Category: Nigerian Tribune

Chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Osun, Adewale Adebayo, has assured members of the party that the recent Supreme Court judgment on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 does not affect the party’s structure or operations.

Adebayo gave the assurance in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, amid concerns in political circles over the implications of the apex court’s September 24 judgment for political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by a seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro, restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which had earlier been voided by the Court of Appeal.

The provisions govern political parties’ membership registers and the nomination of candidates. Sections 77(5) to (7) require parties to rely on the membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before primaries, congresses or conventions, while Section 84(2) provides for direct primaries or consensus as methods of nominating candidates.

The judgment followed an appeal by INEC against an earlier Court of Appeal decision which had struck down the provisions after a challenge by the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Adebayo, however, said the ruling had no adverse effect on the APM, urging members to remain calm, united and focused on the party’s programmes.

He said, ‘The judgement does not affect the structure, operations and legitimacy of the APM in Osun and across the country.’

According to him, the party remains intact and is fully prepared for the 2027 elections.

He said the APM was working to secure victory for its presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, as well as its candidates for the state House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate.

Adebayo added that the party had put strategies in place to strengthen its grassroots presence across the local government areas of Osun State.

He urged members to intensify mobilisation and remain focused, rather than being distracted by what he described as rumours or misinterpretations of the Supreme Court judgment.

‘We are not affected by the Supreme Court judgement. Our party is intact and we are more determined than ever to deliver for our presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, and all our candidates in the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate in 2027,’ he said.

The Supreme Court judgment has generated discussion over the practical implications of the restored provisions for political parties and candidates preparing for the 2027 elections, although reports indicate that the ruling did not automatically invalidate nominations already concluded.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has acknowledged the economic hardship confronting Nigerians, saying rising food, transportation and other living costs have placed pressure on households across the country.

Sanwo-Olu spoke on Thursday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, during the state’s 66th National Independence Day Parade, where he reflected on Nigeria’s journey since independence, including the civil war, years of military rule, economic difficulties and political upheavals.

The governor said Nigeria’s ability to overcome decades of challenges and sustain 27 consecutive years of constitutional democracy demonstrated the resilience of its people. He stressed that despite the difficulties, the country had remained united under one flag.

Sanwo-Olu, who took the salute during a parade involving the Nigeria Police Force, paramilitary agencies and students, also highlighted the historical significance of Onikan to Nigeria’s independence. He recalled that the Union Jack was lowered and the Nigerian flag raised nearby at midnight on October 1, 1960, marking the country’s independence from British colonial rule.

The governor said the priority now should be to ensure that the gains expected from ongoing economic reforms translate into improved living conditions for citizens. While acknowledging the difficulties faced by households, he urged Nigerians to remain committed to building a stronger and more prosperous country.

Turning to Lagos, Sanwo-Olu described the state as a microcosm of Nigeria and highlighted his administration’s investments in transportation, healthcare, education and digital governance. He cited the Blue and Red rail lines, road and bridge projects, as well as the expansion of tertiary institutions, among the initiatives undertaken by his administration.

As his tenure approaches its end, the governor said his administration’s priority was to leave behind institutions capable of functioning beyond individual administrations.

He also urged young Nigerians to play an active role in shaping the country’s future through democratic participation, technology, entrepreneurship and other productive endeavours.

Sanwo-Olu called for peaceful participation in the 2027 elections, urging Nigerians to protect the country’s unity and build on the legacy of previous generations. Despite the challenges Nigeria has faced since independence, he said, ‘the flag has never come down.’

Meanwhile, as Nigeria looks ahead to the elections in January 2027, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has said no political contest is worth the loss of human life.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the ACF Chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman, to commemorate the nation’s 66th anniversary of nationhood.

He cautioned that the period leading to the elections, as well as the period immediately after them, could be tense and potentially hazardous.

‘I therefore urge all citizens, particularly our youths, to exercise restraint and avoid locations, gatherings and incidents that are known or reasonably suspected to be trouble-prone.

