Category: PM News

The Rivers State Police Command has launched a manhunt for gunmen who killed the Omoku Zonal Commander of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Security Planning and Advisory Committee (OSPAC), Mr Ozemela Nwaocha, and three women in a deadly attack in Omoku, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

Police spokesperson, ASP Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the incident on Wednesday, described the killings as unfortunate and assured residents that those behind the attack would be tracked down and prosecuted.

She said preliminary investigations indicated that the assailants ambushed Nwaocha near his residence and opened fire on him and three women who were in his company.

‘The Rivers State Police Command is aware of this unfortunate incident and is deeply saddened by it. The command condemns this act in its entirety and assures the public that the perpetrators will be brought to justice,’ she said.

According to the police, a full-scale investigation has commenced, while residents have been urged to provide credible information that could assist security agencies in identifying and arresting the attackers.

Providing further details, OSPAC spokesman Nkem Godknows said the attack occurred on Tuesday evening in what he described as a ‘Gestapo-style operation.’

He alleged that the gunmen repeatedly shot the vigilante commander before killing his sister and two other women who were with him.

Godknows added that two other persons sustained gunshot injuries during the attack and are currently receiving treatment in hospital.

‘The gunmen also killed Nwaocha’s sister and two other women. Two other persons within the premises sustained gunshot wounds and are receiving treatment,’ he said.

He noted that the incident was immediately reported to the police and expressed confidence that the perpetrators would eventually be arrested.

The OSPAC spokesman urged residents to remain calm, saying security agencies and local vigilante groups had intensified efforts to maintain peace and prevent further attacks in the area.

He also appealed to the Rivers State Government and other stakeholders to provide greater support for members of the vigilante organisation, lamenting that many operate under difficult conditions without financial assistance.

According to him, OSPAC operatives receive little or no remuneration despite the risks involved in protecting their communities.

‘We are not adequately catered for and receive little or no encouragement to perform our duties. We are not paid, and most of us have no reliable source of income. We appeal for support to enable us to carry out our responsibilities more effectively,’ he said.

Meanwhile, security has been reinforced in Omoku, with combined teams of police and other security agencies conducting intensive patrols to maintain law and order as investigations continue into the killings.

Kidnappers are demanding N10 million ransom to free two farmers abducted at the Oke-Ifira/Idogun forest axis of Akoko South-East Local Government Area of Ondo State, one of the family members of the victims disclosed during a phone-in radio programme on Tuesday in Akure.

The family member, who said that the incident happened on Saturday, said it had been reported to the police and Amotekun Corps in the area.

‘The abductors are demanding N10 million ransom for their freedom,’ the victim’s family said.

DSP Abayomi Jimoh, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ondo State Command, confirmed the incident to newsmen in a statement on Tuesday.

Jimoh however, said that the command was not aware of any ransom demanded in connection with the incident.

He said that the joint security team comprising personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, Amotekun Corps, local hunters, Agbekoya operatives and community volunteers had been deployed to the affected area.

‘The Ondo State Police Command wishes to clarify reports circulating regarding the alleged kidnapping of farmers in the Oke-Ifira/Idogun forest axis of Akoko.

‘The command can confirm that a report of missing persons was received at the Isua Akoko Divisional Headquarters.

‘Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing, with all available operational and intelligence resources being deployed to locate the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.

‘Meanwhile, the command wishes to categorically state that it is not aware of any ransom demand in connection with this incident,’ he said.

Jimoh, therefore, appealed to anyone with credible and actionable information that could assist the ongoing search and rescue efforts to promptly share such information with the police.

The Nigerian Army has listed rescue of 16 kidnapped victims, arrest of suspected terrorist logistics suppliers and informants, and recovery arms, ammunition and other items among the recent achievements of troops deployed for operations across the country.

This is contained in an operational update covering activities of the troops in the last 24 hours, made available on Wednesday in Abuja.

In the Northeast, the report said troops of Operation HADIN KAI arrested a suspected female ISWAP informant and logistics supplier at Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno.

It said the suspect was intercepted while allegedly attempting to return to her husband in the Sava terrorist enclave within the Sambisa Forest.

According to the report, items recovered from her included a mobile phone and other personal effects.

