Category: Nigerian Tribune

The National Assembly will soon deepen the digitisation of parliamentary records by translating Nigerian laws into Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba and other local languages to expand public access to legislative information.

Mr Henry Nwawuba, the Executive Secretary of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, disclosed this while declaring open the 2026 National Assembly Library Week on Monday in Abuja.

The event was themed, ‘Parliamentary Memory: Connecting Records, Legislation and the People.’

Nwawuba said the three-day programme was designed as an annual platform to promote legislative research, access to information and the effective utilisation of the resources of the National Assembly Library.

He described the library as more than a collection of books, saying, ‘It serves as the knowledge infrastructure of the legislature and a repository of parliamentary records.’

He said the library was working to ensure that lawmakers, legislative aides, researchers and other stakeholders had access to authoritative parliamentary records, including Order Papers, Votes and Proceedings, committee reports and Acts passed by the National Assembly.

Nwawuba said the Trust Fund was investing in electronic repositories and upgrading its E-Library, while developing a National Assembly Library mobile application to make legislative information more accessible to lawmakers, staff members, researchers and members of the public.

He also announced plans for a Bills Tracker, which would enable users to follow bills and monitor their progress through the legislative process.

According to him, the library is developing infographics, audiovisual materials and video explainers to simplify Bills, Acts and legislative procedures for Nigerians.

He said the planned translation of laws into local languages would broaden access to legislative information and enable more citizens to understand laws that affect their daily lives.

Nwawuba said the library would also organise public policy dialogues to deepen citizens’ participation in public hearings and create more opportunities for interaction among legislators, citizens, researchers and other stakeholders.

He added that the initiatives were aimed at addressing inconsistencies in official parliamentary documents and the circulation of fake or unauthorised copies of National Assembly records.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged lawmakers to make greater use of the library, particularly in an era of increasing misinformation, disinformation and the rapid development of artificial intelligence.

Akpabio, represented by Sen. Osita Ngwu, described the library as a critical link between evidence, knowledge and legislative decision-making and called for continued support for its development.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said legislative records were essential to understanding Nigeria’s legislative history and strengthening democratic governance.

Tajudeen said the strength of a legislature should be measured not only by the laws it enacted, but also by how effectively it documented its activities, preserved institutional knowledge and made such information available to future generations.

He said technology and artificial intelligence could improve legislative research, records preservation and access to information, but cautioned that their adoption must be guided by accuracy, security and professional judgement.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the National Assembly could not be truly independent if it lacked the capacity to generate, preserve, retrieve and authenticate its institutional knowledge and records.

Ogunlana said the library had an important role as a bridge between parliamentary records, legislation and the people, stressing that Parliament could not be fully transparent if its records could not be found, understood and trusted.

He identified the Order Paper, Votes and Proceedings and Hansard as key components of Nigeria’s democratic memory, explaining that the Order Paper provides the agenda for legislative business.

The Clerk warned against the circulation of incomplete, outdated, altered or unauthorised Bills, Acts and other parliamentary documents, saying digital technology had made it possible for documents to be manipulated and circulated.

He stressed that the integrity of an Act depended not merely on the existence of a document, but on the ability to establish which version was authentic, which was authoritative and the legal process through which it emerged.

He noted that the continued widespread use of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, LFN 2004, highlighted the challenges of maintaining a current and authoritative consolidated body of federal legislation.

He explained that the LFN 2004 reflected the laws covered by that revision exercise and was not automatically updated whenever a new Act was enacted.

Ogunlana said the National Assembly must also strengthen cybersecurity, digital preservation, secure authentication, access controls, backup systems and staff training as parliamentary records become increasingly digitised.

He warned that while digitisation would make parliamentary information easier to access, search and disseminate, it could also expose records to cyberattacks, manipulation and impersonation of official sources.

The Clerk said digital platforms must therefore be accessible and secure, while electronic records must be available, authentic and traceable.

