Category: PM News

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has urged President Bola Tinubu to take seriously the concerns raised by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria over the state of the country.

Kalu, who represents Abia North Senatorial District, described the Catholic bishops as the conscience of Nigeria, saying their intervention was intended to help the government improve.

The former Abia State governor spoke while reacting to the recent meeting between Tinubu and the leadership of the bishops at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The clerics had raised concerns about economic hardship, insecurity and the worsening living conditions of Nigerians.

‘To me, the Catholic bishops are the conscience of the country. Once they give advice, their advice is not for or against anybody,’ Kalu said.

‘Their advice is for any sitting president or leader to see things the way they should be.’

Kalu acknowledged that Nigerians were experiencing economic hardship but argued that the situation could not be blamed entirely on the Tinubu administration.

He said the government had made progress at the macroeconomic level, although many citizens had yet to feel the benefits in their daily lives.

‘There is difficulty in Nigeria, there is no doubt. And it is not the fault of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,’ he said.

‘We have been able to capture the macroeconomy, and the micro is where we are having problems.’

Kalu said the bishops had a responsibility to present the true situation to the president, even when politicians and government officials might offer more favourable assessments.

‘Even if we politicians are lying to him and saying things are good everywhere, the Catholic bishops can never say that,’ he said.

He urged officials working with the president to carefully examine the bishops’ concerns and develop measures that would improve the lives of Nigerians.

Kalu also clarified that Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, is not the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria.

Armed bandits have intensified attacks on communities in Katsina State, killing one resident, injuring at least seven others and abducting 31 people in the latest assault on Shuwaki community in Bakori Local Government Area, raising fresh concerns over worsening insecurity and mass displacement.

The attack, which occurred on Saturday night, according to Premium Times, is the latest in a string of raids targeting communities in Bakori, where residents have faced repeated killings, kidnappings and livestock theft in recent weeks.

Former Chairman of Bakori Local Government Area, Aminu Magaji, said the attackers invaded Shuwaki between 9 p.m. and 9:45 p.m., operating for nearly two hours. He said the gunmen killed one person, wounded at least seven others, rustled cattle and sheep, and abducted 32 residents.

According to him, the attackers later released one of the abducted women near Doma village after she became too ill to continue the trek into the forest, leaving 31 people still in captivity. Most of the remaining hostages are women, some reportedly carrying infants.

Magaji said security agencies were alerted while the attack was underway. He explained that police officers, soldiers and members of the Katsina Community Watch Corps mobilised in an attempt to intercept the attackers but failed to rescue the victims or prevent their escape.

He added that the assailants also stole residents’ mobile phones and devices from charging centres, while no ransom demand or communication had been received from the kidnappers as of the time of his interview.

The latest raid followed attacks on Unguwar Dogo and Alhazawa communities, where residents were injured and livestock stolen. Local sources said repeated attacks since late July have forced many families to flee their homes for safer areas, while others remain gripped by fear.

The renewed violence comes days after a major confrontation between suspected bandits and security forces in Guga community, where the Katsina State Government said more than 40 suspected bandits were killed during a reprisal attack involving over 200 assailants.

Community leaders warned that the persistent attacks are threatening farming activities during the rainy season, as repeated cattle rustling has deprived many farmers of the animals used for cultivation.

They called on the Federal Government, Katsina State Government and security agencies to strengthen security across the affected communities, warning that continued attacks could trigger further displacement and deepen the humanitarian and economic crisis in the area.

The Katsina State Police Command had yet to officially comment on the latest attack or provide an update on efforts to rescue the abducted victims as of the time of filing this report.

The Federal Government has launched a seven-week roadmap for the development of the proposed National Policing Bill, inviting Nigerians to submit memoranda and policy proposals as part of efforts to establish a comprehensive legal and operational framework for state policing.

The initiative is being driven by the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, who made the announcement on Monday after the group’s meeting at the State House, Abuja.

According to Gbajabiamila, the Working Group is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Police Act 2020, the Police Service Commission framework, police regulations and other relevant laws to develop a modern, effective and accountable policing system capable of addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

He explained that the proposed legislation will establish national minimum standards for policing, define the requirements for state readiness and certification, clarify the jurisdictional responsibilities of federal and state police formations, strengthen independent oversight, safeguard human rights, guarantee sustainable funding and provide an orderly transition to a dual-policing structure.

As part of the legislative process, the Working Group has opened a two-week window for the submission of memoranda, giving citizens, professional bodies, civil society organisations, security agencies, state and local governments, academics and other stakeholders the opportunity to contribute to the proposed legislation.

The submissions will be reviewed and incorporated into the draft bill, which will undergo further nationwide consultations before its final presentation to the National Assembly.

The Working Group has adopted a seven-week implementation timetable spanning July 27 to September 14, 2026. Under the schedule, the draft Executive Bill is expected to be presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 3, 2026, ahead of broader national consultations and final approval.