In the North West, it said the troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA repelled a terrorist ambush on personnel of the 2 Nigerian Mobile Force at Abrom village in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna.

‘The troops fought through the ambush, forcing the attackers to flee and recovered one AK-47 rifle, a magazine and 50 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

‘Also, in Sokoto State, troops rescued 16 kidnapped victims during separate operations in Shagari and Gandi Local Government Areas.

‘The first operation at Wanke and Kaura villages led to the rescue of six abductees after terrorists abandoned them while fleeing military troops.

‘Troops also recovered two motorcycles belonging to the fleeing terrorists,’ it said.

The report said troops had in another operation at Badanma village, engaged terrorists, forcing them to abandon 10 kidnapped victims who were rescued unharmed.

It added that troops also intercepted a white bus transporting 10 motorcycles along the Biu-Kangiwa road in Kebbi.

According to the report, preliminary investigations revealed the motorcycles were destined for a notorious terrorist identified as Mallam Gehowa at Amogoro.

‘Four suspected terrorist logistics suppliers were arrested and handed over to the Department of State Services for further investigation.

‘In Taraba State, troops of Operation MESA arrested a suspected criminal at Dema Road in Donga Local Government Area.

‘Recovered from the suspect were 29 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, three mobile phones, a power bank and N160,000.

‘The suspect allegedly confessed purchasing the ammunition from another individual in the area,’ it added.

The report further revealed that troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE recovered rustled cattle after engaging suspected terrorists in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau.

It said the troops also raided a suspected drug den at Saya village in Bassa Local Government Area, arresting four suspected drug dealers.

According to the report, items recovered included eight cutlasses, six knives, cannabis and other illicit substances.

It said that toops further responded to an armed robbery incident along the Mararaba Jama’a highway where they recovered the corpse of a victim with gunshot wounds.

‘They also intervened in Pankshin Local Government Area following the killing of a farmer allegedly by suspected herders over a grazing dispute.

‘The incident triggered reprisals, forcing the fleeing herders to abandon 15 cattle now in police custody.

‘Meanwhile, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE, working with Defence Intelligence Agency operatives, recovered one AK-47 rifle and a magazine during a follow-up raid on the residence of a suspected militia member in Wukari, Taraba’ it added.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris said the bold reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu are repositioning Nigeria for long-term prosperity through growing economic stability, improved investor confidence and accelerated national development.

The minister said this on Tuesday when the leadership of the APC Forum of Former Presiding Officers of State Houses of Assembly (FOPSHA) paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

The forum was led by its Chairman, Sen. Wasiu Esinlokun.

Idris commended the forum for its continued contribution to democratic governance and national development.

He told the delegation that the Federal Government’s media organisations – the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) would provide effective coverage to the forum.

According to him, these organisations will provide coverage for the Forum’s forthcoming National Executive Council and Board of Trustees meeting, in line with the Ministry’s mandate to keep Nigerians accurately informed on matters of national importance.

Idris said that within three years, the Tinubu administration had implemented difficult but necessary reforms that were laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth.

He said key achievements included the removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange reforms, improved fiscal capacity for the Federal Government and sub-national governments and expansion of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

The minister said others were growth in external reserves, improved Gross Domestic Product (GDP) performance, landmark infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway.

He said that there were also strengthened efforts to tackle insecurity.

‘President Bola Tinubu took courageous decisions that previous administrations avoided for decades.

‘Today, Nigeria is witnessing greater fiscal stability, improved investor confidence, enhanced infrastructure development and expanding opportunities for citizens.

‘The foundation has been laid for a more prosperous future,’ he said.

The minister urged members of the forum to use their experience and grassroots reach to deepen public understanding of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the long-term benefits of the administration’s reforms.

Earlier, Esinlokun said the forum’s visit was to brief the minister on its activities and seek the ministry’s support in publicising its forthcoming meeting.

According to him, the meeting will bring together former Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, former governors, former ministers and distinguished senators.

He said the forum remained committed to mobilising grassroots support for the Renewed Hope Agenda through sustained engagement with Nigerians across the country.

Also present at the courtesy visit were the Secretary of the Forum, Prof. Matoh Dogara, and the Director of Production, Publication and Documentary, Mr Ibidapo Okunnu.

