians’ lives.

The lecture was attended by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Employment Labour and Productivity Senator Diket Plang; the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism Senator Pam Dachungyang; the Director-General of NIPSS Professor Ayo Omotayo; and the former President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers Adekunle Alonge.

Caritas Philippines supports Lobo in fight vs. LPG terminal project

Caritas Philippines has expressed support for Batangas Archbishop Emeritus Ramon Arguelles and residents of Lobo who have raised concerns over a proposed liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminal and refilling plant.

San Carlos Bishop and Caritas Philippines President Gerardo Alminaza said ‘this is not simply about one project,’ stressing that the issue touches on the core of Christian vocation – ‘the development we choose, the risks communities are asked to carry, and the responsibility we bear to protect life, livelihood, and creation.’

Located in Barangay Talahib Pandayan in Batangas City, the proposed facility is said to threaten the safety, resources and livelihoods of communities along the boundary of Lobo and Batangas City.

‘Where there are legitimate concerns about possible harm, precaution is not an obstacle to development. It is a profound moral responsibility,’ Alminaza said in a statement issued by the Caritas Philippines-Integral Ecology Ministry.

He stressed that ‘our faith teaches us that human dignity, community life, and the integrity of creation cannot be separated.’

‘We cannot claim to protect people while allowing the destruction of the environment that sustains them,’ he said.

Threat

The Sangguniang Bayan of Lobo, in a resolution, expressed strong opposition to the project, citing alleged ‘several violations’ affecting residents of Barangay Banalo.

It alleged that there was no public consultation or even an invitation to an official meeting, ‘despite the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) having identified the barangay … as an adjacent community that would be directly affected by the project.’

The resolution also stated that an assessment by Pryce Gases Inc. found that the project is only 42.3 meters from Banalo Elementary School, significantly short of the recommended minimum distance of 100 meters mandated under Section 40 of Department of Energy Circular No. DC2020-01-0001.

Likewise, the coastal waters of Lobo are part of the Verde Island Passage, while Barangay Banalo is home to a designated coral reef sanctuary, both of which could be significantly affected by potential waste discharges.

There is also a high risk of oil spill contamination from vessels that would dock at the facility to load LPG, the Sangguniang Bayan of Lobo said, as quoted in a press release issued by the provincial government of Batangas.

For Alminaza, ‘we cannot speak of progress when families are left anxious about their safety, their livelihoods, and the future of their children,’ adding that ‘the concerns of the people of Lobo must be heard with seriousness and respect.’

He said this is especially important because the Verde Island Passage must be protected with the highest degree of care.

‘It is not simply a body of water. It is a living ecosystem, a source of food and livelihood, and part of the shared natural heritage of communities across Batangas and neighboring provinces,’ he said.

‘To place it at unnecessary risk is to place both marine life and coastal communities at risk,’ he said.

A rich fishing ground with a thriving marine ecosystem spanning 1.14 million hectares, the corridor is home to numerous species of fish, sea turtles, mangroves, seagrass, opisthobranchs and corals, some of which have been described as ‘extremely rare.’

The bishop said ‘any project that may affect communities, coastal resources, and ecosystems must undergo transparent and independent assessment, rigorous scientific scrutiny, meaningful public consultation, and strict compliance with environmental and safety standards.’

Beyond Lobo

Alminaza said that beyond the single proposal, Batangas and nearby provinces ‘have already carried the weight of numerous projects linked to fossil fuels and other polluting energy sources.’

‘Communities in these areas have repeatedly faced the environmental, health, and livelihood risks that come with such development. These cumulative pressures cannot be ignored,’ he said, stressing the Church’s preferential option for the poor and vulnerable.

For Alminaza, ‘development cannot be called just when vulnerable communities are made to bear a disproportionate share of its costs.’

‘This is why we stand with Archbishop Arguelles and the people of Lobo. Because the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor converge, the Church cannot remain silent when communities are asking to be heard and when the integrity of creation is at stake,’ he said.

He said accompanying them does not mean opposing development but insisting that development must be safe, just, transparent and truly for the common good.

‘We must reject any model of progress that places economic interests above human dignity or treats ecological damage as an acceptable price to pay,’ the bishop said. ‘Those who raise legitimate concerns for their communities and for the environment must be respected.’

For Alminaza, their voices are not obstacles to development but are essential to honest, responsible and democratic decision-making.

‘To defend Lobo is to defend life. To protect the Verde Island Passage is to protect our common home. To stand with communities at risk is to live our faith with courage. May we continue to choose life, justice, and creation,’ he added

Alleged cyber bullying: Sowore writes court, seeks adjournment

The ongoing trial of the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, before a Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged cyberbullying was stalled on Thursday owing to his absence and a letter he wrote praying for an adjournment.

At the mention of the case, prosecuting lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), noted that the defendant was absent in court.

Defence lawyer, T. O. Etonyeaku, who said she was holding the brief of Sowore’s lead counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), told the court that the politician was in Ekiti State for his presidential campaigns.

Etonyeaku prayed the court for a stand-down to enable another senior lawyer, who was earlier in court before the commencement of proceedings, arrive and conduct the case of the defence.

The judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, drew the attention of both lawyers to a letter written the court by the defendant. The judge asked Kehinde if he was aware of the letter.

The prosecution lawyer denied being copied the letter. He argued that it was wrong for an accused person, who was being represented by a lawyer, to bypass the lawyer and write directly to the court and also fail copy the other party.

He added that since there is no evidence that Sowore has discontinued with the service of his lawyer, Olumide-Fusika, he ought not to have written personally to the court.

Kehinde however, conceded to an adjournment in the interest of justice.

The prosecuting lawyer noted that the defence was yet to respond to the written address he filed, as ordered by the court, on the issue of whether or not he could be subpoenaed to testify as a defence witness.

Justice Umar adjourned till November 3 for adoption and continuation of defence.

Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over his August 2025 published posts on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, describing President Tinubu as a ‘criminal’ and accusing him of lying about the level of corruption in the country.