‘No political contest is worth the loss of a human life. Let us reject violence, inflammatory rhetoric, provocation and the destruction of lives and property.’

The ACF leader noted that differences of political opinion should never become reasons for hatred, violence or the destruction of communities.

According to him, ‘The strength of any society lies not merely in its numbers or resources, but in the quality of its unity, its shared values, its commitment to justice and its willingness to place the common good above narrow personal interests.’

The statement averred that the North must continually remind itself that its diversity should be a source of strength and not a justification for division.

‘Parents, elders and teachers have a profound responsibility in shaping the character and future of our young people.

‘As we commemorate the 66th Anniversary of our nation’s Independence, it is appropriate that we pause to reflect on the state of our nation and, particularly the experiences of our people across the various geographical locations of Nigeria.

‘Many of our people continue to suffer from natural disasters, insecurity, displacement, economic hardship, poverty and multifaceted forms of deprivation.

‘These challenges have disrupted economic activities, closed schools, separated families and, in many instances, broken homes and destroyed livelihoods,’ the statement lamented.

The Provost of the Oyo State College of Nursing Sciences, Dr Gbonjubola Owolabi, has charged students of the institution to uphold the ethics and values of the nursing profession, just as she admonished them to shun all forms of misconduct capable of undermining their academic pursuits and professional development.

Dr Owolabi gave the charge on Monday, during a congress with students, held within the college premises in Eleyele, Ibadan.

She stressed that nursing is a profession that requires discipline, integrity, dedication, compassion and a strong sense of responsibility, urging students to begin to demonstrate these qualities during their training.

The provost particularly admonished the students to desist from behaviours such as laziness, improper dressing, indiscipline and negative attitudes towards their academic pursuits.

She explained that the college would not tolerate acts capable of tarnishing the image of the institution or compromising the standards of the nursing profession.

Dr Owolabi warned that any student found engaging in such vices would face the appropriate disciplinary procedures of the college.

According to her, disciplinary measures could include suspension, expulsion or other sanctions, depending on the nature and severity of the offence.

She advised the students to be good ambassadors of their families and the college at large, as well as to conduct themselves responsibly and uphold the good image of the institution wherever they find themselves.

She, therefore, urged the students to take their studies seriously, attend lectures regularly, maintain proper dressing and conduct themselves in a manner befitting students of a professional institution.

Other lecturers who spoke during the congress also warned the students to shun laziness and develop positive attitudes towards their academic work.

They encouraged them to be disciplined, punctual and committed to their studies, stressing that academic success requires dedication, consistency and personal responsibility.

The lecturers further advised the students to respect the rules and regulations of the college and maintain good relationships with their colleagues and members of staff.

The provost reiterated the commitment of the college management to providing an enabling environment for teaching, learning and professional development, while calling on the students to reciprocate the efforts by conducting themselves responsibly.

She urged them to see their period of training as an opportunity to build not only their academic knowledge but also the character and professional values required of competent nurses.

Speaking on behalf of the students, the Students’ Union President, Mr Iyiola Olamilekan, appreciated the provost and other members of the college management for their guidance, support and commitment to the welfare and development of the students.

He assured the management that the students had taken the admonitions in good faith and would work towards complying with the rules and regulations of the college.

He also pledged the cooperation of the students with the management, noting that they would continue to uphold the dignity and reputation of the institution while pursuing their academic and professional goals.

The congress was attended by the Deputy Provost, Mrs Iyabo Adeleke; the Registrar, Mr Raji Tirimisiyu; the Bursar and Librarian, Mr Iseoluwa Adedokun and Mrs Grace Adewusi; the Director of Works, Mr Adebowale Olawoyin; faculty members, lecturers and non-academic staff.

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has hailed the remarkable strides and progress the state has made 30 years after it was created by the administration of the late former military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

Oyebanji, in a statewide broadcast to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the state, said although it had encountered many challenges and unpleasant experiences within the period, its people had reasons to celebrate the three-decade milestone because of the remarkable progress recorded across various indices of development.