Also present was the Deputy Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Ms Fatoke Folasade and others.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Tuesday handed over forfeited large expanse of land originally allocated to a developer for building of 962 housing units Goodluck Jonathan Estate to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) for development.

The hand over of the landed property which was in compliance with Federal High Court order took place at the site of the Goodluck Jonathan Estate in Kaba District, Abuja, the spokesperson for ICPC, John Odey said in a statement.

According to the statement, Chairman of ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu handed over the land to the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FMBN, Mr. Shehu Usman Osidi, and senior officials of the company.

Aliyu described the event as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s asset recovery and restitution efforts, emphasizing that recovered public assets must be returned to productive public use.

He explained that the forfeited land formed part of a housing project conceived by FMBN in 2012 and financed through a $65 million loan facility secured by Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited in partnership with an American firm.

The project was intended to deliver 962 housing units on approximately 27.92 hectares of land in Kaba District.

According to the ICPC Chairman, investigations revealed that the loan was completely diverted, with no housing units constructed, while some of the funds were allegedly routed through Bureaux de Change and taken abroad.

Consequently, ICPC commenced both civil and criminal proceedings in the matter, with the civil proceedings already concluded while the criminal case remains ongoing.

Dr. Aliyu disclosed that on December 11, 2025, the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, presided over by Hon. Justice M. G. Umar, granted a final forfeiture order in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1124/2025.

The Court ordered the final forfeiture of Plot No. 5 in Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, measuring approximately 122,015.80 square metres, and Plot No. 4 in the same Cadastral Zone, measuring approximately 157,198.30 square metres, as properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

The Court further directed the Federal Republic of Nigeria, through ICPC, to facilitate the handover of the forfeited properties to FMBN as the victim of the alleged unlawful activity.

In addition, the Court mandated ICPC, in collaboration with FMBN, to monitor and supervise the construction of the proposed 962 housing units to completion and ensure that they are allocated to the intended end users.

Dr. Aliyu noted that the Court also directed the establishment of a joint committee comprising representatives of ICPC and FMBN to oversee the implementation of the supervision process.

He stated that the Commission would promptly nominate its representatives, with the Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Division representing ICPC on the committee.

The ICPC Chairman reiterated that asset recovery without proper management is incomplete, stressing that the ultimate measure of success in the Kaba District project would be the completion of the housing units and their fair allocation to Nigerian families.

He assured the public of ICPC’s continued commitment to transparency, accountability, and the effective management of recovered assets in line with the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.

In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Federal Mortgage Bank, Shehu Usman Osidi, expressed his appreciation to the ICPC for its diligence and professionalism in ensuring the recovery of the property and its handover for the purpose for which it is intended.

‘This land, on which this estate is to be developed, has, for some time, been abandoned and left unutilized. We therefore deeply appreciate the ICPC for ensuring that all necessary due diligence and legal considerations were carefully undertaken.

‘This action is particularly commendable because it demonstrates a strong commitment to protecting public assets and ensuring that properties recovered or forfeited in the public interest are put to productive use for the benefit of Nigerians. ‘

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and election experts have identified weak political parties, non-credible polling agents and poor technology management as threats to Nigeria’s 2027 elections.

The stakeholders spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at a policy dialogue convened by the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought (ASSPT).

The dialogue reviewed and strengthened a draft document titled, ‘Nigeria 2027 Election Integrity, Citizen Participation, and Democratic Resilience Strategy’.

Presenting the document, ASSPT Director, Dr Sam Amadi, said Nigeria’s democratic integrity required a practical, non-partisan framework holding electoral institutions and political parties accountable.

Amadi said Nigeria had recorded administrative and technological progress, but significant gaps remained in political parties’ capacity to protect the electoral process.

‘Our interest is the integrity of the election. It is more important than who wins; it is about the process,’ he said.

He said competitive elections required opposition parties capable of demanding fair regulation from electoral institutions without compromising civil society’s independence.

Amadi said electoral integrity could not be sustained by one institution, urging coordinated action among citizens, CSOs, political parties, media, security agencies and election management bodies.

He described the strategy as a unified framework designed to shift civil society engagement from election-day monitoring to pre-emptive, full-cycle interventions.

