Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not demonstrated sufficient commitment to improving Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku stated this on Thursday when he met with a European Union (EU) delegation led by Barry Andrews, a member of the European parliament and head of the 2023 EU election observation mission to Nigeria.

The former presidential candidate said the visit was a follow-up on the mission’s recommendations after the last elections.

‘It is worrisome that two years down the line, we are yet to see indications that INEC is committed to an improved electoral process,’ Atiku said in a statement via X on Friday.

‘Expectations are high that the Independent National Electoral Commission will urgently work with the National Assembly to give citizens election laws that guarantee transparent and credible elections, where every vote counts.’

Atiku stressed that Nigerians are eager for reforms that will ensure free, fair, and transparent polls, adding that only credible elections can safeguard democracy and produce leaders capable of uniting the country and driving economic growth.

The former presidential candidate reiterated his support for civil society groups and international observer missions advocating electoral reforms.

‘Meanwhile, we shall continue to support efforts by CSOs, local and foreign Election Observations Missions (EOMs), including the EU-EOM, that will lead to genuine electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 General elections.

‘We believe that only through credible elections shall we safeguard our democracy and recruit leaders that will ensure unity and economic prosperity of Nigeria,’ he added.

Armed bandits on Wednesday night abducted two serving councillors and killed an Islamic cleric in Tsauni, a community on the outskirts of Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State.

The councillors, who represent Gidan Goga and Tsibiri wards in Maradun Local Government Area, were kidnapped around 8.05pm shortly after performing the Maghrib (sunset) prayer.

The victims were reportedly seized near a police outpost while relaxing with others at a local tea joint.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Maradun LGA, Hon. Sanusi Gama Giwa, said the councillors were members of his council.

He expressed concern that the abduction occurred in the vicinity of a police station.

‘It happened right in front of a police station where officers are usually present. The bandits even collected phones from the police officers without resistance. They didn’t harm anyone,’ he said.

According to Giwa, the armed men initially came in search of a specific individual from Kaura village.

Upon failing to find their target, they abducted six men from the tea joint. Three of them were later released, while the bandits continued with the two councillors and an Imam.

However, Daily Trust has gathered from a separate source that the abducted Imam was later killed, and his body was discovered on a nearby farm.

He was buried on Thursday according to Islamic rites in the Chediya Uku area of Gusau town.

Tsauni community, the scene of the abduction, is known for hosting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) fleeing persistent bandit attacks in Zamfara’s rural communities.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the abduction and said security operatives had been deployed for a rescue operation.

‘We are doing everything within our power to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice. We urge residents to provide useful information that can aid our efforts,’ he stated.

However, DSP Abubakar refuted claims that the abduction occurred directly in front of a police station, contrary to the LGA chairman’s statement.

‘Our findings show the incident took place about two kilometres from the nearest police station, near a forested area.

‘The terrain is difficult, with poor road conditions that delayed immediate reinforcement.

‘The claim that the bandits disarmed officers at a station without resistance is simply not true and reflects a personal opinion rather than fact.’

As of the time of filing this report, the kidnappers had not made any contact with the victims’ families or issued any ransom demands.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a phased operational overhaul of the Nigerian Fixed Income Market in a deliberate move to deepen transparency and efficiency in the financial ecosystem.

Acting Director of the Financial Markets Department at the CBN, Okey Umeano, in a memo, stated that the first phase of the reform will see the apex bank take full control of both the settlement process and trading platform for fixed income transactions starting from November this year.

The initiative, he added, forms part of broader financial market reforms, is designed to enhance regulatory oversight and strengthen the market’s role in supporting monetary policy transmission and economic growth.’This transition will enable the CBN to assume direct responsibility for the management of the trading platform and handle end-to-end settlement activities under the Bank’s established settlement system for financial market transactions,’ the statement read. The CBN emphasized that the objective of this phase is to ‘strengthen market integrity, streamline operations, and establish a unified regulatory framework that ensures end-to-end visibility and supervisory oversight of fixed income transactions.’To ensure minimal disruption and a smooth transition, the implementation will be executed in stages, with active collaboration from key stakeholders, including the Financial Markets Dealers Association (FMDA). Fixed income refers to any type of investment under which the borrower or issuer is obliged to make payments of a fixed amount on a on a fixed schedule.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s broad money supply surged to N119.52 trillion in August 2025, representing an increase from N117.4 trillion recorded in June 2025.

