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The European Union (EU) has warned that Nigeria is at risk of experiencing the shortcomings associated with the 2023 general election in 2027 if reforms are not concluded before the polls.

At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Barry Andrews, member of the European Parliament and former Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) for the 2023 polls, declared that Nigeria’s progress on electoral reforms has been ‘modest at best, dangerously close to stagnation.’

‘The country’s democratic resilience depends on reforms that citizens can believe in, and while we welcome the legislative momentum seen in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the ongoing constitutional review process, time is rapidly running out.

‘Unless these reforms are concluded within the next few months, there is a risk of repeating the serious shortcomings of 2023. We encourage all political actors to seize the momentum to deliver reforms that can safeguard transparency, inclusiveness and credibility in the 2027 elections.’ According to the EU Follow-Up Mission, of the 23 priority reforms proposed after Nigeria’s troubled 2023 elections, only one has been fully implemented.

Two others are partially adopted, eight remain ongoing, nine are untouched, and three are too early to assess, warning that this lethargy threatens to derail preparations for 2027.

‘Time is running out. The window is closing. Without real political will, Nigerians will face the same disputes, mistrust and chaos that plagued the last elections,’ Andrews cautioned.

The EU outlined six critical reforms that must be delivered well in advance of 2027: transparent INEC appointments, election results transparency, women’s representation, creation of an Independent Electoral Offences Commission to end impunity for vote-buying, violence, and intimidation, passage of the 2025 Electoral Act Amendment and constitutional reforms to give INEC a stable legal framework and media freedom and journalist protection.

‘INEC cannot operate on shifting ground,’ Andrews stressed, adding, ‘It needs a clear, stable legal framework well in advance of elections. Timing is everything.’

Electoral impunity also loomed large. ‘Vote buying, violence and intimidation remain unchecked,’ the mission said. ‘Prosecutions are so few that they do nothing to deter criminal activity.’

On media freedoms, the EU demanded stronger protections: ‘A free press is non-negotiable in any democracy. Journalists must be shielded, not silenced.’

EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot, in his closing remark, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to Nigeria’s democratic journey, stressing that while the EU can assist, implementation rests squarely with Nigerian leaders.

‘We are fully backing Nigeria through our democratic governance support programme,’ he said. ‘But these are recommendations that Nigeria must own. The credibility of your democracy depends on it.’

The EU Follow-Up Mission will remain in Nigeria for a week before submitting its progress report and recommendations.

When Farida Tanimu arrived at the family residence of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, at Kofar Ram in Bauchi metropolis, no one suspected she had come to take her own life.

She got to the house around 10 a.m., dressed in an abaya (a long gown) and hijab. Farida did not speak to anyone but kept wandering around the premises before eventually sitting at the entrance of the prime minister’s sitting room, directly opposite the main gate.

After some time, a domestic worker approached her and asked if she had come to see Hajiya Yelwa Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chairperson of the Bauchi State Orphans and Vulnerable Children Agency (BASOVCA).

Farida responded that she did not know Hajiya Yelwa and was not there to see her. The worker left her and continued his duties.

Moments later, Farida pulled out a 75cl plastic water bottle she was holding, poured its contents on her head, and set herself ablaze.

The fire quickly spread to the roof of the entrance structure, drawing the attention of people outside who thought there was a fire outbreak.

The Chief Security Officer of the residence, Inspector Abdulmajid Yakubu, said, ‘People around rushed to the house thinking it was a fire outbreak.’

‘We all rushed towards Farida with the intention of quenching the fire and saving her life. However, she ran into the family section of the house, screaming for help.

‘We followed her inside, and with the help of a mechanic, Baba Dan Baki, we fetched water from a nearby source and poured it on her.

‘Though we succeeded in putting out the flames, the burns on her body were severe, as almost her entire body was affected. Even in that condition, Farida was still alive and speaking to us.

‘We immediately rushed her to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital for treatment.