According to him, past civil society efforts often involved monitoring elections and issuing statements after electoral malpractices had already occurred.

He said the framework was built around protecting the integrity of the vote and improving the democratic environment.

This, he said, included ensuring votes were freely cast, accurately counted, transparently transmitted, lawfully collated and faithfully declared.

Amadi said the Civil Society Situation Room would serve as the central platform for independent citizen engagement.

He added that plans were underway to establish or strengthen State Situation Rooms across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

‘To hold election administrators accountable, civil society will maintain a public tracker monitoring the Independent National Electoral Commission’s commitments,’ he said.

He said priority areas would include election funding, voter registration, Permanent Voter Cards, logistics and technology protocols.

On concerns surrounding the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and INEC Result Viewing Portal, Amadi called for clear protocols on result transmission and backend reviews.

He also urged clarification of the legal precedence between hard-copy EC8A result forms and electronic records.

Amadi said implementation would include a Citizen Townhall on the 2023 elections, enabling grassroots participants and lower-level officials to provide evidence of operational failures.

He said the evidence would inform advocacy for electoral reforms.

The strategy, he added, contained non-partisan support modules to strengthen internal party democracy, transparent primaries, campaign finance compliance and polling-agent training.

Amadi said the strategy was structured into four phases: institutional preparation, campaign monitoring, election-day and collation operations, and post-election learning and reform.

Prof. Vivian Madu, a visiting professor from the National Human Rights Commission, stressed grassroots accountability and credible party-agent recruitment.

Madu identified the failure of political parties to field credible agents as a major weakness in previous elections, including the 2023 general elections.

‘If you do not have credible agents on the field-agents who cannot be compromised-then you have lost the election before it ends,’ she said.

Country Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, Mr Odeh Friday, urged citizens to properly document electoral irregularities.

‘In many elections, citizens report incidents, but it feels like nothing happens because those incidents were not properly documented,’ Friday said.

Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku of the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission called for aggressive voter education to encourage citizens to vote according to their conscience.

He said addressing hunger and poverty before the 2027 elections was essential to preventing voter inducement.

The Chief Executive Officer of KORA 360, Onyinyechi Etusi, stressed the need for post-election accountability by the electoral commission.

Etusi urged INEC to consistently account for its performance and operational challenges.

Kosi Umeh, Programme Officer at the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, said the centre planned to deploy a citizen-led electoral accountability tracker.

She said the tracker would empower citizens to report incidents and monitor electoral activities in real time.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has appealed to all political parties, candidates and their supporters to shun violence, avoid bloodshed and remain patient as the August 15 Governorship election in Osun draws near.

Ooni made the appeal when the National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola, the governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, and other leaders of the party visited him on Tuesday.

The revered monarch was represented by the Lowa Adimula of Ifeland, Oba Adekola Adeyeye during the visit, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Senior Media Officer, Ooni’s Palace, Sodiq Lawal, on behalf of the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare.

The Ooni reaffirmed his commitment to promoting peaceful coexistence, irrespective of political affiliations, while describing Ile-Ife as the spiritual and historical cradle of the Yoruba race.

He stressed the need for successive governments and political leaders to accord Ile-Ife the level of attention and development befitting its historical significance.

‘Ile-Ife remains the source and ancestral home of the Yoruba people. Politics in modern Nigeria has a rich history that also has strong roots in Ile-Ife.

‘The late Ooni Adesoji Aderemi served as Governor of the old Western Region, and his remarkable contributions are felt not only in Ile-Ife but throughout Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole.

‘Since he left office, Ile-Ife has not experienced the level of development that befits its status as the cradle of the Yoruba race.

‘The Hausa people regard Sokoto as their source, and today Sokoto continues to enjoy significant development.

‘The Igbo people hold Enugu in high esteem as one of their historic centres, and its growth is evident. We, as Yoruba, who acknowledge Ile-Ife as our source, must collectively ensure that this ancient city receives the attention and development it deserves,’ he stated.

He further appealed to politicians and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the electioneering period.

‘We appeal to all political parties, candidates and supporters to shun violence, avoid bloodshed and remain patient. Elections should not divide our people or cost anyone his or her life.