The governor noted that despite being among the last set of states to be created in the country and receiving one of the lowest allocations from the Federation Account, ‘Ekiti leads its contemporaries and many before it, including far richer states, in critical matrices of human development.’

Ekiti State was created on 1 October 1996 by the late Gen. Abacha, during a broadcast to mark the nation’s 36th Independence anniversary, alongside Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Gombe, Nasarawa and Zamfara states, which took the number of states in Nigeria from 30 to 36.

The feat was achieved after years of an epic struggle by eminent citizens of the state, among whom were traditional rulers, legal luminaries, politicians, senior bureaucrats, captains of industry and community leaders under the aegis of a body known as the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State.

Speaking during the broadcast, Oyebanji pointed out that many people did not give Ekiti a chance of being created as a state as it stood against ‘more formidable contenders from the South-West geopolitical zone’, but the governor ascribed the glory to God for making the creation of the state possible against all odds.

According to him, the creation of the state 30 years ago, 120 years after the Kiriji War, completed an epic struggle for independence started by Ekiti forebears during the liberation war of 1877 to 1893.

He congratulated all Ekiti sons and daughters, as well as people from other parts of the world who had made Ekiti their home, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary.

The governor paid tribute to members of the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State, led by its Chairman, Chief Oladeji Fasuan; legal icon, Aare Afe Babalola; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; and other monarchs whom he described as ‘incubators of the state creation struggle’. He also lauded the patriotic sacrifices of the heroes and heroines of the struggle who had joined their ancestors.

Oyebanji said it was heartwarming that, as the then Secretary of the Committee for Ekiti State Creation, through the grace of God and the benevolence of Ekiti people, he was now in the saddle as Governor of the state as it turned 30, describing the experience as ‘very humbling’.

He equally paid glowing tributes to all his predecessors in office: Col. Inua Bawa, Navy Capt. Atanda Yusuf, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Chief Ayo Fayose, Chief Segun Oni and Dr Kayode Fayemi, as well as leaders who served during interregnums, including Chief Friday Aderemi, Brig.-Gen. Tunji Olurin, Hon. Tope Ademiluyi and Hon. Tunji Odeyemi. He also acknowledged all former Deputy Governors and former heads of the legislature and judiciary.

Oyebanji restated the commitment of his administration to the ideals of the founding fathers that inspired the creation of the state, stressing that ‘the vision of the founding fathers was to have a state where Ekiti people can utilise their God-given natural and human resources in the most efficient, effective and inclusive manner, for the prosperity of our people’.

He pointed out that the state’s founding fathers envisioned ‘an industrialised Ekiti, where private-sector capital is at the centre of the economic nervous system of the state and where enterprise and productivity are the pillars of prosperity’.

While unveiling the theme of the anniversary, ‘Ekiti at 30: Celebrating the Past and Creating the Future’, the governor disclosed that his administration had decided to use the 30th anniversary as the launchpad for a 30-year Transformation Agenda.

The agenda, according to him, will make Ekiti a leading centre of agricultural production and agro-processing, innovation and technology development, quality and functional education, research and skills development, tourism, culture and creative economy, youth entrepreneurship and sustainable development.

To achieve the vision, the governor said a conversation with Ekiti youths on 7 October 2026 at the Obafemi Awolowo Civic and Convention Centre, Ado Ekiti, would be staged with the intention of achieving three important things: to remember with gratitude, to assess the present with honesty, and to approach the future with confidence and determination.

He said: ‘Our agenda is therefore to work aggressively to ensure that the socio-economic infrastructure we have built in these 30 years leads to real economic growth that produces quality employment, crystallises productivity, supports enterprise and enhances quality of life.

‘For example, the ongoing multi-billion-naira Ekiti Knowledge Zone (EKZ) project is a technological park and economic ecosystem to support the innovative and creative ingenuity of our young population.

‘It is our dream that in another three decades, the tag of Ekiti as a ‘civil service’ state will have yielded to Ekiti as a ‘Tech Hub in Nigeria’ and a major commercial centre for international trade and commerce.