He said the National Assembly Library should evolve beyond being a repository where documents are kept to becoming an institution where parliamentary knowledge is preserved, authenticated and made accessible to lawmakers, researchers, journalists, civil society organisations, students and the wider public.

The President of the Nigerian Library Association, Dr Lawal Umar, called for sustained investment in libraries and modern information technology to improve access to legislative information, while urging stronger collaboration between the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.

The Secretary-General, Conference of Speakers of African Legislatures, Amb. Debo Oyewale, said African legislatures had much to learn from one another in building institutions capable of preserving legislative memory.

The lawmaker representing Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo and Odigbo federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Festus Ayodele Adefiranye, has inaugurated a six-classroom block at Ajue Grammar School in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State and a solar-powered borehole for communities in Odigbo town.

According to a statement from his media office, the projects were inaugurated in the presence of community leaders and other stakeholders, including the Akogbe of Ajue, Oba Bamidele Akinwe, who commended the lawmaker for his interventions and contributions to the development of the community.

The monarch acknowledged the importance of the classrooms block to the educational development of young people in the community, noting that improved school infrastructure will provide pupils and students with a more conducive environment for learning.

He also appreciated the provision of the solar-powered borehole, describing access to reliable water as an important intervention that directly addresses the needs of residents and contributes to improved living conditions in the community.

The traditional ruler further expressed the community’s appreciation for the lawmaker’s engagement with constituents and efforts to attract development projects to the area.

He called for the sustenance of such interventions, particularly those that directly address the needs of communities and improve the quality of life of residents.

Speaking, Adefiranye said the projects were part of the numerous interventions he had facilitated to improve educational infrastructure, enhance access to quality learning environments, and promote the wellbeing of constituents in the federal constituency.

He said the provision of the classrooms was aimed at addressing infrastructure deficits in the school and creating a more conducive environment for teaching and learning, while the borehole was designed to improve access to potable water for residents in the benefiting communities.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived in Lagos on Tuesday after concluding his working vacation abroad, with the Presidency explaining that the President chose Lagos as his first destination to honour the memory of the late Chief MKO Abiola.

Tinubu, who departed Abuja on August 30 for the working vacation, was received at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Also at the airport to receive the President were the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin; and other chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had earlier on Tuesday announced that Tinubu was departing Paris, France, for Nigeria.

Tinubu, who spent four weeks away from Nigeria, had spent about a week in London at the beginning of his vacation before proceeding to Paris.

His arrival in Lagos was also announced by his Special Assistant on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, who posted on his X handle: ‘Landing. Welcome home Mr President!’

Speaking with journalists on arrival, Tinubu said he enjoyed his time outside the country during the working vacation while dismissing speculation about his health.

‘There is nothing wrong. Well, rumors will always be emanating from politics. But the fact is that I am here: healthy, sound, ready to go.’

Explaining the decision to return through Lagos, Onanuga said: ‘the Nigerian leader chose to fly to Lagos first to honour the memory of Chief MKO Abiola, the martyr of Nigeria’s democratic struggle.’

The President is expected to attend the premiere of a movie honouring Abiola, the winner of the June 1993 presidential election, on Independence Day at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

According to the Presidency, Tinubu will also hold strategic meetings with political leaders and associates in Lagos over several days in preparation for the 2027 elections.

During his stay in Paris, Tinubu held several official engagements, including a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron.

He also met business leaders, including Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group, whose media and digital interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.

On Monday, the President also met the Chairman of First Holdings, Femi Otedola.

Last week, Tinubu witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World for the development of a Gateway Deep Seaport in Ogun Waterside and the creation of a Blue Marine Economic Zone in the area.

DP World, a global ports and logistics operator, plans to invest $7 billion in the seaport and economic zone.