‘On admission, she received the necessary medical attention, but sadly, she could not survive the injuries and died on Sunday.

‘While on her hospital bed, I personally spoke with her. When I asked why she burnt herself, she told me it was because she was tired of this world.’

Inspector Yakubu, who revealed that he had once been Farida’s classmate, described her as humble and jovial.

‘The first time she came, I didn’t recognise her until we went to the hospital and I engaged her in conversation. It is a really touching and terrifying experience to see a human being burning alive. Sincerely speaking, I was moved by this unfortunate incident.’

He explained that Farida’s sister later confirmed she had been battling mental health issues, which might have triggered the act.

‘This is something from God, and He takes life at any time and in whichever way He so desires. May Allah forgive her shortcomings and grant her Aljannah Firdaus,’ he prayed.

A trader near the residence, Malam Auwal Shehu, who was among those who rushed to the scene when the fire spread to the roof of the entrance, also recounted the experience.

‘At first, we thought it was a fire outbreak, so we rushed with the intention of putting it out. But on arrival, we discovered it was a woman burning alive. It was a terrifying moment,’ he said.

‘Although we managed to put out the flames and keep her alive for a while, Farida eventually died from the severe injuries she sustained.

‘People tried their best to save her, but because Allah had destined that she would die in this way, no one could prevent her from burning herself,’ he said.

Another resident who witnessed the incident told Daily Trust that they were drawn to the scene by thick smoke rising from the direction of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister’s residence.

‘We ran towards the house with the intention of putting out the flames. By the time we managed to extinguish the fire, about 70 percent of Farida’s body had already been burnt.

‘The most unfortunate part was that while we were trying to quench the fire, Farida kept screaming and running in desperation for her life. No one could dare hold her while she was burning.

‘Within just a few minutes, her entire body was severely damaged by the flames. Some particles of her burnt skin even scattered across the premises as she ran from one end of the compound to another, crying for help,’ he said.

When our correspondent visited the residence on Thursday, the section of the house affected by the fire had already been renovated, with new roofing and walls in place.

Police Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Command, Ahmed Wakil, confirmed that the police have opened an investigation into the incident.

He said preliminary findings indicated that the deceased had a history of mental illness, which reportedly began after the birth of her last child.

‘She was rescued alive and taken to ATBUTH, where she was admitted and her statement taken before she later passed away,’ Wakil added.

Mustapha Adekunle, popularly known as Sego, Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State, has denied making political threats after a viral video showed him vowing to punish residents who fail to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.

The video, which drew widespread condemnation, showed Sego warning that a repeat of the 2023 presidential election would not be allowed in 2027 and that all Lagos residents must vote for the APC.

His comments provoked outrage, with many accusing him of attempting to intimidate more than 20 million citizens.

Several critics called for his arrest, insisting that democracy cannot be reduced to threats by union leaders. In a separate video, Sego dismissed the allegations, describing them as propaganda.

He confirmed that he was invited by the Department of State Services (DSS) for questioning and was later released after hours of interrogation.

‘This is propaganda and fake rumour. The issue I was addressing has to do with our union and not politics. My enemies are behind this and looking for my downfall. You can belong to any party, and we also know the party we are supporting,’ he said.

REPORTS of anti-Muslim hate have risen sharply in the UK over the summer, with mosques targeted and individuals abused on the streets, new figures from a charity revealed last week.

Tell MAMA, which monitors anti-Muslim incidents, said last Friday (26) it recorded 913 cases between June and September this year. Seventeen mosques and Islamic institutions were also targeted in attacks that, the charity warned, spread fear across communities that use them.

Victims frequently reported being told to ‘leave the UK’ or ‘go back to your country’ – language that Tell MAMA linked to political debates about migration. The group said such abuse echoed the hostility directed at minorities after the Brexit vote and was fuelling mistrust and division.

According to the charity, there was a sharp spike in reports following the Unite the Kingdom rally led by Tommy Robinson in London last month.