The August figures reflect a year-on-year rise from N107 trillion in August 2024, demonstrating the persistent expansion of liquidity in the financial system despite concerns over inflationary pressures and exchange rate volatility.

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, met the governor of Diffa Region in the Niger Republic, discussed transborder security challenges in the Lake Chad general area, and a way forward.

Zulum, who was received by his Nigerien counterpart, Brig-Gen Mahamadou Ibrahim Bagadoma, in Diffa on Wednesday, also discussed ways to strengthen the existing security collaboration between the troops of the two nations in fighting terrorism.

Diffa town is located 17km from Damasak, the headquarters of Mobbar LGA in northern Borno, where thousands of Nigerians displaced by Boko Haram insurgency are currently taking refuge.

The two leaders held closed-door meetings, which centred around joint patrols, intelligence sharing, and sustaining the recent gains that have pushed insurgents out of many of their former strongholds.

Zulum outlined a plan to leverage the improved security situation to facilitate the return of thousands of displaced farmers to the vast and fertile agricultural lands around Dutchi town within the Lake Chad basin.

The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to reject ongoing calls for the creation of state police in Nigeria.

The Forum, made up of APC stakeholders from the North-Central region, made its position known in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, who is also a member of the APC campaign council in the 2023 elections.

The intervention follows Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang’s recent call for the establishment of state police. Speaking at a special court session in Jos to mark the commencement of the 2025/2026 legal year, Mutfwang said the time had come for Nigeria to adopt state policing as part of efforts to tackle insecurity.

However, the North-Central APC Forum disagreed, arguing that the creation of state police could have unintended consequences for Nigeria’s security and governance.

According to the group, introducing state police might undermine national cohesion, create conflicts of interest between federal and state security agencies, and increase political interference in law enforcement.

‘We believe that state police, rather than solving insecurity, may create new challenges in our democratic system,’ the statement said. ‘There is a risk that it could be misused in ways that do not serve the collective interest of Nigerians.’

The Forum further noted that Nigeria’s diversity requires careful handling of security structures to avoid marginalization or misuse of power. It urged the federal government and lawmakers to focus instead on strengthening the existing federal police through reforms, better training, and improved welfare for officers.

The group concluded by calling on civil society organizations and stakeholders to join in opposing the proposal for state police, describing it as ‘a policy option that could prove counterproductive.’

Ralf Schumacher says Ferrari’s atmosphere is becoming increasingly tense, accusing Lewis Hamilton of acting ‘childishly’ towards Charles Leclerc.

As Max Verstappen was busy winning a GT3 race at the Nurburgring during Formula 1’s weekend pause, Hamilton missed a Pirelli tyre test to stay with his dying dog, although on social media he claimed he had opted out of a Milan fashion show instead.

Asked about Verstappen’s dedication, Red Bull’s Helmut Marko took a swipe: ‘You know, the others go to some kind of, I don’t know, fashion show or something,’ he told Viaplay.

Hamilton, in his debut season with Ferrari, has endured a tough campaign and is now under fire from Schumacher.

Residents of Wuse Zone 6 in Abuja have raised an alarm over the rapid destruction of designated green areas in their neighbourhood, warning of severe environmental and infrastructural consequences if unchecked construction continues.

Speaking during a protest on Thursday, Chairman of the Wuse Zone 6 Neighbourhood Residents Association, Alhaji Ayinde Soaga, said the green spaces were deliberately preserved in Abuja’s Master Plan to serve dual purposes, providing greenery and protecting underground utility corridors.

‘Already, residents of Wuse Zone 6 are facing the environmental menace of burst water pipes, blocked sewer lines, and contamination with sewer materials.

‘There is hardly any street in Wuse Zone 6 that does not have sewer lines bleeding onto the streets, making them very smelly and unsightly,’ Soaga said.

He warned that the outbreak of water-borne diseases was imminent, citing the built-up estate on the former Julius Berger Park as a major contributor to the crisis.

He added that experts say the consequences of building on these lands include water shortages, sewage leaks, flooding, and reduced air quality.

‘Green spaces are not empty land for sale. They are lifelines. Building on them puts the entire community in danger.’

The residents also expressed concern over the loss of recreational spaces and the strain on roads, drainage systems, and power supply due to overdevelopment.

Notable sites under construction, according to them, include Julius Berger Park, Gilmor Gardens on Rabat Street, and the garden at Tunis/Bissau junction.