The President is expected to return to Abuja after completing his political engagements in Lagos.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a 700-kilometer Superhighway project connecting nine coastal states in Nigeria, first conceptualised in 1955 before active construction commenced in March 2024. Its early conceptualization started around 1955 through an idea for a coastal road and rail corridor linking Nigeria’s southern regions as was first proposed by the country’s Federal Minister of Finance, Festus Okotie-Eboh. The project is being developed by the Federal Ministry of Works on behalf of the federal government of Nigeria as a N15.36 trillion infrastructure development under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. While celebrated by some as a catalyst for economic transformation, the project’s execution has triggered fierce legal and constitutional battles regarding land rights, public procurement transparency, route realignments, undue diversion and environmental accountability. It is planned to run from Victoria Island, Lagos to Calabar, Cross River State. The highway will pass through Ogun State, Ondo State, Edo State, Delta State, Bayelsa State, Rivers State, and Akwa Ibom State before ending in Calabar. The project is intended to physically connect the western and South-Eastern regions of Nigeria to improve cross-country connectivity and trade relations. Despite various national development frameworks mentioning the route over the decades, the blueprint remained largely on the drawing board due to changing political priorities and alleged funding constraints. Successive administrations, including those of Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan (who notably revived associated rail layouts around 2014), revisited segments of the coastal connectivity corridor but could not implement it.

LAUNCHING AND CONSTRUCTION

In March 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially flagged off the construction of Phase 1 of what was termed a legacy project to be supervised by the Minister of Works and Housing David Umahi. The project was awarded to Hitech Construction Company Ltd under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) model. The highway is designed with 10 lanes (rigid concrete pavement) and an integrated central rail reserve. Initial portions of Phase 1 (stretching outward from Victoria Island, Lagos) were temporarily opened to public traffic in late 2025, with major segments of the initial 47.47-kilometre stretch reaching advanced completion targets through 2026. In its present form, the project has in many ways helped in reducing traffic congestion on the Eti-Osa and Ibeju-Lekki corridors outwards Lagos State enroute Ogun and Ondo States.

THE ‘GAINS’: ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE MODERNISATION

Economic Integration and Trade Facilitation

The highway fulfills the state’s obligations under Section 16 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which mandates the state to direct its policy toward ensuring a planned and balanced economic development. By significantly reducing transit times between major commercial hubs, the road fosters seamless regional trade, matching national objectives of economic integration. Without any doubt, the project will impact positively upon the coastal communities in trade and commerce, enhancing improved navigation of goods and services from the rural establishments. From Victoria Island to Sangotedo and Ibeju axis, there are countless hidden villages and towns that the coastal highway has opened up to huge economic opportunities, waiting to be harnessed for growth and development.

Enhanced Shoreline Resilience and Flood Mitigation

According to the Federal Ministry of Works, the engineering technology utilized for the project includes underground drainage, flood gates, and elevated concrete pavements. Legally, this satisfies national infrastructural standards and serves to proactively address coastal erosion, aligning with ecological preservation principles by reinforcing century-old lagoon discharge paths. This will, however, be subject to close monitoring and detailed observations given the painful experiences of residents during the rainy season as several canals and waterbeds were reported to have become trapped and stagnant. This poses great danger for the host communities if not promptly addressed and reversed.

Tourism and Real Estate Growth

The highway opens up the southern coastline to massive public and private sector investments in maritime tourism, logistics, and housing. This unlocks the commercial value of lands within the statutory control of the respective state governments as empowered by the Land Use Act of 1978. When harnessed positively through sectional road linkages and infrastructure developments by the various governments of the states, it should help to decongest the cities and reduce urban migration.

The ‘Pains’: Infringement on Rights and Regulatory Lapses

Despite its long-term benefits, the project faces intense legal criticism over how it is being implemented with different alignments for different states.

Compulsory Acquisition and the Compensation Crisis

A primary source of litigation stems from the sudden realignment of the road corridor. Dozens of property owners-ranging from local indigenes to diaspora investors-have decried forceful eviction and the demolition of multi-million-dollar investments. Generally, land acquisition for road construction or other public purposes is permitted under the law, following prescribed patterns that give room for transparency and justice. However, Section 44(1) of the 1999 Constitution explicitly forbids the compulsory acquisition of private property unless it is for public purposes, subject to the prompt payment of adequate compensation. Many communities and investors have raised the issue of arbitrariness in the implementation and enforcement of the coastal road alignments, either to favour or hurt perceived interests and political loyalists and antagonists. This should not be tolerated in any manner whatsoever.