The proposed National Policing Bill will also provide detailed provisions on recruitment, training, oversight, funding mechanisms and transition arrangements aimed at ensuring credible, effective and accountable policing across the country.

Highlighting the standards expected of any prospective state police organisation, Gbajabiamila said:

‘A proposed State Police Service must demonstrate that it has credible arrangements for recruitment, vetting, training, pay, pensions, equipment, custody, complaints, discipline, data, firearms control, independent oversight and financial sustainability before it begins policing.’

Also speaking, the representative of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, described the proposed establishment of state police as one of the landmark reforms of the Tinubu administration.

Addressing concerns over possible federal interference, Abiodun maintained that the proposed legislation was not intended to place state police under federal control but to provide a uniform operational framework that would guide its establishment and operation nationwide.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, said the proposed National Policing Bill is designed to strengthen the protection of lives and property while ensuring that state police structures are not abused for political persecution.

He added that states unable to immediately establish their own police services would continue to rely on the Nigeria Police Force until they satisfy the prescribed operational and institutional requirements.

Other participants at the meeting included the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu; President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe; Chairman, Policy Advisory Committee, Justice Abdullahi Liman (rtd); Professor Olu Ogunsakin, Head of the Nigeria Police Reform Secretariat; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Planning and Research, Nnadubem Moghalu; and Brigadier General Olutayo Muyiwa Adesuyi, representing the National Security Adviser.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has said he is confident of winning a second term in the August 15 governorship election.

Speaking on Monday during a town hall meeting with state workers organised by the Osun State Joint Labour Movement, Adeleke said he was not under pressure because he believed God and the people of Osun were with him.

‘I am not under pressure because I have God on my side. I also have the people of Osun on my side. I am fully prepared,’ the governor said.

Adeleke urged residents not to allow fear or intimidation to stop them from voting. He alleged that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had been involved in acts of intimidation, including violence, but insisted that democracy would prevail.

He encouraged eligible voters to come out on August 15 to perform their civic duty and vote for the candidate of their choice.

The governor also advised voters to remain at their polling units after casting their ballots to help ensure that their votes were counted and protected.

Earlier, Osun State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Christopher Arapasopo, praised the Adeleke administration for improving workers’ welfare.

He said the governor fulfilled his promises by paying salary arrears inherited from the previous administration, adding that workers and pensioners would support him in the election.

Arapasopo also declared that organised labour would not accept an inconclusive governorship election or the cancellation of votes in any polling unit. He said workers would ensure that every valid vote counted during the election.

President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has vowed that Christians will continue preaching inside commercial buses despite the restriction under Nigeria’s road traffic laws.

Oke challenged the National Assembly and law enforcement agencies to prepare enough prisons to accommodate millions of Christians if the provision is enforced.

The PFN president spoke while addressing worshippers in a video that circulated on social media on Monday.

He described the restriction as an evil decree and urged Pentecostal Christians not to obey any directive preventing them from preaching in buses and taxis.

‘We will break that law because our master told us to go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature,’ Oke said.

‘You sit somewhere there and say we should not preach in buses? We will preach in buses, and we will preach everywhere.’

Oke claimed that the PFN represents more than 65 million people and directed Christians to continue spreading the gospel in public transportation.

‘I lead over 65 million people. Everybody, go into every taxi, go into every bus and preach,’ he declared.

‘Let them arrest us and turn the National Stadium into a prison. Let them build more prisons.’

The cleric accused lawmakers of targeting peaceful evangelists while failing to effectively confront kidnappers, bandits, armed groups and other violent criminals.

‘You don’t go after killers, those beheading people, rapists, kidnappers and bandits unlawfully carrying arms, but you are going after us preaching the gospel of peace,’ he said.

‘We won’t listen to you. You are not God. You are there for a tenure.’

Oke further warned that Christians would openly resist the restriction and could march on the streets if arrests were carried out.

‘Bring it on and see how you will imprison 65 million people,’ he said.

The Senate had earlier clarified that the provision against preaching, hawking and trading inside commercial vehicles was not newly introduced by the ongoing amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission Act.

It said the offences had existed under the FRSC Act since 2007 and were aimed at preventing distractions and protecting commuters.

The Senate also maintained that the provision does not prohibit preaching on streets or in other public places.

Professor Abraham Osinubi has spent much of his professional career working across medicine, university administration and postgraduate education, holding positions that have placed him at the centre of academic decision-making within Nigeria’s higher education system.

While his career began in clinical medicine after graduating from the University of Ibadan, it gradually evolved through teaching, research and academic administration at the University of Lagos, where he has served in several leadership capacities over the past two decades.

His current position as Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Lagos, places him in charge of policies relating to postgraduate admissions, research supervision, thesis examination and academic standards across the institution.