‘This is our promise, and we are resolutely committed to it. The Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) will also take off soon. These two projects, upon completion, will transform the economic outlook of the state and drive our government’s Shared Prosperity Agenda.’

The governor urged the people of the state to troop out en masse during the 16 January 2027 presidential election and use their votes to re-elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in appreciation of the benevolence, support and favour Ekiti had enjoyed under his presidency since 2023.

Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has reaffirmed his commitment to delivering on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to transform Nigeria’s power sector, assuring Nigerians that ongoing interventions across the country will further improve electricity supply.

Tegbe spoke when he paid a thank-you visit to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State at the party’s secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, where he appreciated party leaders and stakeholders for the support that followed his appointment by President Tinubu.

The Minister said the confidence reposed in him by the President had placed a major responsibility on him to contribute to resolving the longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s power sector.

‘President is determined to fix problems in the power sector and we are not leaving any stone unturned to achieve this goal,’ Tegbe said.

‘Nigerians can testify to the considerable improvement in electricity supply nationwide in recent weeks but we have not got to where we want to be as a force to reckon with in the global community.’

He said the Federal Government was implementing several projects across the country, stressing that the completion of the ongoing interventions would significantly improve electricity access.

‘A lot of projects are ongoing in all parts of the country and the time most of them are completed, every part of the country would have constant power supply and we would all be proud of the Tinubu administration,’ he said.

Tegbe disclosed that several projects were also being implemented in Oyo State, including solar-powered street lighting and mini solar grids.

‘In a few weeks from now, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will have a full installation of solar-powered street lights while mini solar grids will be constructed in six different locations in the state,’ he said.

On the Ogbomoso project, the Minister said work was nearing completion, assuring residents that challenges encountered by the contractors had been addressed.

‘The project in Ogbomoso is nearing completion and I can say it here that the little challenges being experienced by the contractors handling the project have been addressed and they will deliver the whole project very soon,’ Tegbe said.

He also assured residents of Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa that the Saki project was receiving attention.

‘The one in Saki which is aimed at fixing the age-long problems in Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa axis is equally receiving the right attention and hopefully, the darkness being experienced in those parts of the state will be addressed,’ he said.

Tegbe expressed appreciation to APC leaders, members and supporters in Oyo State for the support that accompanied his appointment, saying the level of enthusiasm demonstrated by the party had exceeded his expectations.

‘I did not expect the degree of support and enthusiasm which my first and second appointments by President Tinubu attracted from all APC leaders, members and supporters,’ he said.

He added: ‘But I have come to realise that nothing is too much to be done for the progressive family and humanity as a whole.’

The Minister particularly thanked the leadership of the Oyo APC for its confidence in his ability to deliver, saying, ‘I appreciate the current leadership of the party in the state for believing in us to deliver the good.’

Beyond his ministerial responsibilities, Tegbe also pledged to contribute to the success of the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

‘More importantly, we will spare no efforts to ensure that President Bola Tinubu gets reelected in 2027 and we are not going to stop at that as all the candidates of our great Party will get our full backing,’ he said.

He disclosed that he had opened discussions with aggrieved governorship aspirants in the state as part of efforts to strengthen unity within the party.

‘I have opened talks with most of the aggrieved gubernatorial aspirants and I have no doubt in my mind that everything will be resolved in no time,’ Tegbe said.

He also pledged to work with APC support groups, acknowledging their contribution to the party and the country.

‘We will work with all the Support Groups because we appreciate what they are doing in the interest of our great Party and our dear country as patriots,’ he added.

Earlier, Oyo State APC Chairman, Dr. Moses Alake Adeyemo, commended Tegbe’s performance and commitment to the power sector, attributing recent improvements in electricity supply to the Tinubu administration’s determination to revive critical sectors of the economy.

Adeyemo, a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, expressed confidence that Tegbe would justify the confidence reposed in him by President Tinubu and deliver on his mandate.