The Statutory Gap and Jurisprudential Parameters

Some of the affected parties and entities argue that the compensation offered by the government is grossly inadequate and fails to match the fair market value dictated by Section 29 of the Land Use Act, 1978. In law generally, compulsory acquisition parameters require strict adherence to procedural due process outlined in several parameters. For instance, there must be a valid public purpose for the acquisition, in this case, the coastal highway. While infrastructure fits the description of ‘overriding public interest’ under Section 28 of the Land Use Act, the reallocation of acquired corridors to alternative private entities vitiates the public purpose doctrine. Even in some strange developments, land belonging to the natives is said to be acquired for undisclosed entities and commercial purposes, thus depriving the real owners of their customary heritage and economic enhancement. It has also been reported that in some strange cases, the office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation has taken over massive tracts of land under the guise of setback for the coastal highway, leading to avoidable controversies with previous valid allocations. Personal and Adequate Notice as prescribed under section 44 of the Land Use Act mandates that personal service of notice must be given to landholders. In my view, the deployment of rapid 6-week vacation notices and physical markings on structures via public gazettes fails the test of reasonable administrative notice, as established in Olatunji v. Military Governor of Oyo State (1995). There is also the issue of equitable valuation for the land acquired. The state’s reliance on historical, depreciated building values rather than modern replacement costs violates the spirit of constitutional equity, leaving displaced citizens economically disenfranchised. It is the existence of these communities that makes the federation, so the tail should not wag the dog. Nigeria as a corporate entity derives its existence from the federating units that combine to make a country and it will be unjust and inequitable to deprive these communities of their identity, their heritage and the huge opportunities to harness their economic potentials.

Procurement Transparency and Single-Source Bidding

The contract award of the coastal highway directly to Hitech Construction Company Limited sparked litigation by civil society groups and political stakeholders, which alleged varied legal violations. The core argument centres on the Public Procurement Act, 2007 (PPA). Critics assert that the Federal Ministry of Works bypassed the strict provisions for open competitive bidding under the PPA, relying instead on single-source procurement without justifiable statutory exemptions. This raises serious rule-of-law concerns regarding fiscal accountability and equal opportunity for public contracts.

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (EIA) Delays

Construction began before comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) were fully completed and approved for the entire 700km stretch, in gross violation of extant laws and regulations. Section 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act (EIA Act), 1992 explicitly prohibits any public or private entity from embarking on projects that may significantly affect the environment without a prior assessment. Cutting through delicate ecosystems, wetlands, and mangrove forests without a full EIA violates this clear statutory command. There must be sufficient transparency in the process of EIA displays and access such that authorized representatives of those impacted can view it and be well guided to take up all associated issues with the government. That indeed is the core purpose of the EIA, to address all collateral impacts that the project may bear on the host communities. Contrary to this dictate as established globally, the government and its contractor are withholding relevant information concerning the project which has so far been shrouded in unacceptable opacity. The Ministry of Works’ refusal to fully disclose the EIA reports to the public, citing exceptions under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011, has drawn threats of litigation from human rights bodies, all of which are totally unnecessary if there are no ulterior motives governing the project. Against the background of the massive flooding of several communities around the coastal highway corridor, the fear of country dwellers on the negative impact to their homelands cannot be dismissed lightly. What the government should do is to visit the communities with engineers and experts for objective assessment in order to address all the issues raised so that a highway of value should not wipe out existing territories.

The Army Headquarters has announced the establishment of three additional Units/formations in Kebbi State to strengthen its operational presence across the state, given its vulnerability to international and local borders, and the State government has welcomed the decision.

In a statement issued to journalists on Monday in Birnin-Kebbi, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed BK, expressed that the development demonstrates the Nigerian Army’s commitment to addressing the security challenges facing Kebbi State in particular and the country at large.