Speaking during his inaugural lecture titled The Anatomist: Jack-of-all-Trades, Master of All, Osinubi argued that anatomy has developed beyond its traditional boundaries and now intersects with several disciplines in medicine and biomedical sciences.

‘The anatomist is no longer confined to the dissection room. The discipline continues to contribute to medical education, biomedical research and clinical practice in different ways,’ he said.

His administrative responsibilities at the University of Lagos did not begin with his current appointment.

He previously served as Acting Head of the Department of Anatomy before becoming substantive Head of Department. Earlier, he headed the Department of Anatomy at Lagos State University, a position that exposed him to curriculum development, staff administration and academic planning.

Between 2012 and 2014, he served as Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, where he participated in faculty administration and coordinated several academic activities. He later became the Pioneer Executive Director of the University of Lagos Business School, an appointment that introduced him to executive education and institutional management outside the traditional medical sciences.

His administrative experience has also extended beyond the university.

He served as Chairman of the Board of Medilag Consult, the University’s healthcare consultancy arm, after previously serving as its director. In 2022, he was appointed Global Programme Director of Unicorn Group, where he coordinated programmes across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Egypt.

Within Nigeria’s university system, Osinubi has participated in several committees responsible for academic planning, curriculum review, postgraduate education, examinations and institutional governance.

In 2025, he chaired the National Universities Commission accreditation panel that evaluated the Medicine and Surgery programme at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. The exercise formed part of the commission’s routine quality assurance process for medical education in Nigerian universities.

He is also a member of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos, the institution’s highest decision-making bodies, and serves as Chairman of the Basic Medical Sciences Section of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

His career also reflects long-standing participation in professional associations.

Over the years, he has served as Secretary-General and later Vice-President of the Endocrine and Metabolism Society of Nigeria. He was Treasurer of the Nigerian Chapter of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and became the first Editor-in-Chief of the University of Lagos Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, a journal established to publish research from the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Association of Clinical Endocrinologists of Nigeria.

Colleagues who have worked with him say his interest has consistently extended beyond classroom teaching.

A senior academic at the University of Lagos, who requested not to be named because he was not authorised to speak officially, described him as someone who devoted considerable attention to postgraduate education and academic development.

‘He has spent many years working with postgraduate students and university committees. His experience covers teaching, research and administration, and those responsibilities have continued to expand over time,’ the academic said.

Osinubi’s professional development has also included training outside medicine. In addition to qualifications in anatomy and medicine, he obtained a Master of Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University and completed executive programmes in leadership, governance, board responsibilities, digital marketing and strategic management in Nigeria, Kenya and Morocco. He is a graduate of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, where he bagged a certificate in Policy, Strategy and Leadership in 2024.

The additional training reflects a growing trend among university administrators seeking management skills alongside academic qualifications as higher education institutions increasingly confront issues relating to governance, funding, innovation and institutional competitiveness.

Professor Abraham Osinubi’s thought leadership in organizational strategy is reflected in his groundbreaking article, ‘Rethinking Blue Ocean Strategy in Disruptive Uncertain Times,’ published in the Lagos Business and Management Review (2022), in which he offers fresh insights into strategic management in an era of disruption and uncertainty.

Across his years in academia, Professor Osinubi has served on numerous university committees covering curriculum development, medical education, postgraduate programmes, academic planning, staff development and student affairs.

He has also participated in the selection of senior university officers and contributed to institutional policy through Senate committees and academic boards.

Although much of his public profile has been associated with anatomy and biomedical research, a significant part of his career has been devoted to university administration.

His appointments over the years illustrate the expanding role of academics in managing higher education institutions, where responsibilities increasingly extend beyond teaching and research to include governance, policy implementation, quality assurance and institutional development.

For Osinubi, that journey has taken him from the anatomy laboratory and lecture theatre to some of the highest administrative offices within the University of Lagos, reflecting a career shaped as much by academic leadership as by scholarship.

Nigeria’s Ruth Usoro produced a brilliant performance on Saturday to win the silver medal in the women’s long jump at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, recording a best leap of 6.87 metres to secure another podium finish for Team Nigeria.

Usoro finished behind England’s Jazmin Sawyers, who claimed the gold medal with a championship-winning jump of 6.93 metres.

Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 15 August 2026 Osun Governorship Election, Mr Olajide Esan, on Saturday took a swipe on the candidates of the All Progressives Congress and the Accord Party, Mr Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji and Governor Ademola Adeleke, respectively, for refusing to show up at the election debate scheduled to take place at the Aurora Events, Osogbo today.

The all-important debate was to commence by 3:00PM with participants already streaming in.

Candidate Esan arrived with his people a few minutes before schedule and sat patiently, waiting for the other contestants- Oyebamiji, Adeleke and the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam.