‘Let the campaigns be peaceful, while the electorate freely exercise their democratic rights,’ he cautioned

Earlier, Aregbesola, explained that the party chose Ile-Ife as the starting point of its governorship campaign, in recognition of the city’s cultural and historical importance to the Yoruba race.

‘Ile-Ife remains our source. It has been about eight years since we last came here for this purpose.

‘We came with the candidate of our former political party, and although the people of Ife stood solidly with us, God did not permit that opportunity to be fully utilised.

‘Our tradition has always been to begin our political campaigns in Ile-Ife because we believe this is our source.

‘Since 2004, we have consistently visited the palace to seek royal blessings before embarking on major political activities, and we are here today to continue that tradition,’ Aregbesola said.

Borno, Yobe and Adamawa governments have mapped out response strategies and evacuation plans to mitigate the effects of impending flood following predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency about impending floods in some parts of the states.

Officials of the state governments revealed the plans in separate interviews on Wednesday

Hajiya Yagana Ali-Abadam, Director of Administration, Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said the state government had constituted a flood preparedness committee comprising relevant stakeholders.

She listed the stakeholders as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA), and the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS).

Ali-Abadam said the move formed part of a broader disaster risk reduction strategy designed to minimise the effects of flooding across the state.

According to her, lately residents of flood-prone communities in Dikwa had been evacuated to safer shelters to reduce their exposure to recurring seasonal floods.

She added that the agency was currently providing food items and other relief materials to victims of previous floods in Kala Balge, which experienced annual floods linked to the release of water from neighbouring Cameroon.

Ali-Abadam further said that extensive drainage clearance had been carried out in Maiduguri to prevent blockage of waterways and enhance water flow during the rainy season.

She said that major flood-prone areas, including Ajilari Cross, Kopa and Bulumkutu-Dala, had received targeted interventions such as drainage clearance and construction of improved drainage infrastructure.

‘Ajilari Cross, Kopa and Bulumkutu-Dala remain some of the most vulnerable areas during the rainy season.

‘We are currently expanding drainage systems and clearing blocked waterways to reduce the impact of flooding,’ she said.

The director also said awareness and sensitisation campaigns were ongoing across the state through media engagement and community outreach programmes.

In Yobe, Dr Ibrahim Jalo, Director, Search and Rescue Operations, Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, said the agency had deployed real-time river monitoring and digital community reporting platforms in flood-prone areas.

‘We have also identified safe locations for timely evacuation in case flooding occurs in high-risk areas,’ he said.

Jalo said the agency had engaged critical stakeholders, including security agencies, ministries, persons with disabilities groups and humanitarian partners, to strengthen disaster response.

He added that Local Government Area Early Warning and Action Committees had also been activated and trained to improve grassroots emergency response.

The director said the state government had directed the agency to prepare relief materials targeting 50,000 households and food items for 10,000 households.

He added that 7,400 sandbags had also been earmarked for embankment activities in vulnerable communities.

According to him, emergency response materials are being positioned in Damaturu, Potiskum and Geidam to ensure quick access during emergencies.

Jalo said the agency had mapped out community leaders and emergency contacts to improve communication and reduce response time during disasters.

The director identified 12 flood high-risk areas, including Gujba, Damaturu, Bursari, Geidam, Yunusari, Fika, Potiskum, Jakusko, Bade, Gulani, Karasuwa and Machina.

Jalo appealed to residents to heed early warning information and cooperate with emergency officials during possible evacuations.

On its part, Adamawa government says it activated Flood Response Committees in the 21 local government areas of the state, and embarked on the desilting of major water channels in Yola North, Yola South, and Jimeta.

The Executive Secretary, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), Dr Celine Laori, listed high flood risk areas to include Fufore, Yola South, Girei, Yola North, Demsa, Numan and Lamurde.

According to her, safe locations have been identified in each of the areas.

On the awareness campaign, Laori said the agency was collaborating with radio stations to broadcast jingles in Hausa, Fulfulde and other local languages, while town hall meetings were ongoing in the areas.

‘We are telling people to avoid building on waterways, clear their drainages, and relocate early when they receive warnings. Early warning is key to saving lives,’ she added.

Laori said that the agency had procured relief materials including food items, tents, mattresses and drugs for emergency response.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a N10 billion fundamental rights suit filed by Nollywood actor and House of Representatives aspirant, Emeka Ike, arguing that the voter information at the centre of the case is public information and not protected by confidentiality laws.