He described the establishment of the 28 Armoured Brigade and Garrison in Birnin Kebbi as a decisive step towards strengthening security operations, enhancing operational capacity and ensuring a timely response to emerging threats, not only within Kebbi State but also in adjoining areas of neighbouring states.

Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed also acknowledged the commendable contributions of other security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), hunters and other community-based vigilante groups, in the collective efforts to safeguard lives and property across the State.

He noted that, in addition to the Brigade Headquarters in Birnin Kebbi, the operationalisation of the 281 Tank Battalion in Yauri and the 381 Artillery Regiment in Kaoje would further strengthen and streamline counter-insurgency and combat operations across the State, enabling security forces to respond more effectively to threats and disrupt criminal activities.

The Commissioner stressed that timely and coordinated intervention remains critical to deterring bandits and other criminal elements.

He said the State Government is confident that enhanced synergy among security agencies, local communities and other relevant stakeholders would further strengthen efforts to take the fight to criminal hideouts and restore lasting peace across the State.

According to him, the latest operational developments are the outcome of the relentless efforts of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, and his persistent advocacy for additional security deployments, backed by the requisite manpower, equipment and armament to address the peculiar and evolving security challenges confronting the State.

He assured that the Kebbi State Government would continue to provide the necessary support and cooperation to all security agencies operating in the State as they discharge their constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and property and combating criminality.

The Commissioner called on the people of Kebbi State to continue to cooperate fully with security agencies by promptly providing credible and useful information on the activities, locations and movements of bandits, insurgents and other criminal elements.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant against individuals who may provide information or other forms of support to criminals, stressing that such activities undermine the collective efforts to maintain peace and security.

He emphasised that the people have an important role to play in the fight against criminality by providing reliable intelligence to security agencies, noting that sustained public cooperation remains essential to achieving lasting peace and stability.

He urged the youths of Kebbi State to eschew violence and all forms of criminal conduct, stressing that peace and stability are essential for the Government to sustain its development efforts, strengthen the State’s economy and provide the infrastructure required for long-term growth.

He cautioned that the destruction of public property and other criminal activities would only undermine development, damage the economy and ultimately make life more difficult for citizens.

Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Other Related Offences has arrested over 30 suspected miscreants, drug peddlers and other street urchins during raids on identified criminal hideouts in Obalende and Marina areas of Lagos Island.

The suspects were arrested during an enforcement operation conducted in the early hours of Tuesday as part of efforts to rid the areas of criminal activities, environmental violations and public nuisances.

The spokesperson for the agency, Abdulraheem Gbadeyan, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Tuesday.

According to him, the operation was led by the Chairman of the Task Force, CSP Adetayo Akerele, who supervised the exercise across identified black spots with a history of environmental and criminal violations.

He said the operation was carried out in line with the agency’s statutory mandate and the provisions of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Law 2017.

Gbadeyan said areas covered included Obalende, Marina and other parts of Lagos Island.

He quoted the chairman as commending residents and natives of Obalende for their surveillance efforts and active participation in driving criminal elements away from the area.

‘During the enforcement exercise, Taskforce operatives arrested over 30 suspected miscreants, drug peddlers, Omotaku and other street urchins around Marina and Obalende for disturbing public peace and attempting to perpetrate criminal activities.

‘Some of the suspects were also implicated in acts posing threats to public infrastructure, including billboards and road signage. Several narcotics like Indian hemp, marijuana, codeine, Colorado, Shase, among others, were found on them.

‘All the suspects will be charged to court accordingly,’ the statement said.

Akerele stressed the importance of active citizen participation, alongside sustained enforcement by the Task Force and other relevant agencies, in achieving lasting environmental sanity across Lagos.

He reiterated that persons involved in criminal activities and violations of environmental laws would be prosecuted in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Protection Law 2017.

The chairman also urged residents to take an active role in determining the security architecture of their communities, while warning against street violence and harbouring persons involved in criminal activities.