Participants who were already seated and journalists who had set their equipment, wondering why other candidates were yet to show up, were shocked when suddenly at about 3:30PM information filtered in that the debate had been ordered cancelled, allegedly by the the National Broadcasting Commission.

An angry Esan mounted the podium to register his irritation with the attitude of other candidates, calling on Osun electorate to wake up and reject, at the poll, those who were afraid to appear before them.

Esan noted that the same set of leaders who led the country to her current unhealthy state could no lead her to solution.

‘They are asked to come and talk to the people they are promising to serve, you can see that they are not here. You can’t see the APC candidate here. You can’t see the Accord candidate here and unfortunately, ADC candidate is also not here.

‘You can see what they have turned our country to. It is high time we understood that these characters have nothing tangible to offer. It is high time we woke up to this reality of our modern society that politicians and career criminals in political offices have only been taking advantage of the same problems they created. If they actually want to serve you, they would have been able to come before the people they are promising to serve.

‘That is why AAC, the only ideological based political party in Nigeria is here to liberate our youths, wake them all to the reality of our society that those who benefit from our problems can never offer us any solution. It is high time we understood this. AAC’s aim is to give governance back to the people, to make sure that Osun people are the ones in charge of the leadership of the state and not the ones who run the state as family business,’ Olajide Esan said at the event.

He urged electorate in the country to stop mortgaging their lives by collecting handouts from politicians who seek their votes, adding that anybody wanting to genuinely serve would not bribe to get to the office.

The organisers much later said the decision to cancel the debate was ‘unanimously reached following unfavourable security reports and the reluctance of some of the leading governorship candidates to participate under the prevailing circumstances.’

According to them, the cancellation became necessary in the interest of public safety and to prevent any situation that could endanger participants, invited guests, media personnel, and members of the public.

It will be recalled that the APC and its candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, was also absent at the peace pact put in place by the National Peace Committee (NPC), headed former Head of State Abdulsalam Abubakar on Thursday in Osogbo. His Deputy governorship candidate Kayode Adereti only appeared when the event had ended.

Controversial Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has disclosed the financial reward he received after suffering a first round defeat to actor and entertainer Charles Okocha in their celebrity boxing bout on Friday night.

Although he lost the contest, Portable said he walked away with N50 million, insisting that the payment was for completing the opening round of the fight.

Speaking after the bout while surrounded by friends, the singer explained that the organisers had agreed to pay him N50 million for one round, while lasting two rounds would have earned him N100 million.

According to Portable, he fulfilled his part of the agreement by completing the first round and was subsequently paid the agreed amount.

The singer, however, maintained that the outcome of the fight was unfair, alleging that he was ‘robbed’ of the opportunity to continue the contest.

He claimed that after the first round, he briefly left to greet some wealthy guests seated in the VIP section who had come to watch the event. Portable said he intended to return to the ring but was surprised to discover that his opponent had already been declared the winner and presented with the two championship belts.

‘One round is N50 million, while two rounds is N100 million. They only paid for one round,’ he said.

Despite the defeat, Portable appeared upbeat, stressing that the N50 million reward was still a significant gain. He added that boxing was only part of his entertainment career and expressed confidence that he would continue to thrive in the music industry.

Describing himself as ‘a glorious child,’ the singer said the loss would not diminish his success or popularity, insisting that he remains focused on making music and entertaining his fans.

Neither the organisers of the celebrity boxing event nor Charles Okocha had publicly responded to Portable’s claims at the time of filing this report.

Nigeria added another medal to its growing athletics haul at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after the mixed 4×400 metres relay team claimed bronze with a season’s best time of 3:12.85 in an exciting final at Scotstoun Stadium.

The winning Bronze quartet are ‘Ezekiel Nathaniel, Patience Okon-George, Samuel Ogazi and Ella Onojuvwevwo.

The Nigerian quartet finished behind Jamaica, who stormed to gold in 3:10.97, while England secured silver in 3:11.58.

Nigeria held off a strong challenge from Kenya, who finished fourth in 3:13.95, to secure a place on the podium with one of the team’s fastest performances of the season.

Host nation Scotland finished fifth with a season’s best 3:18.21, while India placed sixth in 3:20.32. Zambia failed to finish the race, and Australia was disqualified.

The bronze medal continued an outstanding showing by Team Nigeria on the track in Glasgow. Earlier today in the championships, Samuel Ogazi won a historic gold medal in the men’s 400 metres, Ella Onojuvwevwo claimed bronze in the women’s 400 metres, and the men’s 4×100 metres relay team secured silver, underlining Nigeria’s growing strength in relay and one-lap events.

Nigeria’s podium finish also highlighted the steady progress of its 400m programme. The country has consistently produced world-class quarter-milers in recent years, and the bronze medal in the mixed relay reinforces its status as one of Africa’s leading relay nations heading into future global championships.