More than 100,000 people attended the event in Parliament Square, while about 5,000 joined a counter-demonstration. In the seven days after the rally, Tell MAMA received 157 reports of anti-Muslim hate.

Iman Atta, director of the charity, described the figures as ‘shocking’ and warned that the full year’s total could exceed 6,000 cases, a record high. ‘We are looking at a serious problem of anti-Muslim hatred that is pervasive in parts of our country,’ Atta said. ‘This comes at a time when real political leadership on this matter is missing.’

Tell MAMA has been documenting anti-Muslim hate for more than a decade and said it had seen consistent year-on-year rises. It accused ministers of failing to act decisively, arguing that long-running debates over definitions of Islamophobia had distracted from the urgent need to enforce existing laws.

Earlier this year, the charity announced it would no longer apply for government funding after a dispute over the handling of a new scheme. In July, the government said money from its Combatting Hate Against Muslims Fund would instead go to the British Muslim Trust, which brings together the Aziz Foundation and Randeree Charitable Trust.

The charity said that while community groups can play a role, the scale of the problem requires stronger national leadership.

‘Attacks on mosques and faith institutions send a much wider message to those who worship there – that they are not safe,’ Atta added. ‘This is toxic to community relations and to social cohesion going forward.’

The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, had disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has approved a 100km stretch of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to pass through Edo State.

Umahi said this during the Independence Day gala night in Benin, Edo State capital.

He said the state was not part of the original alignment for the project conceived about 47 years ago by Tinubu.

‘The president called me and said this project must pass through Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River. That is why we are here. ‘Your Excellency, the president has given you 100km of the two lanes of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway,’ Umahi said.

Umahi lauded Governor Monday Okpebholo for his intervention in some critical projects.

While describing the Benin-Sapele-Warri highway as a deathtrap for motorists, Umahi applauded the quality of work done by the contractor, CBC, and directed the Federal Controller of Works in Edo to provide him with daily updates on progress at the site.

Governor Okpebholo, on his part, commended the president for including Edo in the coastal highway project and for ongoing improvements on federal roads in the state.

He described the gesture as proof of Tinubu’s love for the people of Edo and urged residents to support the president’s re-election in 2027.

Okpebholo said that his administration was committed to transforming infrastructure in the state.

At 65, Nigeria finds itself in a reflective mood, and rightly so. Independence anniversaries are not just occasions for parades, gun salutes, and flag-waving. They are moments when nations pause to take stock, to ask if their institutions have matured in wisdom, steadiness, and service to the people. With this understanding, it can be said that few institutions mirror the turbulent journey of Nigeria’s democracy as vividly as the legislature.

From the fragile parliament of the First Republic through the long intermissions of military-era suspension to the sometimes noisy and fractious assemblies of the Fourth Republic, the National Assembly has embodied both the promise and the perils of the Nigerian democratic experiment. As the Red Chamber resumes under the stewardship of Senate President Godswill Akpabio the 10th Senate can fairly be described as a maturing legislature that has delivered uncommon achievements with unprecedented vigour and steadiness.

The fact speaks clearly for itself. Within two years, the Senate has passed more than 900 bills, with over 54 already signed into law by President Bola Tinubu. It has reviewed and passed over 40 executive bills, 300 bills have passed second reading, 102 bills scheduled for public hearing, showing a willingness to collaborate with the executive arm while still retaining its independence. To be clear, this pace of legislative productivity is remarkable by any standard and the best in the annals of our history. It signals an institution committed to stabilising Nigeria’s fiscal, monetary, and political environment through purposeful and constructive lawmaking and other legislative engagements.