Women in Tyomu community, in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, on Tuesday protested the abduction of 18 residents of the community, including eight women.

The protesters blocked the highway and appealed to the state government to secure the release of their community members.

The victims were reportedly kidnapped on Friday along the Adoka-Ankpa Road while travelling to Kogi State for a burial.

It was reported that some residents of the community hired a vehicle to attend a burial ceremony in Kogi State, but the vehicle they were travelling in was attacked, and all 18 passengers, including eight women, were abducted.

‘The abductors have called relatives of some of the victims and demanded N30 million, while the residents have raised and paid N3 million, but the victims are yet to be released,’ one of the protesters said.

Speaking on the incident, the Security Adviser to the Governor on Internal Affairs, Joseph Har, confirmed the incident but said the actual number of people kidnapped was unknown.

He added that the incident had been reported to the relevant security agencies, which, he said, were already working on it.

According to him, ‘I got the report of the kidnapping incident, but I am yet to know the exact number of people involved.

‘First of all, travelling to Kogi State at night is a concern. People would be travelling to Kogi State at night, especially when everybody is aware of how dangerous the situation along that route is. So, this is not correct; we shouldn’t be putting people under pressure.

‘We located the place. The DPO of Adoka and the security guards in surrounding areas are working tirelessly to see how they can get to the location.

‘The worst thing about kidnapping is that the location from which the kidnappers make their calls is usually different from where the victims are actually being kept. So, it is not as straightforward as people may think.

‘It is therefore a challenge for security agencies to navigate and identify the exact location. It is not as easy as people think.

‘You cannot just storm a location because, if there is collateral damage, if you want to chase the people the way they want us to chase them, while trying to rescue the victims, you may end up hurting them.

‘That is why we are always careful when handling these matters. We are working on this particular case, and I do not hide information from the families of the victims. I keep them informed about how far we have gone, where we are and what the next steps are.

‘However, I understand that the families later went to the road and started blocking it.’

Also, the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, confirmed the incident and accused the transport company that conveyed the victims of failing to report the incident to security agencies.

The Information Commissioner said, ‘The position of the Commissioner of Police is that the company did not report the incident to the police. Ordinarily, if something like this happens, the company should immediately inform the relevant security agencies.

‘It was the protest by the affected people that eventually brought the matter to the attention of the Commissioner of Police.

‘The Commissioner of Police is out now to liaise with the transport company and the families of the affected persons to see how they can begin tracing the kidnapped victims.’

Iorpev advised transport companies to always notify the security agencies and the families of people involved for a prompt response.

‘Now, the families are protesting and calling on the government to intervene, but the proper official channel for reporting such an incident would have been the police, particularly the Commissioner of Police.

‘I have not even been informed about the incident, and that is very unfortunate. We regret what happened,’ Iorpev said.

He expressed the assurance of the Police Commissioner to lead his team to see what could be done to resolve the matter in the shortest possible time.

‘So, we are calling for calm. The government will do something as soon as possible,’ the Information Commissioner said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Peter Aondongu, told newsmen in a telephone interview that the command did not receive any formal report about the kidnapping, but that its operatives on patrol along the route at the weekend sighted an abandoned vehicle and suspected that its occupants might have been taken away.

While stating that the command could not confirm the number of victims, Aondongu said the police had calmed the situation in Tyomu and cleared the road, allowing motorists and other road users to move freely.

The PPRO appealed to the protesting community for patience, as security operatives were working to rescue the victims.

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Kano State, Dr Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso, has led a solidarity mobilisation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Madobi Local Government Area, the hometown of former Kano State governor and National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

The mobilisation, which attracted hundreds of APC supporters, including women and youth groups, was aimed at building what the organisers described as a new political alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The supporters, who gathered in Madobi, chanted solidarity songs in support of President Tinubu and pledged to mobilise voters for his re-election bid.

Speaking at the event, Dr Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso said the political realignment in the Madobi area was unprecedented, noting that former political opponents had decided to work together in support of the Tinubu administration.