In court documents filed in response to the suit, INEC maintained that the publication of voter registration details is a statutory requirement under the Electoral Act 2026 and does not violate the constitutional right to privacy of registered voters.

The commission stated that it is legally empowered to compile, maintain, display and publish the national register of voters in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

The position was contained in a counter-affidavit deposed to by Anthonia Makwe, an Assistant Director and Data Protection Officer in INEC’s Legal Drafting and Clearance Department, in opposition to the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1272/2026.

Ike had dragged INEC and Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, before the court, alleging that the publication of his voter registration details on social media platform X breached his constitutional right to privacy and data protection.

Through his lawyer, Leonard Adeh, the actor is seeking a declaration that the publication of his voter information without his consent was unlawful, as well as N10 billion in damages.

However, Olayinka, through his counsel, Akpama Ekwe, urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the information he published was already in the public domain and was not obtained through unlawful means.

He maintained that the publication contained only Ike’s name and passport photograph, insisting that he owed the applicant no duty of confidentiality.

Olayinka further argued that a politician seeking elective office could not reasonably claim to have suffered trauma over the circulation of information voluntarily submitted as part of the electoral process.

He also relied on Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates INEC to display and publish the voters’ register before general elections to enable public scrutiny.

INEC, in its response, also distanced itself from the document allegedly shared by Olayinka, insisting that it did not originate from the commission.

The electoral body further denied any breach of its obligation to safeguard personal information, maintaining that the voter data under its custody remains secure and that the information complained of does not constitute sensitive or classified data.

After hearing preliminary proceedings on Tuesday, the trial judge adjourned the matter until October 12, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.

Senator Garba Maidoki has called for native doctors to be formally recognised within Nigeria’s healthcare system, arguing that they treat some ailments modern medicine cannot and also ‘intercede’ when ancestors communicate with people.

Maidoki, who represents Kebbi South, made the call on Tuesday during debate on a bill seeking to overhaul the country’s food and drug regulatory framework.

The bill, sponsored by Kwara North Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar, seeks to repeal the Food, Drug and Related Products (Registration, Etc.) Act and the Food and Drug Act.

It proposes a unified legal framework for regulating food, medicines, vaccines, medical devices and other products affecting public health.

Supporting the bill, Maidoki said it failed to provide for traditional medicine despite its widespread use, particularly in rural communities.

‘I rise to also support this motion ably sponsored by Senator Suleiman Sadiq. This motion, as my colleague said, is apt, is timely, and is in good faith to modernise the practice of food and drug registration in Nigeria,’ he said.

‘But Mr President, I want to bring to your attention that even though this is modernised, we have not seen anything on this bill concerning traditional medicine.

‘Concerning traditional medicine, sir, most of our rural dwellers, most of them rely mostly on this traditional medicine.

‘And I think it is high time that we have a law that also allows traditional medicine to be implemented.’

Maidoki argued that formally incorporating native doctors and indigenous remedies into the healthcare system would reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines.

‘Holistically, if this is done, we will also reduce the cost of importation of drugs from foreign nations, and we will rely mostly on our own indigenous herbs and medication by our own native doctors,’ he said.

The lawmaker urged the bill’s sponsor, who is a pharmacist, to ensure that traditional medicine practitioners were included in the proposed regulatory framework.

‘I think if this is done, the pharmacist Senator Suleiman will be able to incorporate these people and make this holistic,’ he added.

Maidoki also disclosed that some senators resort to herbal medicine when conventional treatment fails to provide answers.

‘Even some of us that are senators, sometimes we rely, we go to herbal medicine to help us with one ailment or the other, which sometimes the modern medicine has no answer,’ he said.

‘Like if your ancestors decide to talk to you, you need a native doctor to intercede on your behalf.’

His remarks sparked laughter in the Senate chamber, prompting a light-hearted response from Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

‘Thank you, Distinguished Senator Garba. The native doctor will intercede between you and the ancestor,’ Akpabio said.

‘It’s actually baffling that this was part of the African religion, but when the white people came, they now told us that we don’t need our ancestors, but I think from what you are saying, you are still using your ancestors.’