The Senate’s imprint on education is perhaps its most people-centred achievement. The National Education Fund Act provides a sustainable financing model for tertiary institutions. The Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act expands access to higher education for indigent students who might otherwise have been locked out of opportunity. The Out-of-School Children Education Act confronts one of Nigeria’s most stubborn social challenges by bringing learning to the margins where poverty often shuts doors. While these measures echo earlier efforts from Nigeria’s republican past, they are sharper, more inclusive, and better designed for the demands of today’s youth.

The economic front has also been impacted by the nation-building ambitions of the 10th Senate. Sweeping tax reforms, including the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, The Joint Revenue Board Bill, The Nigeria Tax Bill and The Nigeria Revenue Service Bill, have streamlined policy, reduced evasion, triggered equity and boosted revenue without overburdening citizens. The Securities and Exchange Commission Amendment Act has strengthened investor confidence, while the Investment and Securities Bill provides clearer frameworks for investment. The Electricity Amendment Act updates energy policy for an era that must integrate renewable power and private participation.

One standout measure, the Social Security for Unemployed Graduates Act, has provided a safety net for job seekers. It reduces frustrations that often fuel restiveness among young people. To be fair, these reforms recall the liberalisation drive of the late 1990s but are better tuned to the digital age and global competition.

Security has also remained pivotal to its legislative priority. The Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act and the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act fortify Nigeria’s defence against multifaceted threats. These laws reflect a recognition that insecurity cannot be addressed by military might alone. It requires legal frameworks, institutional coordination, and community involvement that cut off the supply chains of violence.

Regional balance, a recurrent challenge in Nigeria’s federal arrangement, has not been neglected. The South East, South South, South West, North Central and North West Development Commission Acts are designed to reduce disparities and foster inclusive growth. The National Steel Development Act seeks to revive an industry that has long symbolised Nigeria’s industrial aspirations since independence. Even patriotic memory has been legislated into revival with the National Anthem Bill, which restored ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ to the national soundscape, evoking nostalgia and reinforcing the dignity of Nigeria’s founding years.

If these domestic milestones form one side of the 10th Senate’s record, its international diplomacy forms the other. In 2023, Senator Godswill Akpabio, was elected to the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the first Nigerian in 59 years to achieve such recognition. The IPU, founded in 1889 and comprising 179 member countries, is the premier global body for parliamentary diplomacy. Akpabio’s election restores Nigeria’s voice in shaping global discourse on issues such as climate resilience, governance, and migration. His July 2025 address at the World Conference of Speakers in Geneva signalled Nigeria’s readiness to lead debates from the perspective of the Global South. This recalls the confident internationalism of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, who in the early years of independence positioned Nigeria as a champion of African unity and non-alignment.

Without a doubt, the 10th Senate’s work is not confined to the abstract language of lawmaking. Its impact is also felt in communities across Nigeria. Each senator has allocation for constituency projects. Unlike the ghost projects of earlier assemblies, these funds have been channelled into visible impact: rural electrification in the North West, healthcare centres in the Niger Delta, agricultural hubs in the South East, and market rehabilitations nationwide. This level of grassroots visibility gives legislative output a human face.

Discerning citizens know that tone matters in politics. The 10th Senate has cultivated a more cooperative and robust culture. Senators from across parties have set aside partisanship to advance laws in the national interest. This stability is no accident. It reflects Akpabio’s deliberate leadership style, one that combines firmness with humour, using wit to diffuse tension and consensus to build momentum.

Still, it must be said that the road ahead demands vigilance. With the 2027 general elections on the horizon, electoral reform stands as the next critical frontier. Committees in both chambers of the National Assembly are working on a comprehensive new Electoral Act designed to guarantee credible, inclusive, and transparent elections. Proposals under review include diaspora voting, electronic transmission of results, and tighter campaign finance regulation.

Beyond elections, there have also been calls by civil society for a robust whistleblower protection law to fully harness whistleblowing as an anti-corruption and good governance tool. Moreover, constitution review, judicial reform, and stronger security frameworks remain pressing challenges. And even though the Petroleum Industry Act, passed into law in 2021, established a new legal, governance, administrative, and fiscal framework for Nigeria’s petroleum industry, recent turmoils in the sector indicate the 10th Senate can still revisit the Act in the national interest.