‘These areas sit atop underground sewage and water pipelines. Building on them could be catastrophic,’ Soaga added.

The association urged the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Development Control authorities to enforce the Abuja Master Plan and halt further development on green zones to protect public health and infrastructure.

Nigeria and the European Union (EU) have taken a major step toward strengthening their economic partnership with the launch of the inaugural Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Trade and Investment Dialogue (TID) in Abuja.

The meeting, co-chaired by Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), and Ms Dora Correia, Director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security (DG TRADE), brought together senior government officials from both sides to discuss trade, investment, and future cooperation.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said the dialogue underscored Nigeria’s determination to deepen its global trade footprint.

‘This initiative reflects the growing importance both sides attach to trade and investment as a cornerstone of the EU-Nigeria partnership,’ she said.

EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, described the dialogue as a platform to tackle challenges and expand opportunities.

‘The EU remains a committed partner to Nigeria. Through this dialogue, we are building stronger foundations for sustainable trade and investment ties that benefit both our economies,’ he noted.

The talks addressed a wide range of issues, including market access barriers, preferential trade arrangements, investment frameworks, regulatory cooperation, and collaboration within the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Both sides also agreed to identify areas for trade and investment-related development cooperation.

Officials confirmed that the next round of the dialogue will take place in Brussels in 2026, at a date to be jointly determined.

The Nigeria-EU partnership currently spans education, governance, renewable energy, and digital innovation, but officials say this dialogue will allow for a sharper focus on investment-led growth.

The Benue State government has a plan underway to launch a Climate Change Policy (CCP) aimed at tackling food shortages, as shifting rainfall patterns and other climate risks continue to threaten the state’s agricultural sector.

Mrs. Philomena Iwodi, Unit Head of Vulnerability and Adaptation at the Ministry of Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, disclosed this during the Second Biannual Workshop for the Domestication of the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) in Benue State, organised by the Elim Christian Vocational Training Center (Elim CVTC).

She explained that the policy, which Nigeria has adopted at the national level, serves as a roadmap for states to domesticate in tackling climate-related challenges.

Iwodi noted that Benue began work on the policy last year with technical and financial support from partners, especially Elim CVTC, even though the state government had yet to contribute resources.

She warned that changing rainfall patterns are already threatening the agricultural sector and raising fears of food shortages in the state, stressing the need for immediate implementation of the policy to mitigate the effects of bush burning, tree felling, deforestation, and other harmful human activities driving climate change.

Executive Director of Elim CVTC, Emmanuel Egbodo, said the workshop provided a platform to review progress on the domestication process and chart a way forward for effective implementation.

He noted that while climate change was once dismissed as a myth, its impacts are now evident across communities in Benue.

Egbodo further explained that the Enabling Resilience to Climate Change Related Risks project (ER2CC), funded by the European Union and Christian Blind Mission (CBM), is being implemented by Elim CVTC to strengthen local CSOs and build community resilience against climate-related hazards.

Representatives of civil society organisations also raised concerns about the misuse of chemicals in agriculture, with Iyoula Frederick of Angel Support Foundation, saying many of the foods consumed in Nigeria contain high chemical residues because farmers often apply inputs without adequate knowledge.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed satisfaction with the security measures put in place by Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State, pledging to cooperate with his administration to further enhance peace and stability in the state.

ACF chairman, Board of Trustees, Alhaji Dalhatu Wazirin Dutse, made the commendation during a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi, as the forum marked its 25th anniversary celebration.

Alhaji Dutse commended the governor’s leadership style and security initiatives, noting that Kebbi State has witnessed significant improvements in safety and security under his watch.

‘We appreciate your efforts in ensuring the security of lives and property in Kebbi State. Your administration’s commitment to the welfare and safety of citizens is commendable,’ he said.

The ACF chairman also highlighted the forum’s commitment to protecting and promoting northern interests and values, emphasising the need for collective efforts to address security challenges in the region.

‘We will work closely with your administration to tackle security issues and promote development in Kebbi State,’ he added.

In response, Governor Nasir Idris assured the ACF of his administration’s commitment to maintaining peace and security in the state, promising to continue working closely with security agencies and stakeholders to address security challenges.

‘We will do everything possible to ensure the safety and security of our citizens. We appreciate the ACF’s support and cooperation, and we look forward to working together to build a more secure and prosperous Kebbi State,’ he said.