He said, ‘We are now realigning with forces that fought us 28 years ago,’ adding that the alliance was intended to create a broad political platform to support Tinubu in 2027.

According to him, the new alliance brings together political actors who had competed against one another over the years but had now agreed to work together for a common political objective.

A former member of the Kano State House of Assembly and grassroots politician, Habibu Hassan Elyakub, said the alliance had demonstrated growing support for Tinubu in the area.

Elyakub said the political strength of Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso had remained evident despite the influence of Rabiu Kwankwaso in Madobi.

He recalled that Musa Ilyasu had won elections in the local government, including the chairmanship election, and expressed confidence that the alliance would mobilise support for Tinubu in 2027.

He said, ‘We are not afraid and we are all out to make President Tinubu win this election in 2027.’

The APC chieftain also urged political actors to respect the electoral process, saying the large turnout of women and youths demonstrated the level of mobilisation for the Tinubu campaign.

The Woman Leader, Hajiya Assabe Diko, said women and youths in the area would embark on house-to-house and door-to-door campaigns to mobilise residents ahead of the election.

She said the group would intensify grassroots engagement to persuade more voters to support Tinubu.

Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso also highlighted projects executed or ongoing under the Tinubu administration in Kano State, citing the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano-Katsina (AKKK) road, railway projects, road networks and security initiatives.

He described the projects as evidence of the administration’s activities in the state and urged residents to support the government.

The Gombe State chapter of the Nyesom Wike-backed main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami winner of the fresh primary elections conducted on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, following an order by the Federal High Court.

The election was held across the 114 political wards in the 11 constitutionally recognised local government areas of the state.

Three candidates contested the fresh primary elections: Usman Aliyu Gary, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.

At the end of the collation of the election results, Prof Isa Ali Pantami polled a total of 2,054 votes, Hon Khamis Ahmed Mailantarki polled 389 votes, while Usman Aliyu Garry polled 112 votes.

The Returning Officer, Hon Shekarau, thereby declared Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as the winner of the PDP governorship primary election in Gombe State.

Speaking shortly before the results were announced, leader of the PDP in Gombe State and Senator representing Gombe North, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, said that, ‘At the end of this exercise, all of us are winners. There should be no losers. All of us, as members of the same political family, should understand that whoever wins this primary must carry everyone along.’

According to him, ‘If whoever emerges from this primary is unable to win the general election, then all of us have lost. But if we come together, rally around all our members, and seek the support of every member of our party, we can achieve victory.

‘We must show solidarity with one another and with the party.’

Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo concluded: ‘From this point forward, we need to go back and start working – and we need to start now. We must begin the work immediately if we are to win this election, and not just this election. There are several other elections ahead for our party and our members must be ready to vote for the candidates.’

President Bola Tinubu is seeking the approval of the House of Representatives for the

The President’s request was contained in a letter with Reference No: PRES/134-1/36/HR/BP/NDDC dated 20th August, 2026 addressed to Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, which was read during Tuesday plenary.

According to the letter titled: ‘Submission of 2026 statutory budget proposal of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)’, President Tinubu explained that the communication was in line with the provisions of Section 121 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

According to him, Minister of Niger Delta Development prepared the 2026 Statutory Budget Proposal of the NDDC which was forwarded for consideration and passage by the House of Representatives.

He further explained that the ‘Budget proposal has been prepared on the basis of the NDDC’s revenue and expenditure forecasts and it aligned with the fiscal and developmental policies of the Federal Government and the Renewed Hope Agenda.

‘In addition, the Budget Proposal takes into consideration the 2024-2026 Economic Recovery Growth Plan as well as key assumptions of the 2026 Appropriation Act of the Federal Government.

‘The House of Representatives is invited to note that the NDDC is prioritising improvement in Youth Empowerment, Energy and Power Supply, Education, Industrial and Enterprise Development, Health, Security and increased productivity in Agriculture in order to lift a significant number of our citizens out of poverty.’

To this end, he solicited for timely passage of the 2026 Statutory Budget Proposal of the NDDC by the House of Representatives.