While acknowledging all that, the reality is that at 65, Nigeria has survived the turmoil of its infancy and the missteps of middle age. The 10th Senate, under Senator Godswill Akpabio, exemplifies a legislature that has matured. It has moved beyond the quarrels and gridlocks of the past to become a productive force, legislating boldly, engaging the world diplomatically, and impacting lives directly at the grassroots.

If independence anniversaries are moments for reflection, then Nigeria at 65 can take solace in the fact that its Senate is not a stumbling block but a guiding hand in the democratic journey. Under the capable and unifying leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio, the 10th Senate has emerged as a beacon of legislative achievement and democratic resilience. It signals not just what Nigeria has endured but what it can yet become.

It is worth reiterating that in as much as the 10th Senate has done well, as the members resume legislative duties, they should not rest on their oars. Much remains to be done if Nigeria is to be shaped into a modern, developed state.The 10th Senate should continue to play its central democratic role in that regard. To the Senator Akpabio- led 10th Senate, it is not yet Uhuru!

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Lagos on Saturday, October 4, for Jos, Plateau State capital.

The President is expected to attend the funeral service of Nana Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe, mother of the All Progressives Congress, APC National Chairman, Professor Nantewe Yilwatda Goshwe.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement said, while in Plateau, the President will later address Church Leaders across the North at the headquarters of the COCIN Church in Jos.

President Tinubu will return to Lagos on the same day after the visit.

Meanwhile, the Plateau State Ministry of Information and Communication has notified the general public, particularly vehicle owners and commuters within Jos and Bukuru metropolis, of traffic diversions and restrictions in view of the President’s visit.

In a statement on Friday, RT Hon Joyce Lohya Ramnap, Commissioner for Information and Communication, said to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and to facilitate the movement of the Presidential entourage, all motorists should make use of alternative routes from 7 am on Saturday 4th October, 2025.

‘The following routes would be closed: 1. Mararaban Jama’a through Bukuru express way. Dadin- kowa, Old Airport, to Plateau roundabout. ?Hillstation roundabout to COCIN Headquarters/Central Bank road.’

‘We appeal for the cooperation and understanding of residents as these measures are temporally taken in the interest of security and public peace,’ the statement read.

The federal government and Glovo, one of the leading tech platforms in Europe, Africa and Central Asia, has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Small and Medium enterprises in Nigeria with the new edition of Glovo Academy held in Abuja.

Glovo Academy is an in-person learning and development initiative designed to provide training and digital tools to help local businesses optimise operations, boost their brand, and increase online sales through the Glovo platform.

The Head of Growth, Glovo Nigeria, Reni Onafeko, noted that the company remains committed to empowering SMEs on its platform by offering access to opportunities such as advisory and finance.

She explained that with the million of orders delivered since the launch of Glovo in 2022 in Abuja, over N11 billion in value has been delivered to partners.

According to her, the company has recorded 30% increase year-on-year in orders in Abuja, working now with over 1,000 local restaurants. She emphasised the need for SMEs to embrace digital literacy to enable their businesses to expand, formalise their operations, and scale sustainably.

Also speaking during the panel session, the Special Adviser to the Minister of State for Industry, Ifeoma Williams, stressed that MSMEs remain the backbone of any economy, noting that current data from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that 40% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product is derived from these small businesses.

While bemoaning poor access to loan facilities from the federal government for many SMEs, she attributed the challenge to a lack of proper structure and the right business plan. She stated that the federal government is doing a lot to provide the right policies for thriving businesses.

Also speaking at the session, Kayode Meyanbe, Head of ICT, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, stated that through the agency, the federal government is leveraging a partnership with the Corporate Affairs Commission to provide free registration for 250,000 businesses.