The visit was attended by several APC leaders and stakeholders, including Dr. Taofeek Lamidi, Hon. Fatai Adesina, Alhaji Lateef Ajiboye, Olawale Sadare, Hon. Joshua Oyebamiji, Tunde Oloyede, Comrade Olalekan Oladejo, Sunday Babalola, Alhaji Mojeed Delesolu, Sunday Aborisade, Fatima Hassan, Akanbi Elegbede, Alhaja Tinuade Adigun, Lukman Owonikoko and Comrade Muse Osundara.

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) said on Thursday that Nigerians did not miss President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his four-week stay in Europe, arguing that his absence or presence had made little difference to their daily challenges.

Tinubu returned to Lagos from Paris on Tuesday, September 29, after what the Presidency described as a working vacation.

The party made its position known through the National Publicity Secretary, Mr Abubakar Yusuf, on Thursday, saying the President’s return was marked by ‘a lacklustre reception’ compared with the public celebrations often associated with the return of national leaders.

Yusuf, who insisted ‘Nigerians did not miss President Tinubu,’ alleged that the President was received mainly by government officials, members of his political circle and supporters rather than ordinary citizens.

He also claimed that the subdued reception reflected what the APM described as growing public dissatisfaction with the administration, adding that the President’s absence had further reinforced concerns about his handling of the country’s affairs.

The APM spokesperson also referred to videos circulating online which, according to him, showed some Nigerians in Lagos booing the President and chanting ‘ole’ (a Yoruba word for thief) on his arrival.

The party further stated that the scenes reflected ‘deep-seated dissatisfaction’ with the administration.

Yusuf accused the President of spending public funds on expensive foreign trips while Nigerians continued to grapple with economic and security challenges, noting that Tinubu had become ‘completely disconnected’ from issues affecting the well-being of citizens.

Yusuf wrote, ‘Today, in the mouths of the majority of Nigerians and even foreigners, President Tinubu’s government represents national hopelessness and misery.’

The APM further faulted the administration’s policies, alleging that they had weakened productive activities, disrupted livelihoods and increased pressure on families. The party said these issues had strengthened its campaign for a change of government in 2027.

‘The message is clear; Nigerians have rejected the APC-led administration and are ready, as Resetters, to vote in a new leadership as embodied in the Presidential Candidate of the APM and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde’, the party added.

He recalled the reception accorded Makinde at his engagements across the country lately, which the party said demonstrated growing acceptance of the APM candidate, adding that a Makinde-Lawal Daura administration would seek to provide a more responsive and present leadership.

‘When elected President, Engr. Makinde will be a present and responsive President whose leadership will positively impact every aspect of life in our country’, the APM assured, urging Nigerians to remain committed to its ‘Reset’ agenda and vote for Makinde and Daura in the 2027 presidential election for ‘a new lease of life.’

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has directed Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to immediately commence remedial works on the collapsed section of the East-West Road at Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

The governor disclosed the intervention on Thursday during the 66th Independence Anniversary celebration at the Cenotaph in Asaba.

Oborevwori said the collapse of the section of the major highway was caused by a natural disaster witnessed in the area a few days earlier.

‘A few days ago, we also witnessed a natural disaster on the East-West Road. I have directed Julius Berger to immediately fix the collapsed portion of the road,’ the governor said.

The governor’s directive has already translated into action as, at the time of filing this report, the construction company had mobilised to the site and commenced reconstruction works on the washed-out section of the highway.

The intervention is expected to restore normal traffic flow and ease the difficulties faced by motorists and commuters along the busy East-West Road corridor.

To tighten access and documentation at the Pilgrims and Cargo Terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has concluded plans to deploy biometric access control and vehicle tracking at the nation’s gateway.

The move is aimed at reducing congestion, curbing unauthorised access and improving safety and security at the terminal.

The Directorate of Cargo Development and Services, led by its Director, Mr Lekan Thomas, recently engaged key government agencies operating at the terminal to sensitise them to the new access control measures.

The agencies include the Nigeria Customs Service, NDLEA, NAFDAC, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, Police EOD, DSS, Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Federal Produce Inspection Services.

Under the system, only registered, verified and authorised persons, businesses and vehicles will be allowed into designated areas of the terminal.