Kayode urged SMEs to take advantage of the opportunity to formalize their operations and access the opportunities provided.

‘As an agency, we have partnered with banks to provide loans at an interest rate below 10% to support their businesses. Not only that, state governments have also been helping us with funds for these SMEs to access our loan facilities.

Beyond that, we have also engaged BDSPs to provide capacity training on how to run businesses for SMEs. We do this through Kaduna Business School and Lagos Business School to dispense need-based skills and curriculum to SMEs,’ he said.

Minister of State for Works, Barr. Muhammad Bello Goronyo, has urged the contractor working on Abuja-Keffi highway to provide palliatives to the bad section of Nyanya-Mararaba road.

The Minister during an inspection of the road lamented the hardship motorists face in plying the section of the road.

Though, he said the heavy gridlock on the three kilometres of the section will make it difficult to expedite the repairs, he urged the contractor to work at night to make the repairs.

He added that already 50 percent of the entire road has been completed with the outbound lane from Abuja finished.

‘Already, 41 kilometers has been completed up to the binder, meaning 50% completion and the Abuja bound section which is troubled. Where we have a problem is three kilometres and we realise that there is a lot of water that is flooding this area.’

‘So, a lot of people coming from the Keffi-Nyanya axis are experiencing a lot of problems to cross to Abuja City and we directed immediately the contractor that is handling this project to come and do some palliative measures and as well as provide a route where he will be able to pass the water to be able to have a good road so that the passengers and commuters that are flying this road will have easy access.

‘But we cannot do it in the afternoon or in the morning. So we directed that the contractor should concentrate on doing this job at night so that we will be able to finish it in time so people will have ease of travel.

‘Let me say it very clearly that the contractor must ensure that he mobilises fully to this site to maintain this road because there is heavy traffic on this axis and we are not happy with the way and manner people are suffering on this road.’

He added that the road is a very important arterial road and people must have ease of movement along this corridor.

‘There are a lot of civil servants flying this road and we are concerned about it so and the completion period is sacrosanct within the time stipulated so that’s why we’re as a ministry we’re here to assess the level of work here that is ongoing and then to also give clear directives.’

Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to modernising Qur’anic education and aligning it with contemporary educational standards.

He gave the assurance on Thursday at the closing ceremony of the 40th State Qur’anic Recitation Competition held at the Sir Ahmadu Bello Hall in Dutse, the state capital.

The governor described the presence of young Qur’anic students as ‘a tremendous blessing’ for the state, noting that Qur’anic knowledge plays a vital role in shaping character and enriching lives.

He urged participants to live by the teachings of the Qur’an, stressing that this would ensure its preservation across generations.

‘Having these young students among us is indeed a great blessing. We see the great benefit of this Qur’anic recitation competition.

‘When a person has religious knowledge, especially Qur’anic knowledge, life becomes easier for them. Therefore, for these students whom Allah has blessed with the gift of memorising the Qur’an, we are grateful,’ he said.

Namadi noted that the close margin between winners and runners-up reflected the high level of competence among contestants.

He pledged sustained government support for Qur’anic education through the Tsangaya Education Board, which integrates Qur’anic studies into the state’s formal education system with a dedicated budget.

‘As a government, we will continue to promote Qur’anic education. This is why we established the Tsangaya Education Board to incorporate Qur’anic studies into the state curriculum. Just as every sector has a budget, Qur’anic education will also have its own allocation because we see a bright future in this area,’ he said.

The governor also announced that outstanding students would now be sponsored to pursue further studies, either in Qur’anic education or secular fields such as engineering and medicine.

Namadi recalled Jigawa’s successful hosting of an international Qur’anic recitation contest introduced to Nigeria by the Imam of Madinah and disclosed that the state had been approved to host the 2026 National Qur’anic Recitation Competition.

The 2025 edition of the competition featured male and female contestants across various categories, covering the recitation of two, ten, thirty, and sixty parts of the Holy Qur’an.