FAAN’s Integrated Cargo Stakeholder Registry will serve as the main reference for verifying cargo operators, while biometric identification, facial recognition, fingerprint verification and electronic access records will be introduced.

With the arrangements, phase one will also deploy Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras and boom barriers on two of the four lanes at Gate One, while CCTV will support monitoring and investigation.

An X-ray scanner for baggage and parcels is also expected to strengthen security screening.

FAAN said the measures are not intended to restrict legitimate cargo operations, but to eliminate unauthorised access, improve accountability and reduce unnecessary human and vehicular movement.

The directorate called on all stakeholders to complete the required registration and documentation ahead of full enforcement, urging continued cooperation among government agencies operating at the terminal.

Plateau State Governor Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has granted absolute pardon to 130 inmates and commuted the death sentences of four others to life imprisonment as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The governor described the anniversary as an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the country’s journey since independence, honor the sacrifices of past leaders, acknowledge existing challenges, and celebrate the nation’s achievements.

In a goodwill message signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Gyang Bere, Mutfwang urged Nigerians to preserve the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the country in honor of its founding fathers.

He stressed that nation-building was a shared responsibility passed from one generation to another, adding that every citizen had a role to play in creating a peaceful, stable, and prosperous country.

The governor said Nigeria’s strength lay in the collective determination of its people to rise above their differences and build a nation where everyone had a sense of belonging and opportunities to fulfill their aspirations.

Mutfwang also acknowledged the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in sustaining the country’s unity and stability and advancing the Nigerian project.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a Plateau State where residents could pursue their aspirations in an atmosphere of peace, security, justice, and inclusive development.

The governor commended the people of Plateau State for their resilience, patience, patriotism, and contributions to the development of the state and the country.

He urged them to remain committed to the Nigerian project despite the challenges facing the nation.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on Thursday called on Muslim faithful in Nigeria to uphold their right to practise the religion without any let or hindrance, even as he appealed for unity among Muslims.

Alhaji Abubakar said this at the NSCIA 2026 General Assembly held at the Abuja National Mosque, and emphasised the need for Muslims to uphold their faith.

He further called on Muslims to be proactive instead of passive when issues affecting their faith and welfare arise, and urged them to engage constructively in protecting their religious interests.

While saying Muslims should protect their religious interests, the Sultan, who is the spiritual head of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah, however, emphasised that Islam does not advocate coercion in matters of faith.

According to him, Muslims did not need and must not force anyone to embrace Islam.

‘What we need in this country and anywhere else is for us, as Muslims, to be allowed to practise our religion without hindrance.

‘We do not intend to force anybody to join Islam. But we have seen how many people have been joining Islam on their own free will because Almighty Allah said there is no compulsion in religion,’ he said.

The Sultan, however, appealed to Muslims to support and protect those who voluntarily embraced Islam with a view to helping them live according to the tenets of Islam.

He equally admonished Muslim faithful to demonstrate humility and equality, submitting that all people were equal before Almighty Allah and that piety remained the true measure of a person’s worth.

While appreciating Allah for making it possible to hold the general assembly this year, seven years after the last one, the Sultan described the gathering as significant, as it brought Muslim leaders from across the country together.

According to him, this year’s general assembly did not only serve as an avenue for Muslim faithful in the country to share ideas but also strengthened the existing bond among them as members of the big family of Islam.

‘We are holding this general assembly almost seven years after we had the last one. All of you are aware why we didn’t hold general assembly for some few years,’ he said.

The Sultan said that, despite not holding a general assembly, the NSCIA had been holding expanded general purpose committee meetings, explaining that the inability to hold a general assembly all this while was largely due to financial constraints.

Despite the constraints, the Sultan said the NSCIA had been seeking assistance to enable it to carry out its responsibilities to Islam and the Nigerian Muslim Ummah.

This year’s general assembly, according to the Sultan, was holding at a time when Nigeria and the entire world were facing challenges.

‘This (general assembly) is coming at a time when we should be attentive. We should be a little more conscious because we all know the situation in the country and in the world. We Muslims have a lot of roles to play,’ Sultan Abubakar said.